Red OneDisappoints at Box Office After Negative Reviews — Earning $34 Million on $250 Million Budget

Mar. 15, 2025

Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in ‘Red One.'.Photo:Karen Neal/Prime

Karen Neal/Prime

Critics and theatergoers alike said “bah humbug” toRed One, the new Christmas-themed action movie starringChris EvansandDwayne Johnson.

The film, which had a massive budget of $250 million, took in just $34.1 million since opening on Friday, Nov. 15, according toVariety,DeadlineandThe Hollywood Reporter.

The film, which earned just a 33% score onRotten Tomatoes, fared better with those who saw it, earning a 90% audience score. The project also earned $14.7 million overseas from 75 markets, during what marked its second weekend in theaters there, perTHR.

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Dwayne Johnson, Lucy Liu and Chris Evans at the ‘Red One’ premiere in New York City on Nov. 11.Theo Wargo/Getty

Theo Wargo/Getty

Prior to opening, the movie — about the North Pole’s head of security (Johnson) who teams up with a bounty hunter (Evans) to rescue the kidnapped Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons), received harsh reviews.

USA Today’s Brian Truitt noted thatRed Onewasmore enjoyablethanHulk Hogan’s 1996 stinkerSanta With Muscles, but added “you’ll find a better dose of the holiday spirit inTerrifier 3” — the gory horror movie about a murderous clown that’s made more than $80 million worldwide since its October release.

Dwayne Johnson at the ‘Red One’ premiere in Berlin on Nov. 3.Sebastian Reuter/Getty

Sebastian Reuter/Getty

Red One,wrote Brandon Yu ofThe New York Times, is “a particularly egregious piece of commercial slop…blandly polished inanity without any clever sense of irony or properly wacky sensibility that would make something this dumb actually float.”

Not all critics were Scrooge-likein their assessment, however: “This search-and-rescue tale of a kidnapped Santa Claus doesn’t reinvent the action-movie wheel, but it’s a fun spin on holiday tropes,” according toThe Film Verdict’s Alonso Duralde.

Chris Evans at the New York premiere of Red One on Nov. 11.John Nacion/Variety via Getty

John Nacion/Variety via Getty

No matter what the public at large thought of the film, Johnson and Evansclearly had fun making it.

“So many times I laughed. I am notorious for ruining takes. I laugh; it’s just what happens,” Johnson previously told PEOPLE of filming scenes with his costar. “Chris is a very funny guy. He’s also very talented.”

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Red Oneis in theaters now.

source: people.com