Prime Video’s Bait Becomes a Streaming Hit After Near-Perfect Score

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Beginning with the next James Bond film, Bond 26, Amazon will be the official streaming home for the iconic spy. But Prime Video is already getting a head start, marking the beginning of its involvement with James Bond now.

The new six-episode comedy series, created by Riz Ahmed, has a surprising link to James Bond. It quickly became a popular streaming show after receiving perfect reviews. Currently, it’s the sixth most-watched show in the U.S., according to FlixPatrol – it’s called Bait.

The comedy film opened at number eight in the US and Canada, but quickly climbed the charts. It also hit number one in the UK, where it’s currently at number five.

Bait Is Riz Ahmed’s James Bond Audition

Ahmed created and stars in a comedy series about Shah Latif, an actor whose life turns around when he gets a chance to audition for the role of James Bond. Though funny, the show isn’t officially connected to the James Bond spy films.

Over four chaotic days, Shah’s life falls apart as everyone – his family, friends, even his ex – debates whether he should be the next James Bond.

The cast includes Ahmed, along with Bait Guz Khan as Zulfi, Sheeba Chaddha as Tahira, Sajid Hasan as Parvez, Aasiya Shah as Q, Weruche Opia as Felicia, and Ritu Arya as Yasmin. Ben Karlin is the executive producer and showrunner, working alongside Ahmed, who also executive produces with Alfie Moore and Jake Fuller.

The star of The Night Of has openly said he’d love to be the next James Bond. He jokingly referred to the show as his ‘audition’ for the role, pointing out that every actor has a project that gets them noticed for Bond – like Daniel Craig’s Layer Cake. He confidently stated that anyone watching his show would agree he’s a strong contender, and playfully added he’s happy with anyone playing 007… as long as it’s him.

Ahmed clarified that the show isn’t really about James Bond himself. Instead, Bond represents the ideal his character is striving for – a confident, powerful figure. He explained that the desire to be someone different is something many people can connect with, and that’s what makes the story relatable.

In a recent interview with Men’s Journal, Ahmed explained how the project Bait came about and how he approached producer Barbara Broccoli with the idea. She only had one request: that she not be portrayed in the story. However, she gave him the green light to proceed, which he described as unprecedented and a major achievement. He acknowledged that getting her approval was remarkable, and understandably, people might be surprised by it.

Bait Received Strong Reviews

The series initially received a perfect score, but it has since dipped slightly to an impressive 96% approval rating. It’s also been certified “Fresh” by critics, based on 24 reviews. Viewers loved it too, giving it a strong 88% rating.

Riz Ahmed has consistently delivered critically acclaimed projects for the past five years. His only negatively-rated film was 2021’s Encounter, which received a 54% score from critics (though audiences gave it a 68%). All of his television work has been positively received, with Bait earning particularly high praise – 94% from critics and 93% from viewers.

Bait is streaming on Prime Video.

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2026-03-28 03:06