Box Office: 'Red One' Rebounds With Leggy, Promising $34M Weekend Debut

The Dwayne Johnson/Chris Evans flick opened well (in North America) for a live-action original and could end up yet another "domestic hit but overseas flop."

I’ve been discussing the extent to which Red One would be/should be considered a success on opening weekend by comparing it to The Rock’s star vehicle releases from the previous decade, namely the $25-$28 million launches of Hercules and Skyscraper (not great, Bob) and the $36 million debuts of Rampage, Central Intelligence and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (good enough, on a curve). So, of course, Dwayne Johnson’s Red One - directed by Jake Kasdan - went and grossed $34 million in its North American opening weekend. Especially considering it came off a $10.9 million Friday, and with the promise of holiday legs, I’d have to throw that in the “measured win” category.

This is an Amazon MGM Studios flick initially intended for streaming, with a multiplex release mostly a glorified PR campaign for its Prime Video afterlife. That A) somewhat explains the $253 million budget (everyone got paid upfront with no backend bonuses or “points”) and B) means the theatrical release can be treated as 100% additive both for theaters. However, it does highlight a ceiling for Dwayne Johnson’s theatrical pull. Whether it’s a $50 million comedy co-starring Kevin Hart or a $253 million holiday action comedy co-starring Chris Evans, you’re still going to end up with — with San Andreas’ $55 million launch in 2015 as an exception to the rule — an over/under $35 million domestic debut.