Movies
Examining the Failures and Lessons of Red One
2024-11-18
Red One stands as a fascinating case in the world of moviemaking. Its journey offers insights into various aspects of the industry, from the popularity of streaming movies to the challenges of budgeting and talent management.
Unveiling the Truth Behind Red One's Streaming Journey
Streaming vs. Traditional Theatrical: The Numbers Game
1: When comparing the intended streaming content starring Johnson and Evans to a talky, R-rated epic for adults, it's crucial to note that even Johnson's superhero stumble managed to open with a north of $50 million. This shows that streaming movies have the potential to attract a significant audience. However, Red One's failures prompt us to look deeper. It offers a glimpse behind the curtain at the actual popularity of big, pricey streaming movies when their appeal isn't masked by tech-industry massaged numbers. 2: In today's strange movie-making landscape, audiences often choose to stay home rather than go to the cinema. Streaming services take advantage of this, keeping their content consumption metrics opaque. For instance, Netflix's Red Notice was touted as their "most popular movie of all-time" with 231 million views since 2021. But the numbers of actual viewers and their engagement remain unclear. There's a significant difference between turning on a "free" streaming movie and giving it full attention compared to paying for a theater ticket.The State of Moviemaking and Audience Choices
1: The state of moviemaking is in a unique position where audiences have more options than ever. Streaming services have become a dominant force, and their content often goes unnoticed in terms of true viewer engagement. Red One's story highlights this, as it struggled despite having a tested movie star like Johnson and an audience favorite like Evans. Meanwhile, an original family film like The Wild Robot opened at about $36 million, showing that there's still a demand for certain types of movies. 2: Other lessons can be learned from Red One's struggles. Starting with its price tag, it's unclear if the exorbitant budget was due to the streaming model or just another high-cost Rock movie. Johnson's $50 million payday and his alleged lateness to set added to the budget woes. Producer Hiram Garcia denied the allegations, adding another layer of complexity to the story.The Future of Media Consumption and Holiday Movies
1: The industry has seen a shift from producing reliable Christmas favorites every decade to a lack of banner holiday classics since 2003. Streaming services have taken over holiday movies, often treating them as disposable content. This has led to a decline in the quality and impact of holiday films. 2: Attempting to rework classic action movies into family films with expensive elements like talking polar bears and fist-fighting Krampuses seems like a misstep. It shows that there's a fine line between adapting existing properties and losing the essence of the original. Red One's experience serves as a cautionary tale in this regard.