‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power’ Fails To Break Into Top 15 Streaming Programs Of 2022, Isn’t Even Most Streamed Prime Video Series

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in The Lord of the Ring: The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power might have had a strong start for Prime Video, but recently released yearly numbers from Nielsen show the series failed to break into the Top 15 Streaming Programs of 2022, and it wasn’t even the most watched Prime Video series.

Charlie Vickers as Halbrand in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

If you recall, Amazon and Prime Video touted the show’s premiere “attracted more than 25 million global viewers on its first day, breaking all previous records, marking the biggest premiere in the history of Prime Video.”

Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said, “It is somehow fitting that Tolkien’s stories – among the most popular of all time, and what many consider to be the true origin of the fantasy genre – have led us to this proud moment.”

She added, “I am so grateful to the Tolkien Estate – and to our showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, executive producer Lindsey Weber, cast and crew – for their tireless collaborative efforts and boundless creative energy. And it is the tens of millions of fans watching – clearly as passionate about Middle-earth as we are – who are our true measure of success.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 15: (L-R) Vernon Sanders, Head of Global TV of Amazon Studios, and Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios attends “The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power” Los Angeles Red Carpet Premiere & Screening on August 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Prime Video)

RELATED: ‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power’ Completely Falls Off Nielsen Charts Just Two Weeks After Season Finale

However, as anyone who followed our coverage regarding Nielsen’s weekly release of viewership data, it was quickly apparent that a lot of people might have tuned in initially, but as quick as they tuned in, they checked out.

Not only did Nielsen’s weekly figures indicate this, but Nielsen’s newly released annual figures for 2022 appear to confirm it as well.

Sara Zwangobani (Marigold Brandyfoot), Dylan Smith (Largo Brandyfoot), Beau Cassidy (Dilly), Markella Kavenagh (Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot)

In a blog post published in January, Nielsen revealed charts for the Top 15 Streaming Programs of 2022, the Top 15 Original Streaming Programs of 2022, the Top 15 Acquired Streaming Programs of 2022, and the Top 15 Streaming Movies of 2022.

Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power did not chart on Nielsen’s Top 15 Streaming Programs of 2022, which tracks audience viewership in the United States via minutes watched.

As you can see below, The Rings of Power was beat by a bevy of Netflix original program including Stranger Things, Cobra Kai, Bridgerton, Dahmer, The Umbrella Academy, and The Crown among others.

It was even beat by reruns of NCIS, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Heartland, Supernatural, and others that Netflix licensed from their respective rights holders.

2022 Top 15 Streaming Programs (Originals) via Nielsen

RELATED: ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ Actor Trashes Prime Video’s ‘The Rings Of Power’ Claims It Is “Not Like The Real Thing”

Not only did The Rings of Power not show up on the 2022 Top 15 Streaming Programs (Overall) from Nielsen, but it only managed to make the 15th spot for Nielsen’s 2022 Top 15 Streaming Programs (Originals).

It was beat by the likes of Netflix’s Stranger Things, Ozark, Wednesday, Cobra Kai, Bridgerton, Virgin River, Dahmer, Love Is Blind, Inventing Anna, The Crown, Great British Baking Show, The Umbrella Academy, and The Last Kingdom.

But maybe the most interesting figure from this chart is that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power wasn’t even the best performing Prime Video series. That honor belongs to The Boys, which posted over a billion more minutes watched than The Rings of Power.

RELATED: Report: Amazon Studios Will Declare ‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power’ A Victory “Regardless Of Actual Viewership”

A report from Business Insider last year indicated that if the show wasn’t the highest-performing show from Amazon it would be a failure.

An anonymous insider told the outlet, “If it’s not the highest-performing thing Amazon has ever done, it’s a failure.”

This insider added the caveat, “But the outside world may not ever know.”

Charlie Vickers as Halbrand in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

RELATED: ‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power’ Showrunner Admits Intention Of Show Was “To Do Something Different But Familiar”

One didn’t need to see these viewership numbers from Nielsen to determine if the show was a failure, one needed to really only watch the first episode to see how much the show maligned Tolkien’s work.

What these numbers do do is act as a confirmation that mass audiences are not interested in the novel that J.R.R. Tolkien never wrote by showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. Audiences don’t want “something different but familiar.” 

Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor and Robert Aramayo as Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

What do you make of the fact that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power didn’t chart in the most watched streaming programs of 2022 and that it wasn’t even the most watched streaming series on Prime Video?

NEXT: ‘The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim’ Producer Trashes Amazon’s ‘Rings Of Power’ Series

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