‘Tis the season for watching holiday movies, and Amazon MGM Studios is delivering a brand new one in the Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Chris Evans-starring action-comedy, Red One. During a time when a big-budget movie is expected to be a sequel to a popular franchise, based on a comic book or video game, remake or reimagining of a beloved movie, or cashing in on 1980s or 1990s nostalgia, it makes this holiday-themed appear to be a risk, and one that didn’t pay off at the box office.
Red One is a PG-13 action comedy where The Rock plays North Pole’s head of security, Callum Drift, who enlists bounty hunter Jack O’Malley to help him find and rescue a kidnapped Santa Claus (played by J. K. Simmons). The big question about Red One is who the film was made for. There are a few things about the action comedy that hint at what may have given the studio hope it would draw in an audience. The three major things that likely appealed to audiences are the success of holiday-themed genre movies, the proven star power of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and the established IP of Santa Claus.
Holiday Movies Are Hits in Various Genres

The holiday season means families are seeking out something to do together. A classic stand-by is heading to the theater to enjoy a movie. There is a long list of Christmas movie hits that include Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, A Christmas Story, National Lampoon’s Christmas, and A Christmas Carol. The success of Christmas movies has expanded past traditional family movies and found great success in various genres.
Red One is an action-comedy, which may not feel like a typical Christmas movie, but the holiday has succeeded in various genres. Hits like the Seth Rogen-starring The Night Before and the 2016 ensemble picture Office Christmas Party demonstrate that many fans are seeking their Christmas cheer through a raunchy comedy. Die Hard has long been held up as a Christmas classic despite being an R-rated action movie, but still has a sack full of heart and holiday cheer. The horror genre has even found success by getting into the spirit with the 1974 cult hit Black Christmas and more recent fare in Krampus and Terrifier 3. Red One was crafted with the knowledge that movie fans are willing to get their Christmas fix through a variety of genres.

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The Rock Is a Proven Draw

When it comes to a global draw, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is near the very top. Many credit him for revitalizing franchises like Jumanjji, The Fast and Furious, and G.I. Joe, and he was the star of some surprise hits like San Andreas and Rampage. He does have a few box office disappointments, like Black Adam, but some of the issues could have been trying to make a lesser-known villain into a hero and the waning interest in the DCEU at the time. Star power doesn’t mean as much as it did twenty years ago, but The Rock has a built-in audience who loves to see him on the big screen.
Red One has a stacked cast besides Johnson, Chris Evans is the co-star and is an obvious favorite from his years as Captain America. He has proven to be capable both as an action star but also brings some comedy chops in features like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Deadpool & Wolverine. Evans and Johnson are both incredibly charismatic and can balance both action and comedy, making them an appealing buddy team for Red One. There is also J. K. Simmons playing the fun role of a muscled Santa, and charismatic stars with comedy experience in the talented: Lucy Liu and Bonnie Hunt.

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Santa Is One of the Most Recognizable IPs

One of the most recognizable names in the world is Santa. Red One isn’t based on any pre-existing beloved property, but many across the world love jolly old Saint Nick. The Tim Allen starring Santa Clause series was an incredible success and cemented Allen as an instant family movie star. The Allen starring franchise also plays around with the lore surrounding Santa, which has proven to be a successful approach.
Red One reworks Santa Claus and builds a creative new universe around him following the success of previous movies that have played around with the mythology of Santa. Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles franchise has been a major success with Kurt Russel’s different take on the holiday icon in an adventure story. Netflix reworked Santa again in the popular animated Klaus with a story that acted like a fresh origin story. Violent Night was a surprise hit where David Harbour transformed Santa Claus into an action hero in a violent action-comedy.
When the theaters are stuffed with remakes and sequels, it is refreshing to have a picture that is an original story. The Rotten Tomato score as of this writing is 30%, which means it isn’t connecting with critics. Red One may resonate with audiences thanks to their love for various types of Christmas movies, the star power of the Rock, and a different take on Santa to become a surprise hit.

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Red One

Release Date

November 15, 2024

Cast

Dwayne Johnson
, Chris Evans
, J.K. Simmons
, Lucy Liu
, Kiernan Shipka
, Bonnie Hunt
, Kristofer Hivju
, Nick Kroll
, Wesley Kimmel
, Mary Elizabeth Ellis
, Wyatt Hunt
, Lanz Duffy
, Marc Evan Jackson
, Ashleigh Domangue
, Cody Easterbrook
, Jon Rudnitsky
, Morla Gorrondona
, Jenna Kanell
, Rod Maxwell
, Fedor Steer
, Octavia Grace
, Matthew Zuk
, Cora Kass
, Ahmad Ghafouri
, Jeff Chase

Runtime

123 Minutes

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