Prime Video’s most expensive action movie to date, which completely divided critics and audiences, is making a comeback on the streaming charts a year after it was released. Dwayne Johnson is no stranger to large-budget action movies. In fact, it’s what the actor is predominantly known for. Following on from the major hits like The Mummy Returns, The Other Guys, Fast Five, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Dwayne Johnson partnered with Captain America himself, Chris Evans, and Prime Video for one of his most expensive movies to date. Those who follow the actor/wrestler’s career know we’re talking about Red One, and, despite being a major box office flop in 2024, it gained a second life on streaming. A year after it was first released on Prime Video, families are going back for a second helping of the holiday-themed action movie.
Red One is currently streaming on Prime Video, and it’s made its way back from the naughty list to climb up the streaming chart. Red One is currently the fourth most popular movie on Prime Video, and the seventh most popular piece of content overall (including TV series). Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy currently holds the top spot on the movie chart, with Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas in second, and Wicked in third. Amazon took a major gamble with Red One, despite it seeming like the safest film ever made on paper. The movie starred two A-listers (Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans), alongside a great supporting cast made up of Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, Kiernan Shipka, Nick Kroll, and Bonnie Hunt. The film also played to its cast’s strengths, blending CGI-filled action with lots of quippy comedy. Add to that a budget larger than some countries’ GDP, and Red One should have been a hit. However, during its theatrical release, Red One grossed just $186 million against a budget of over $250 million.
But, when Red One dropped on streaming in 2024, it broke several streaming records and skyrocketed to the top of Prime Video’s charts well into 2025. Jake Kasdan directed Red One, from a script written by Chris Morgan and Hiram Garcia. The movie blended the tale of Saint Nicholas with other holiday-themed folklore and mythology, and a fantasy/action story. Dwayne Johnson played the head of security at the North Pole, who is tasked with rescuing Santa (Simmons) when he’s kidnapped by an evil witch.
‘Red One’ Completely Divided Critics & Audiences
It feels incredibly rare to see audiences and critics on the same page, and Red One is the epitome of that disparity. Red One was slated by critics, holding a measly 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, hopped up on candy canes and eggnog, audiences flocked to the film’s defense, earning it an 89% user rating.
“I absolutely loved it, it was a perfect Christmas film,” wrote one user. The user reviews section is filled with five-star ratings, like this user’s review, who wrote, “Apparently, this movie was considered a flop. But I thought it was great. It was a fun and exciting new take on Santa Claus. Really entertaining movie.”
- Release Date
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November 15, 2024
- Runtime
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123 Minutes
- Producers
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Barry H. Waldman, Chris Morgan, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Melvin Mar
