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It’s that time of year when Christmas movies flood our screens—some are heartwarming, some are tear-jerking, and some are… well, let’s just say, not exactly getting the warm, fuzzy reactions the holiday season typically inspires. And here we haveRed One, the high-budget holiday action flick starring none other than Dwayne Johnson. After its mid-November release, things have gotten a bit…rocky(pun absolutely intended).
Despite an epic budget ranging from $200-$250 million,Red Onebarely scraped together $176.3 million at the global box office. Ouch. The critics? They weren’t exactly singing carols either, with a current 30% score on Rotten Tomatoes. But hold your horses, because this is where The Rock shows us he’s playing a different game. Turns out, he and his team had a game-changing strategy up their sleeves all along.
Red One: Dwayne Johnson’s latest Christmas adventure—a holiday misfire or a masterstroke?
Let’s be real—when it comes toDwayne Johnson, the man’s track record is almost untouchable. He’s built an empire from the ground up, and one box office flop isn’t going to slow him down.Red One, the action-packed holiday movie he stars in alongsideChris Evans, didn’t exactly set the box office on fire (viaThe Numbers).
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But here’s the thing: The Rock is no rookie when it comes to thinking two steps ahead. So, while others were busy pointing fingers at the so-called ‘failure,’ Johnson was quietly laughing all the way to the streaming bank. That’s right—Red Onepulled off an incredible50 million worldwide viewers in just four days on Prime Video, making it Amazon MGM Studios’ most-watched movie ever (perDeadline).
Johnson didn’t just leave things to chance; he opted for a limited theatrical release before it hit the streaming service. The Rock explained (via a comment onInstagram):
We’re still in 3,000 theaters. We decided on a limited theatrical run before releasing on Amazon to get multiple bites of the apple as we delivered for Christmas.
Classic Johnson strategy—maximize the impact by playing the long game. And guess what? It worked.
WhileRed Onemay have left the critics groaning about its clichés and cheesy moments, its current audience score is aglowing90%. That’s a pretty strong sign that maybe the movie’s true value wasn’t meant to be judged by old-school box office standards. The Rock knew exactly what he was doing, and those 50 million viewers on Prime Video seemed to agree.
Dwayne Johnson’sRed One: A holiday hit that’s got legs
Sometimes, you just have to roll with the punches—and no one does it better than Dwayne Johnson. Upon its November 15 debut,Red Onedidn’t exactly shatter box office records, but it has garnered over $175 million worldwide and continues to thrive, staying strong in 3,000 theaters (per Deadline). Even after the streaming release, the film held its own, easing only 39% in its fifth weekend with a solid $4.2 million domestic take. And the cherry on top? An A- CinemaScore and a current 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, said it best:
Given the audience response to Red One both in theaters and on Prime Video, the film will clearly be a perennial holiday favorite for years to come.
The strategy of mixing both theatrical release and streaming success wasn’t just a gamble—it was an art form. The movie’s global reach didn’t stop at theaters. Promotional efforts stretched across countries and platforms. TheRed Oneteam traveled to Berlin, London, and New York for press and fan stops. Even Roblox got in on the action with an exclusiveRed One-themed raid in the popular gameAnime Defenders, which attracted millions of views.
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But the true victory forRed Onewasn’t just about numbers—it was about setting a new precedent for how movies are consumed. In an era where streaming is king,Red Oneproved that it’s not about one or the other. It’s about doing both and doing them well. From massive trailer views (460 million and counting) to viral gaming experiences, the film has built momentum that’s only going to grow.
As Amazon continues to push out hits likeThe BoysandThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, it’s clear thatRed Oneis a prime example of how creative strategies can turn a potential flop into a global sensation.
This movie is here to stay, and it’s paving the way for future holiday blockbusters!
Red Oneis currently available to watch on Prime Video.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
