Your Guide To Amazon Instant Video: What You Get And How To Watch

Jayden Langosh 13 Aug 2025

Are you looking for a great way to watch movies and TV shows at home? Perhaps you're curious about all the buzz surrounding streaming options. Well, amazon instant video is that, a pretty big player in the world of online entertainment, offering a vast selection of things to watch right from your couch. This service has grown quite a bit over the years, bringing a lot of popular content directly to you.

You might remember amazon instant video, or maybe you've heard it called Prime Video today. It started out as Amazon Unbox, way back on September 7, 2006, in the United States. That's a long time ago, isn't it? Since then, it has changed and grown, adding more and more things to its library, like your favorite shows and movies, and even some sports. It really has become a major destination for people who love to stream.

This service, which is now generally known as Prime Video, brings you a whole world of entertainment. It has a lot of content, more than you might realize, actually. We're talking about exclusive shows made by Amazon, plus many other popular movies and TV series. It’s a good place to find something new or revisit an old favorite, so you know, it’s quite a comprehensive offering.

What is amazon instant video (Now Prime Video)?
- A Look Back at Its Start
- Why the Name Change?
What Can You Watch on amazon instant video?
How Much Does amazon instant video Cost?
Devices That Work with amazon instant video
Watching Without Ads on amazon instant video
Getting the Most from Your Streaming
Frequently Asked Questions about amazon instant video

What is amazon instant video (Now Prime Video)?

Basically, amazon instant video is the name many people still use for Amazon's streaming service. It's now officially known as Prime Video. This service lets you watch a huge selection of movies, TV shows, and even some sports. It's a digital library that you can access from many different devices, making it pretty convenient for your viewing pleasure, you know.

A Look Back at Its Start

The service first launched on September 7, 2006, in the United States. Back then, it was called Amazon Unbox. It started out offering movies and TV shows for purchase or rent. Over time, it added a membership option, which became part of the Amazon Prime offering. This allowed subscribers to stream certain content without extra fees, which was a big change, as a matter of fact.

Why the Name Change?

As the service grew, it changed its name to Amazon Instant Video to reflect the immediate access to content. Later, it became Prime Video. This name change really highlights its close connection with Amazon Prime memberships. If you have Prime, you generally get Prime Video included, which is a nice perk for many people, obviously.

What Can You Watch on amazon instant video?

The content available on amazon instant video, or Prime Video as it is now, is quite extensive. You can find a wide variety of shows and movies, from big Hollywood productions to smaller, independent films. There's also a growing collection of content made just for the service, which is pretty cool.

Amazon Originals and Exclusives

One of the biggest draws of Prime Video is its collection of Amazon Originals. These are shows and movies produced by Amazon itself, and you can't watch them anywhere else. Some really popular ones include "The Boys," which is a rather gritty superhero story, and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," a funny and charming show about a woman doing stand-up comedy. You also have action-packed series like "Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan." More recent hits include "The Rings of Power," a fantasy series set in the world of Middle-earth, and "Fallout," based on the popular video game, plus the action series "Reacher." These shows are a big reason why many people get the service, to be honest.

Popular Movies and TV Shows

Beyond the Originals, Prime Video offers a huge library of popular movies and TV shows from other studios. This means you can often find recent blockbusters or classic films, along with many seasons of well-known TV series. The selection changes over time, as licensing agreements come and go, but there's always something new to discover, or so it seems.

Sports and Live Events

Prime Video has also started to include live sports and other events. In some regions, you can watch certain football games, for instance, or other sporting competitions. This addition makes the service even more appealing to a broader audience, which is a good move for them, you know.

Personalized Picks

The service also works to give you recommendations just for you. It looks at what you've watched before and suggests other things you might like. This helps you find new content that fits your tastes without having to search too much. It's a nice feature that makes finding something to watch a bit easier, in a way.

How Much Does amazon instant video Cost?

The cost of amazon instant video, or Prime Video, varies a bit depending on how you access it. Most people get it as part of an Amazon Prime membership, but there are other ways to pay for it too. Understanding the options can help you pick what is best for your needs, you see.

Prime Membership Benefits

A full Amazon Prime membership gives you a lot of things, and Prime Video is one of the main ones. You get free, fast shipping on many Amazon purchases, access to Prime Music, Prime Reading, and of course, the full Prime Video library. For many, the video streaming alone makes the Prime membership worth it, especially if they also shop on Amazon a lot. This is usually paid yearly or monthly, so it’s pretty flexible.

Standalone Prime Video

If you're not interested in all the other benefits of Amazon Prime, you can actually subscribe to Prime Video on its own. This is a monthly subscription that gives you access to the streaming content without the shipping benefits or other Prime perks. It's a good option if you just want the movies and shows, and nothing else, more or less.

Renting or Buying Content

Even if you don't have a Prime membership or a standalone Prime Video subscription, you can still use the service to rent or buy movies and TV shows. This means you pay a one-time fee for a specific title. This content is usually new releases or titles not included in the regular Prime Video library. It's a bit like going to a video store, but it's all digital, which is pretty convenient, really.

Devices That Work with amazon instant video

Watching amazon instant video is very simple, as it works on a wide range of devices. You can usually watch on your smart TV, your phone, a tablet, or even your computer. This flexibility means you can enjoy your shows and movies almost anywhere you happen to be, which is a great feature. Most modern streaming devices, like Fire TV sticks, Roku, Apple TV, and game consoles, also support the service. So, if you have a device that connects to the internet and plays video, it likely supports Prime Video, that is.

Watching Without Ads on amazon instant video

For a while, the standard Prime Video experience was mostly ad-free, except for a few promotional clips before some content. However, things have changed a bit recently. To avoid ads during most movies and TV shows, you now generally need to pay a little extra each month for an ad-free option. If you don't pay this extra fee, you will see some commercials during the content, which is a change for many long-time users. This is a common trend among streaming services, by the way, offering a premium tier for no ads.

Getting the Most from Your Streaming

To really get the best out of amazon instant video, or Prime Video, it helps to explore all the features. Make sure your internet connection is strong for the best picture quality. Also, take some time to browse the different categories and lists, as there's a lot of content hidden away. You can also create watchlists to keep track of shows and movies you want to see later, which is pretty helpful. Remember, you can find, shop for, and buy Prime Video content directly at amazon.com if you want to expand your library beyond the included titles.

You can learn more about streaming services on our site, and link to this page here for tips on selecting the right one for you. This service, with its wide array of content, is definitely a strong contender for your entertainment needs, honestly.

Frequently Asked Questions about amazon instant video

Is amazon instant video included with Prime?

Yes, Prime Video, which is what amazon instant video is now called, comes as a part of an Amazon Prime membership. This means if you are already a Prime member, you get access to a large library of movies and TV shows at no extra cost beyond your Prime fee. You just need to sign in with your Amazon account, basically.

What is the difference between Prime Video and Amazon Prime?

Amazon Prime is a broader membership that includes many benefits, like fast shipping, music, reading, and of course, Prime Video. Prime Video, on the other hand, is just the streaming service itself. You can subscribe to Prime Video separately if you only want the video content and none of the other Prime perks, which is a good option for some, you know.

Can I watch live TV on amazon instant video?

Prime Video does offer some live content, including certain sports events like Thursday Night Football in the US, and sometimes other live shows. However, it's not a full live TV replacement like some other streaming services that offer channels. It's more about specific live events and a vast on-demand library, that is.

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