LOS ANGELES, Calif. –
Moviegoers were not exactly feeling the Christmas spirit this weekend, or at least what “Red One” was offering. The big budget, star-driven action comedy with Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans sold US$34.1 million in tickets in its first weekend in theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It easily topped a box office populated mostly by holdovers.
For traditional studios, a US$34.1 million debut against a US$200 million+ production budget would be a clear indication of a flop. Some even peg the budget closer to US$250 million. But “Red One” is an Amazon MGM Studios release and they have the luxury of playing the long game, accounting not only for global box office where Johnson tentpoles often overperform, but its life on Prime Video for years to come.
“Red One,” in which Johnson plays Santa’s …