Amazon Prime Video has increasingly become a bigger player in the ongoing streaming wars. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the streamer has found success with high-profile shows like “The Boys,” which has become a full-blown franchise encompassing several spin-offs. These are series with big names and big stars. Yet, sometimes, a smaller show (relatively speaking) can break through the noise and become a big hit. Such is the case with “The Rig.”
Starring Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”) and Emily Hampshire (“Schitt’s Creek”), “The Rig” season 2 recently premiered on Prime Video to kick off 2025. Rather quickly, it made its way into Prime Video’s top 10 charts and is currently sitting in the number four spot in the U.S., per FlixPatrol. That also means it’s trending just behind “Cross,” the new “Alex Cross” series, and ahead of “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” Those are both shows with major brand recognition. Yet, this British supernatural thriller has managed to get itself in the mix with much bigger series.
To that end, “Reacher” is also in the sixth spot ahead of the debut of the show’s third season, with other juggernauts such as “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and “Fallout” likewise in the mix. None of these can compete with the Mr. Beast reality show “Beast Games” though, which is firmly in the top spot. In any event, “The Rig” is the major surprise here.
The series centers on the crew of a massive oil rig fighting for survival after a strange fog cuts off all communication. Stranded with few supplies, Magnus (Glen) must guide his fractured co-workers through the ever-evolving crisis. His increasingly desperate efforts to restore contact with the mainland fail as tensions rise, culminating in a devastating accident that brings them all face-to-face with the dangers of one of the most extreme working environments on the planet.
The Rig has become a sneaky hit for Prime Video
What’s fascinating about this show’s success is what it says about the state of streaming. Amazon, in particular, has spent untold fortunes trying to manufacture global hits. The Russo Brothers’ “Citadel” cost a whopping $200 million, for example. Yes, it was a success when it dropped, but was it a big enough one to justify that level of expense? The same could be asked of “The Rings of Power,” which may be one of the costliest shows ever made, when all’s said and done.
Meanwhile, “The Rig” is a Scottish series produced in the U.K. and created by an otherwise unknown writer named David Macpherson. Nothing about it screams “big hit.” While the budget hasn’t been revealed, it’s surely far less expensive than many of Prime Video’s other marquee shows given the lack of A-list actors (among other things). Glen, of course, is a damn fine performer who’s best known for portraying Jorah Mormont on “Game of Thrones” and even played Bruce Wayne on the DC Comics series “Titans.” Yet, it’s reasonable to assume he’s not commanding an outlandish salary.
Be that as it may, the show has clearly built up a following in the two years since its first season premiered. This wasn’t some obvious attempt to assemble a hit. Instead, an unknown writer had a compelling idea, they found the money to bring their concept to life, and it slowly found its audience. Not that it’s some tiny little independent production or anything like that, but this is sort of a “David and Goliath” story for the streaming era. So, ya know, don’t be surprised if the show gets picked up for a third season.
“The Rig” is streaming now on Prime Video.