The Passenger Entered Prime Video Top 10
The thriller film starring Djimon Hounsou and Kodi Smit-McPhee has climbed the Amazon Prime Video streaming charts.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Arthouse
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The Passenger, a 93-minute thriller directed by Vadim Perelman, has entered the U.S. top 10 movies on Amazon Prime Video. The film, which features Djimon Hounsou and Kodi Smit-McPhee, reached a peak position of No. 3 among movies on the platform.
Why it matters
The performance of the film on streaming platforms highlights Amazon’s ongoing strategy of licensing independent titles from smaller distributors. It showcases the reach these films can achieve through digital storefronts after a limited theatrical run.
The Passenger secured a peak ranking of No. 3 among all movies on Prime Video and reached No. 9 on the platform's overall daily chart. The film maintains a tight 93-minute runtime.
The players
Djimon Hounsou
He is an accomplished actor who has received multiple Academy Award nominations for his dramatic performances.
Kodi Smit-McPhee
He is an award-winning actor known for his roles in major independent and studio feature films.
Vadim Perelman
He is a director recognized for his critically acclaimed work in independent cinema.
Vertical
It is a film distribution company that focuses on acquiring and releasing independent feature films.
Bennett Fisher
He is a playwright whose works have been adapted for the screen by contemporary filmmakers.
The details
Adapted from Bennett Fisher's 2016 stage play Damascus, the story unfolds primarily within a vehicle featuring the two leads. The film saw a limited theatrical release starting June 5, 2026, before moving to the streaming service.
Timeline
2003: Vadim Perelman earned Oscar nominations for his film work.
2016: Bennett Fisher wrote the original stage play Damascus.
2024: The film project was officially announced at Cannes.
February 2026: Vertical acquired the distribution rights for the project.
June 5, 2026: The film received a limited theatrical release.
Industry Dynamics
The film's success reflects a broader trend of independent titles gaining significant visibility through streaming platform algorithms. By licensing these projects, streaming giants fill their content libraries while offering small-distributor films a pathway to a massive national audience.
Viewers can now stream the thriller directly on Amazon Prime Video as part of their existing subscription access. The film's digital availability provides an alternative to its earlier limited theatrical run.
The takeaway
This trajectory illustrates how digital platforms have become a primary venue for specialized stage-to-screen adaptations to reach wide audiences. Viewers looking for thrillers often find value in exploring these independent projects that receive limited theatrical windows.
Further reading
For more on independent film distribution, visit the Arthouse section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Movieweb.
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