A Very Merry Christmas for Prime Video

December 19, 2024 0 Comments

Prime Video reports its Christmas-themed movie, Red One, which dropped on December 12, has slayed opening weekend viewership records.

Whereas Apple TV and Netflix have retreated from theatrical releases of their high-profile originals, Prime Video believes the dual strategy was crucial to Red One’s success.

In NZ, it’s grossed more than $1 million after six weekends and worldwide has made more than $US175 million.

This follows The Office becoming the most successful Australian Prime Video Original locally, with October’s opening weekend gaining the highest viewership for any Australian title, and Cross last month clocking up 40 million viewers in its first 20 days of streaming.

Here’s the media release:

Red One is Officially on the Nice List: With 50 Million Viewers and Counting, Amazon MGM Studios Rings in a Record-Breaking Holiday Season

Red One attracted a record-breaking 50 million worldwide viewers in just its opening weekend,* becoming Amazon MGM Studios’ most-watched film debut ever on Prime Video.

“Given the audience response to Red One both in theaters and on Prime Video, the film will clearly be a perennial holiday favourite for years to come,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios.

“Every film is different, and we are so grateful for the partnership with our filmmakers in collectively finding the right strategy to get this film in front of the widest possible audience.

“With Red One, there was no doubt that strategy needed to include a theatrical release and associated marketing campaign, which drove audiences to theaters and generated awareness for the film with viewers who would ultimately tune in on Prime Video.

“It’s rewarding to see our plan pay off for customers, and we are incredibly thankful to the entire filmmaking team and cast who helped make it happen.”

Red One, which is still playing globally on the big screen on over 3,000+ screens in North America and 3,300 screens internationally, stars Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel, and J.K. Simmons.

Jake Kasdan directed the film from a screenplay by Chris Morgan. Producers are Seven Bucks Productions’ Hiram Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Dany Garcia; Chris Morgan Productions’ Chris Morgan; and The Detective Agency’s Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar.

The record-breaking success of Red One, which received an A- Cinemascore and is maintaining a 90% Verified Hot rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter, caps off a phenomenal year for the studio, following the massive streaming performances of Cross, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, The Boys Season 4, The Idea of You, Fallout, Road House, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

On the horizon, the studio is releasing films and series such as Beast Games (on Prime Video December 19), The Fire Inside (only in theatres December 25), On Call (on Prime Video January 9), and You’re Cordially Invited (on Prime Video January 30).

*Measured over 4 days