Experience the Holiday Action with "Red One"

What is 'Red One' about?

"Red One" takes us on a unique Christmas adventure to a militarized North Pole. Just before Christmas, Santa Claus (JK Simmons) is kidnapped. The Head of Security at the North Pole (Dwayne Johnson) joins forces with Jack, the hacker (Chris Evans), who had previously passed on Santa's location to the bad guys. Together, they embark on a daring mission to save Christmas. Alongside these stars, the movie also features Lucy Liu, Bonnie Hunt, Kiernan Shipka, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and Nick Kroll.

This Christmas action-comedy combines elements of action and comedy, creating a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. The story unfolds in a setting that is both familiar and unexpected, adding to the excitement and charm of the movie.

Should you stream 'Red One'?

"Red One" has sparked quite a bit of debate among viewers. On Rotten Tomatoes, opinions are divided. The critics gave it a 30% score, while the Popcornmeter showed a 90% score, indicating that most moviegoers really enjoyed it. For example, Helen O'Hara from Empire gave the movie a 2-star rating, stating that there is some heart in the story but it often feels engineered for seasonal spectacle. Owen Gleiberman from Variety was more critical, arguing that the movie had less true Christmas spirit than others and described it as "charmless" and "generically derivative".

However, when looking at the viewer reactions on the same site, there are a lot of 5-star reviews. Viewers praise the visual effects and call "Red One" "fantastic fun", "so funny", and a "must see for Christmas". After streaming it myself, I have to agree with the critics. While it may be flashy and have an impressive cast, it lacks the magic that makes other festive movies a repeat viewing. It feels like a C-tier superhero movie with a festive filter.

If you're not planning to stream "Red One" and need some streaming advice, we have plenty of articles on our site to help you find something new to watch on Prime Video and beyond. Check out our round-up of the best Christmas movies on Prime Video or our overall list of the best movies on Prime Video for more suggestions.