‘Red One’ Becomes Most-Watched Prime Video Film Debut Ever With 50 Million Viewers After Modest Theatrical Run

variety.com:

Katcy Stephan It’s a December to remember for Prime Video. Per the streamer, the Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans Christmas flick “Red One” attracted a record-breaking 50 million worldwide viewers in its opening weekend on Prime Video (measured over four days), becoming Amazon MGM Studios’ most-watched film debut ever on the streaming platform.

It’s a true Christmas miracle for the film, which boasted a Santa-sized $250 million budget and opened to just $32 million in the U.S.

last month. Amazon MGM head of theatrical distribution Kevin Wilson hinted at the studio’s justification for spending big without requiring a lot of ticket sales in return, telling Variety in November, “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.” Despite critics like Variety‘s Owen Gleiberman largely panning the film, with a 33% “rotten” average on Rotten Tomatoes, the film fared better with audiences, notching an A- grade from moviegoer pollster CinemaScore. “Red One,” which is still playing globally on the big screen on over 3,000 screens in North America and 3,300 screens internationally, also stars Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel and J.K.