Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans Bring Holiday Action to Amazon’s Big-Budget Red One

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Amazon bets big on a holiday blockbuster, hoping ‘Red One’ will spark a new franchise and capture Christmas audiences.

Amazon MGM Studios is ringing in the holidays with a splash, releasing Red One, a Christmas-themed action-adventure starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans. Originally planned to stream directly on Prime Video, the $250 million film is getting a full theatrical release across North America this weekend. With expectations set around $30-$35 million for its opening weekend, Amazon is counting on a strong holiday run to drive the film’s success.

A New Spin on Saving Christmas

Amazon’s Big-Budget Holiday Adventure Red One

In Red One, Johnson plays the North Pole’s head of security, who teams up with the world’s most notorious bounty hunter, played by Evans, after Santa Claus code-named “Red One” is kidnapped. Together, the two characters embark on a globe-trotting mission to save Christmas. The movie, rated PG-13, is directed by Jake Kasdan and co-written by Chris Morgan and Hiram Garcia. It also stars Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel, and J.K. Simmons.

Mixed Reviews but High Hopes

Early reviews have been mixed, yet Amazon MGM remains optimistic. The film marks Amazon’s first major holiday release in theaters since acquiring MGM, with the company banking on an audience mix of box office and Prime Video viewers to measure its success. With a hefty budget of $250 million, the movie’s performance will be closely watched, though Amazon emphasizes that its model depends more on subscriber engagement than traditional box office numbers.

Marketing Efforts Reach Across Cultures

Amazon has launched an extensive marketing campaign for Red One, including ads during major sporting events and a global screening series. Amazon MGM also aimed to connect with diverse audiences through creative partnerships:

  1. Collaborating with It’s Boba Time, an AAPI-owned chain, to offer a special “Missing Santa” drink at 88 locations.
  2. Partnering with Black-owned coffee shops in Los Angeles and Chicago, including Hilltop and Sip and Savor, for free drink giveaways.
  3. Activations in Curacao stores in the Los Angeles area to reach Latine communities.

Part of a Big Holiday Line-Up

Red One leads a strong lineup of high-profile year-end releases, including Wicked and Gladiator II on November 22 and Moana 2 on November 27. Many are dubbing the Thanksgiving release corridor Moanapocalypse, with expectations that this slate will revitalize the holiday box office.

Building a Holiday Tradition

Amazon’s long-term vision for Red One is to make it a recurring favorite, much like other holiday classics. With Warner Bros. distributing the film internationally, Red One opened overseas a week early, earning $28 million. Amazon hopes the film will capture the holiday spirit, becoming a perennial favorite on Prime Video in addition to its theatrical run.

Only time will tell if Red One can establish itself as a new holiday staple, but with Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans leading the charge, Amazon is pulling out all the stops to make sure it’s a success.