The holiday season is often accompanied by festive films, and this year, Hollywood is bringing Dwayne Johnson back to the big screen with “Red One.” However, the movie has not received favorable reviews since it debuted in mid-November, currently holding a low rating of 31% on Rotten Tomatoes. Crucially, box office projections suggest it may lead to a significant financial loss estimated at around $100 million.
In “Red One,” Johnson stars as Callum Drift, head of ELF – Santa’s security team. When Santa is abducted, Drift teams up with a squad of Santa soldiers and mercenaries, played by Chris Evans and Lucy Liu, to battle villains and save Christmas. Despite its grand premise of a high-octane mission to protect the holiday, the film seems to miss the mark on delivering a coherent festive experience.
This isn’t the first time Hollywood has struggled to blend action with Christmas themes. Past attempts such as “Santa Claus: The Movie,” “Jingle All the Way,” and “Arthur Christmas” have also faced critical and box office challenges, suggesting a long-standing pattern of failure in merging these genres successfully.
Historically, classic Christmas films have been about warmth and comfort, becoming cherished traditions for audiences. However, as the viewing landscape shifts towards more home-centric experiences, theaters have tried to compensate with increasingly spectacular offerings. Unfortunately, this doesn’t resonate with those seeking nostalgia and sentimentality during the holiday season.
While cinema remains a popular holiday activity, younger audiences tend to favor big action spectacles. Meanwhile, heartwarming films have largely migrated to platforms like Hallmark and Netflix, which cater to softer, more romantic narratives. These films, often labeled cheesy, resonate because they encapsulate the essence of cherished holiday traditions that many want to see reflected in new productions.
As Hollywood contemplates the future of Christmas films, it must strike a balance between vibrant spectacle and the sentimental magic that makes these movies endearing. Just as Santa may have challenges delivering gifts in one night, the film industry faces its own difficulties in meeting audience expectations. Embracing this nostalgia while adapting to modern preferences may pave the way for a more fulfilling cinematic holiday experience in years to come.