Red One Tops Prime Video Streaming Record In Spite Of Dismal Box Office

Red One has already become a major streaming hit despite the movie's poor box office performance. In Red One's opening weekend, the Dwayne Johnson-led movie only earned $32 million at the domestic box office. This was a disappointing start for Red One's box office as the movie reportedly had a budget of $250 million. Less than a month after its November 15 theatrical release date, Red One became available to stream on Prime Video.

Amazon MGM Studios has now shared that Red One has the most-watched movie debut ever on Prime Video, with 50 million views in its first four days on the streaming platform. This viewership occurs alongside Red One continuing to play in theaters. It is another streaming success for Prime Video, which has also had extensive viewership in 2024 for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, The Boys season 4, and The Idea of You. Check out the comments below from Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios:

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. Every film is different, and we are so grateful for the partnership with our filmmakers in collectively finding the right strategy to get this film in front of the widest possible audience. With Red One, there was no doubt that strategy needed to include a theatrical release and associated marketing campaign, which drove audiences to theaters and generated awareness for the film with viewers who would ultimately tune in on Prime Video. It’s rewarding to see our plan pay off for customers, and we are incredibly thankful to the entire filmmaking team and cast who helped make it happen.

What This Means For Red One

The Movie's Legacy Has Been Redefined

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Despite underperforming at the box office, Red One has become a record-breaking streaming hit in only four days. The story of Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons) being kidnapped and needing to be saved by the North Pole's head of security, Callum Drift (Johnson) and bounty hunter Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans) may not have been ideal blockbuster fare, but it is a perfect movie to watch at home, especially during the holiday season. Amazon MGM Studios is already declaring Red One to be a "perennial holiday favorite," a potential legacy only made possible through streaming.

Related Red One Ending Explained 2024's Red One is a Christmas movie that sees the kidnapping and rescue of Santa Claus, with lots of action, comedy, and a bit of drama.

Red One's streaming success happening as the movie continues to make progress at the box office is a win-win for Amazon MGM Studios as well. Not every movie can be a box office juggernaut, with some faring better in the streaming landscape, or when there is a theatrical and streaming option available. Red One may not be one of the best Christmas movies of all time, but there is ample interest in streaming the movie that will likely continue throughout this holiday season, and potentially beyond this time as well.

Our Take On Red One's Streaming Success

It Was Always Meant To Do Better Via Streaming Than In Theaters

Red One's streaming success raises the question of whether it should have been a direct-to-streaming movie all along. The Christmas movie could have been an instant streaming hit instead of having the discourse surrounding it dominated by discussions of a lackluster box office. Debuting on Prime Video less than a month after the theatrical release indicates that Amazon was more confident in the movie's long-term success on streaming than on it having legs at the box office anyway, and this is already paying off with Red One's record-breaking streaming viewership.

Source: Amazon MGM Studios