Prime Video
There’s burying the lead, there are news dumps, and then there’s lifting the review embargo for your movie during the height of the 2024 Presidential election, which is exactly what Prime Video did with their upcoming Christmas movie Red One.
Red One was first reported on in June 2021, when the project was announced and described as a “unique concept that represents a property that could encompass not only a tentpole film but could reach beyond entertainment across multiple industries and businesses.”
Fast forward over three years later and it looks like none of that will come true, as the film has been panned by critics and is projected to open to about $35 million when it releases next week.
“You’re left with an overwhelming confusion over who Red One is actually aimed at,” Digital Spy said in its review of the film.
“It is a movie that is playing in front of you, I can comfortably give it that much, and for one meant to summon up the Christmas spirit, there’s not a whiff of mirth from the screenplay to the production level,” critiqued IndieWire.
“Red One could almost be the movie version of Vampire Assassin 4. It’s that busy and bumptious, that overstuffed with cheesy digital effects, that generically derivative a piece of violent kitsch,” summarized Variety.
In addition to The Rock, Red One also stars Chris Evans — who has seemed just totally directionless since Avengers: Endgame — Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and more. Red One will be released in movie theaters on Friday, November 15 before streaming on Prime Video at a later date.