Prime Video’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” has returned, and it’s taking the streaming world by storm. The coming-of-age drama made a resounding splash with its Season 3 premiere on July 16, drawing 25 million global viewers in just its first seven days, according to figures shared by Amazon.
The new season, which marks the final installment in Jenny Han’s book-to-screen trilogy, outperformed expectations with a 40% jump in viewership compared to Season 2’s debut. Since its first season, the series has effectively tripled its audience over the same seven-day window — a rare feat in today’s fragmented streaming landscape.
Amazon says “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is currently the No. 1 most-watched season among women aged 18 to 34, and the fifth most-watched returning season across its platform. It also claimed the top spot globally on Prime Video during its debut week, with standout performances in key international markets including the UK, Germany, and Brazil.
While Amazon hasn’t clarified how it quantifies “viewers” — a metric that often lacks the transparency of traditional third-party data like Nielsen, the streamer is clearly positioning the show as a breakout success.
The season’s delayed return, due to the 2023 writers and actors strikes, did little to dampen enthusiasm. Instead, it appears to have amplified anticipation. “To see these kinds of numbers after a two-year absence is what’s really blown us away,” said Vernon Sanders, Head of Global Television at Amazon MGM Studios told Deadline. “It’s the right show at the right time and executed in the right way by an incredible team.”
“I think it’s really Jenny and this incredible cast and the incredible team they’ve assembled. If you think about it, this was a book series that was published a fair while ago, and so I think there have been a number of people who’ve come into this over the years. What Jenny has been able to do, and hopefully we’ve been able to help, is build this community that has just been incredibly passionate and committed and interested.”
Creator and co-showrunner Jenny Han echoed that sentiment: “Seeing how “The Summer I Turned Pretty” has resonated with millions — how the story has sparked so many fan conversations, sent the books back on the bestseller lists, and inspired so many viewers’ reactions across social media — it’s everything I could have hoped for and more,” she said, adding that the show’s resonance, from bestseller book resurgences to fervent fan reactions, underscores the emotional reach of the story.
“As creator and co-showrunner, I’m incredibly proud of what we made. I’m grateful we got to make all three seasons, one for each book, and grateful that audiences have been so passionately embracing the story I wanted to tell.”
New episodes of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” Season 3 premiere Wednesdays on Prime Video through September 17. Tune in now!
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