Dwayne Johnson’s Holiday Blockbuster Debuts with $34.1 Million Opening Weekend

LOS ANGELES (AP) – This weekend, moviegoers didn’t seem to embrace the holiday spirit, as reflected in the box office performance of “Red One”. The action-comedy starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans earned $34.1 million during its debut weekend in theaters, according to studio estimates released Sunday. This made it the top film at the box office, which was primarily filled with returning titles.

Although a $34.1 million opening would typically indicate failure for a traditional studio film with a production budget exceeding $200 million (with some estimates nearing $250 million), this scenario is slightly different for “Red One.” Being released by Amazon MGM Studios allows for a more extended evaluation of the film’s success, considering not only its box office revenue but also its future on Prime Video, where Johnson’s films have historically performed well.

Originally, “Red One” was intended for a direct-to-streaming release. Its theatrical debut serves as a kind gesture towards theaters seeking a regular influx of new films, marking the first significant studio holiday release since 2018. The film made its debut across 4,032 screens, including IMAX and large formats, during an otherwise quiet weekend for new major releases.

Internationally, Warner Bros. has taken charge of the film’s distribution, generating an estimated $50 million across 75 territories and 14,783 screens over the past two weekends.

However, in North America, it’s clear that “Red One” isn’t a theatrical blockbuster. For comparison, even “Joker: Folie à Deux” fared slightly better during its opening weekend. Directed by Jake Kasdan and produced by Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions, “Red One” received unfavorable reviews from critics, earning a poor 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes. AP critic Jake Coyle described it as “an unwanted high-priced Christmas present.” Nevertheless, audiences seemed more receptive, awarding the film an A- CinemaScore, hinting that it might find its place as a holiday favorite over the years.

In second place this weekend was Sony’s “Venom: The Last Dance”, which added $7.4 million to its domestic total, now reaching $127.6 million and a global tally of $436.1 million.

Coming in third was Lionsgate’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” which earned $5.4 million and has nearly doubled its $10 million budget in just two weeks. A24’s horror film featuring Hugh Grant, “Heretic,” secured fourth place with $5.2 million, pushing its total gross to $20.4 million.

Rounding out the top five, Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” brought in an additional $4.3 million during its eighth week, surpassing $300 million in worldwide earnings.

This weekend serves as a brief pause before Thanksgiving blockbusters arrive. Next week will see “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” competing at the box office, while “Moana 2”, featuring Johnson, is set to debut the Wednesday before the holiday.

“Gladiator II” already started strong internationally, launching in 63 markets and grossing $87 million over the weekend. This figure marks a record for director Ridley Scott and an R-rated international release from Paramount. The film will open in the U.S. and Canada on Nov. 22.

Below are the estimated ticket sales for U.S. and Canadian theaters from Friday through Sunday, as reported by Comscore. Final figures will be released on Monday:

1. “Red One” – $34.1 million

2. “Venom: The Last Dance” – $7.4 million

3. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” – $5.4 million

4. “Heretic” – $5.2 million

5. “The Wild Robot” – $4.3 million

6. “Smile 2” – $3 million

7. “Conclave” – $2.9 million

8. “Hello, Love, Again” – $2.3 million

9. “A Real Pain” – $2.3 million

10. “Anora” – $1.8 million