Amazon’s Returning Fantasy Epic Scores Big On Streaming (With A Twist)

Published Nov 13, 2026, 11:21 AM EST Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. Amazon's returning fantasy epic has scored big on streaming, but with a twist that makes its victory somewhat less than stellar. Amazon is no stranger to fantasy TV shows, which have slowly become a dominant force on the platform in recent years. While it's high-budget adaptation of The Wheel of Time was cancelled after season 3, the show still scored strong, positive reviews. Likewise, the universe they're building with Critical Role adaptations The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein have allowed both fantasy and animation to shine on Prime Video. One of the biggest productions out of Prime Video, however, has been The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The prequel series is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, chronicling Sauron's original forging of the Rings of Power and the One Ring that becomes central to The Lord of the Rings proper. It acts as a condensed adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, complete with a wide range of characters and conflicts that all orbit around Sauron and Mordor. The Rings Of Power Is (Sort Of) A Prime Video Hit Now, following The Rings of Power season 3 premiering with four episodes earlier this week, the series has become a hit on its home platform. According to data from November 13, 2026, the series has become the Number 1 TV show in the United States on Prime Video. This puts it above other major releases over the last month, including Mike Flanagan's Carrie adaptation and The Terminal List season 2. The show's return has made it popular once again, outpacing everything else on the platform. However, this only seems to apply to individual countries around the world. The Rings of Power has become a big hit, becoming the Number 1 TV show in 35 countries across the globe. But the data shows this isn't enough for the series to make it into the global Top 10 for the platform. The show cannot be found on the global rankings, which instead list the French romantic drama Campus Drivers as Number 1. It appears that, while the show is topping charts, it's not topping enough of them to warrant global success. Where Season 3 Picks Up The Lord Of The Rings Prequel MovieStillsDB Following the end of The Rings of Power season 2, season 3 takes place five years into the War of the Elves and Sauron. This major conflict has caused Sauron to overtake much of Middle-earth, as he seeks both a way to forge the One Ring and a way to combat the Elves. The season takes Galadriel and Elrond on an adventure to seek out a smith who knows how the One Ring could be forged, leading to an unsteady alliance in the process. The show also continues exploring the worlds of Dwarves and Men, expanding on how Sauron's power is corrupting the world. The show has already demonstrated itself with strong action sequences in season 3, alongside many twists in the story that will lead into the second half. For now, it remains to be seen if The Rings of Power can make it onto the global Top 10, and what it means for the Amazon series if it can't. Release Date September 1, 2022 Network Amazon Prime Video Showrunner John D. Payne, Patrick McKay Cast Ismael Cruz Cordova Arondir Directors J.A. Bayona, Sanaa Hamri Writers Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams Franchise(s) The Lord of the Rings Creator(s) Patrick McKay, John D. Payne