Red One's Costly Opening: $200 Million Christmas Film Struggles at Box Office

Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans' holiday action film earns $34 million domestically, raising questions about its financial strategy.

Red One, starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, opened with $34.1 million in North America, falling short of expectations for its $200 million budget.
The film was initially planned as a streaming release but shifted to theaters, aiming to capitalize on the holiday season and IMAX format.
Globally, Red One has grossed approximately $84 million, with mixed critical reception, including a 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes but an A- CinemaScore from audiences.
Amazon MGM Studios sees potential long-term value in streaming, despite the lackluster box office performance compared to traditional theatrical releases.
Upcoming releases like Wicked and Moana 2 are poised to dominate the holiday box office, potentially overshadowing Red One's future earnings.