Red One has shattered streaming records, signaling a significant evolution in Dwayne Johnson’s career trajectory. Originally known as WWE’s “The Rock,”Johnson has successfully transitioned from wrestling to acting, featuring in a series of high-profile films, including the Jumanji reboot trilogy, the Fast & Furious franchise, and animated hits like Moana and Rampage. However, his latest project, a Christmas-themed action-comedy, has not fared well either critically or financially.
Though Red One achieved an audience score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, it only managed a dismal critic score of 30%, tying it for the title of the eighth-worst-rated film in Johnson’s extensive filmography. Financially, the film grossed approximately $182.8 million, which positions it as the 24th highest-grossing film of 2024. Unfortunately, this revenue falls short of recouping its substantial production budget of around $250 million.
Historic Streaming Success on Prime Video
Prime Video Hosts Top-Tier Blockbusters
Watch the Trailer
Watch the Trailer
Despite the lukewarm reception in theaters, Red One achieved record-breaking viewership on streaming, accumulating 50 million views within just four days of its Prime Video premiere in mid-December 2024. This impressive milestone makes it the most-watched movie debut in the history of Prime Video, showcasing significant audience interest even as the film was still screening in cinemas.
The film, produced by Amazon MGM Studios, was slated for a Prime Video release from its inception, benefiting from the integrated support of Amazon’s studio and streaming services. Its record-breaking launch is particularly noteworthy when compared to other high-profile titles that have debuted on Prime Video, including My Spy, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, and critically acclaimed adaptations like The Idea of You and Saltburn.
Another Streaming Milestone for Dwayne Johnson
Previously Achieved Major Success on Netflix
The substantial streaming success of Red One may well help mitigate its theatrical losses. Given that the film’s inflated budget necessitates a box office take of around $500 million to break even, its streaming performance could encourage seasonal viewership during the holiday season, thereby enhancing its revenue potential.
Notably, this marks the second time Johnson has broken streaming records, with his earlier film Red Notice emerging as the most-watched title on Netflix, even while newer films have garnered considerable attention on the platform.
Dwayne Johnson: A Bigger Star on Streaming
Box Office Challenges Amid Streaming Success
Although Red One featured a distinguished cast, including J.K. Simmons, Lucy Liu, and Chris Evans from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, its theatrical performance fell short of expectations. Nevertheless, the streaming success of both Red One and Red Notice underscores Dwayne Johnson’s impressive appeal on digital platforms, contrasting sharply with his declining box office performance in recent years. The following table highlights some of his recent theatrical endeavors:
|
Title |
Budget |
Box Office |
|---|---|---|
|
Jungle Cruise (2021) |
$200 million |
$220.9 million |
|
DC League of Super-Pets (2022) |
$90 million |
$207.6 million |
|
Black Adam (2022) |
~$260 million |
$393.5 million |
|
Red One (2024) |
~$250 million |
$182.8 million |
While Johnson’s premium star power commands a hefty price tag, making it challenging for films to recuperate their production costs, his overall theatrical performance continues to dwindle. However, his popularity on streaming platforms remains unscathed, as evidenced by Red One‘s unprecedented success.
The Future of Dwayne Johnson in Film
Potential Shift Towards Streaming Exclusives
The success of Red One may pave the way for sequels or spin-offs tailored specifically for streaming audiences. Given the film’s open-ended conclusion, a prospective Red One 2 might be conceived as a direct-to-streaming title, aligning with viewer demand for holiday entertainment.
While Johnson continues to land major roles in theatrical releases—his recent work in Moana 2 has already become a hit, grossing $820.9 million from a $150 million budget—there’s potential for a dual pathway. Expect to see Johnson balancing blockbuster theatrical films alongside a growing roster of streaming projects designed to cater to home audiences.
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