If the streaming frenzy has schooled Hollywood on anything, it is to expect the unexpected. Despite the absence of plot twists in many recent projects, curveballs have been the ultimate trendsetter behind the streaming uptick. Although the deadbeat box office situation was saved from the bottom ranks with some major 2024 entries, the streaming trend has stolen the show without missing a beat. And while it has turned the tables on many ongoing narratives, streaming recently played a savior for Red One starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans.

After the box-office bomb, Red One reclaimed its victory with a historical record, flipping the script on the magnanimity of theatrical releases as opposed to streaming debuts. 

According to Prime Video, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans’ Red One garnered a record-shattering 50 million worldwide viewers in its opening weekend on the streamer, becoming Amazon MGM Studios’ most-streamed film debut ever. With a budget north of $250 million, Red One opened to only $32 million in the US last month. In a conversation with Variety in November, the head of theatrical distribution for Amazon Studios, Kevin Wilson explained why they are ready to spend big without a need for massive ticket sales.

As per Wilson, these kinds of projects are made to serve their “business model” even though they may not be a fan favorite. “If we can put these movies out theatrically and cover our P&A costs, why wouldn’t we?” Wilson reasoned back then, citing the lucrative marketing campaign paid for before the film’s streaming debut. MGM Studios’ head Jennifer Salke believes Red One’s streaming and theatrical reception will “clearly be a perennial holiday favorite for years to come.”

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While Dwyane Johnson and Chris Evans’ are having their time with Red One on Prime Video, here is a lowdown on the film’s plot for fans who plan to fill their festive slate with this holiday release.

Red One is a 2024 American Christmas-themed flick directed by Jake Kasdan and written by Chris Morgan from a story by Hiram Garcia. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, J. K. Simmons, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Nick Kroll, Kristofer Hivju, and Wesley Kimmel, Red One hit theaters on November 15 in the US, earning a sub-par reception. It is reportedly the first of a Christmas-themed action film franchise.

Red One follows Callum Drift (Johnson), the head of North Pole security, who joins forces with hacker Jack O’Malley (Evans) to track down an abducted Santa Claus (Simmons) on Christmas Eve. The film was released theatrically by Warner Bros. Pictures globally on November 6 and by Metro-Goldwin-Mayer later in the US. While it was plagued with negative reviews from critics, with the festive season gearing up in full swing, Red One finally gets rescued by Santa aka Prime Video. 

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What do you think of Red One starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans' newfound fan favoritism? Let us know in the comments below!