The Christmas action movie Red One, starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, bombed in theatres. It was released in November 2024, the movie had a massive $250 million budget but earned only $32 million in the U.S. box office. Critics weren’t kind either, calling it one of the worst movies of the year.
However, something surprising happened when Red One was released on Prime Video recently. It became a massive hit, attracting 50 million viewers worldwide in just four days! This made it Amazon MGM Studios’ most-watched movie debut on the platform ever.
So, how did a flop turn into a success? Experts say Amazon’s strategy helped. Kevin Wilson, Amazon MGM’s head of theatrical distribution, explained that big-budget movies like Red One don’t rely only on ticket sales. Instead, they see value in streaming. By releasing the movie in theaters first, they got lots of attention and marketing before bringing it to Prime Video.
This strategy worked. People who skipped the movie in theaters were curious enough to watch it at home. For Prime Video, it was a win, bringing a record number of viewers to the platform during the holidays.
In the end, Red One proves that even movies criticized in theaters can find new life in streaming. A true Christmas miracle indeed!