Amazon’s Prime Video has marked a major milestone with its holiday action comedy, ‘Red One’, which became the platform’s most-watched film debut ever. The Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans-starring movie drew an impressive 50 million viewers worldwide during its opening weekend, a record for Amazon MGM Studios. The viewership was measured over four days, marking a major success for both the film and the streaming service.

A Modest Theatrical Start

Despite its strong debut on Prime Video, the film had a modest performance at the box office. With a $250 million budget, ‘Red One’ opened to $32 million in the U.S. theaters last month. However, the film’s theatrical release was part of a broader strategy that Amazon MGM Studios seemed to view differently from traditional box-office expectations.

Kevin Wilson, the head of theatrical distribution at Amazon MGM, emphasized the value of the theatrical release as a way to build awareness before streaming, explaining, “Whether or not people like it, the value of these movies is different for our business model. … If we can put these movies out theatrically and cover our P&A [print and advertising] costs, why wouldn’t we? We’re getting a massive marketing campaign that’s being paid for before the film gets to streaming.”

Audience Reactions and Criticism

Although the film faced mixed reviews from critics, with Variety’s Owen Gleiberman calling it underwhelming, the movie garnered better responses from audiences. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 33% “rotten” rating, while CinemaScore showed that moviegoers gave it a solid A- grade. This suggests that the film found a more positive reception among the general public, a key factor in its impressive streaming performance.

Star-Studded Cast and Crew

Alongside Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, ‘Red One’ features a notable cast that includes Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel, and J.K. Simmons. The movie, which is directed by Jake Kasdan and written by Chris Morgan, brings to life a unique Christmas adventure. It follows Johnson’s Callum Drift, the head of North Pole security, and Evans’ Jack O’Malley, a hacker, as they team up to rescue Santa Claus before Christmas is ruined.

A Long-Term Holiday Hit

Despite the mixed reception from critics, Amazon MGM Studios has expressed confidence that ‘Red One’ will become a holiday classic. Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, noted that both its theatrical release and its marketing strategy were key to its success, saying, “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.”

This success builds on previous achievements for Prime Video. Earlier this year, Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Road House” also garnered 50 million viewers, but that figure was counted over two weekends, while ‘Red One’ reached the same number over just four days.

Continuing Streaming Success

With ‘Red One’ now dominating Prime Video’s charts, Amazon MGM Studios has proven the potential of their hybrid theatrical and streaming release strategy. The film is still playing in theaters globally, with over 3,000 screens in North America and 3,300 screens internationally, while also continuing to draw large viewership on streaming platforms.

For more updates on ‘Red One’ and other Prime Video releases, stay tuned to Vviptimes.