You’ve probably seen the posters. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson looking intense in a tactical red suit, Chris Evans playing a cynical hacker, and J.K. Simmons as a weirdly jacked Santa Claus. It’s a wild premise. But if you missed the theatrical window or just didn't feel like shelling out $20 for popcorn, you’re likely wondering if you can just flip it on at home.
The short answer? Yes. Red One is streaming on Prime Video.
Honestly, the journey this movie took to get to your living room was a bit of a roller coaster. Originally, Amazon MGM Studios built this thing specifically for streaming. Then, they changed their minds. They saw the spectacle—the massive Polar Bear guards, the Krampus fights—and decided it needed the big screen. After a theatrical run that started in November 2024, it finally "came home" to Prime Video on December 12, 2024.
Since then, it has basically become a permanent fixture on the platform’s top 10 list every time the temperature drops.
Where is Red One streaming right now?
If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you’re already set. You don't need to rent it or buy it separately; it's included in the library. This is because Red One is an Amazon MGM Studios original. Just like The Boys or Reacher, it lives there exclusively.
Don't go hunting for it on Netflix. It’s not there. You won't find it on Disney+ or Max either.
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If you don't have Prime, you can still find it on digital storefronts like Apple TV, Vudu (Fandango at Home), or Google Play. You’ll just have to pay a rental fee or buy the digital copy outright. Typically, renting it will set you back about $5.99, while buying it stays around the $14.99 mark.
The Streaming Success Story Nobody Saw Coming
The critics weren't exactly kind to this one. It’s sitting at a 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. Ouch.
But here’s the thing: audiences didn't care. At all.
When it hit Prime Video in December 2024, it pulled in 50 million viewers in its first four days. That’s insane. It actually beat out Road House to become the biggest movie debut in Prime Video history. By the end of 2024, Nielsen data showed people had watched over 5.5 billion minutes of it. It turns out, people really like watching The Rock fight evil snowmen from the comfort of their couches.
Is Red One worth the watch?
Whether you'll like it depends on what you're looking for. If you want a deep, soul-searching holiday drama like It's a Wonderful Life, keep scrolling. This isn't that.
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It's essentially a Marvel-style action movie that just happens to take place at the North Pole. Think Fast & Furious meets The Santa Clause. You've got:
- Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson): The head of E.L.F. security who is basically a secret agent for Santa.
- Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans): A "level 4" naughty list member who helps track down the big guy.
- The Plot: Santa gets kidnapped by a Christmas witch (Gryla), and the duo has to save him before Christmas Eve is ruined.
It's loud. It's expensive (the budget was reportedly $250 million). But it's also fun. It treats holiday lore like a high-tech spy mythology, which is a pretty fresh take compared to the usual Hallmark fluff.
Why it feels different at home
There’s a weird phenomenon with movies like this. In the theater, critics judged it as a "blockbuster," and it felt a bit bloated. But on streaming? It’s the perfect "laundry-folding movie." You can enjoy the flashy special effects and the chemistry between Evans and Johnson without worrying about whether it’s "cinema."
As Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, noted in early 2025, the film was designed to be a "perennial holiday favorite." They knew it would bomb at the box office and then live forever on their app. And so far, that’s exactly what’s happening. Every time November rolls around, it spikes back into the charts.
Quick facts for your watch party
- Runtime: 2 hours and 3 minutes.
- Rating: PG-13 (mostly for some stylized action and a bit of swearing).
- Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, Bonnie Hunt, and Kiernan Shipka.
- Director: Jake Kasdan (the guy who directed the recent Jumanji movies).
If you’re planning to stream it, make sure your internet is up to the task if you want to see it in 4K. The North Pole sequences are surprisingly detailed, and the HDR really makes the "E.L.F." tech pop.
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How to get the most out of your stream
Check your Prime settings. Since Amazon added ads to their base tier, you might see a couple of commercial breaks unless you’re on the ad-free plan.
Also, keep an eye out for the Easter eggs. The movie is packed with references to different cultural versions of Santa and holiday folklore from around the world. It’s actually more clever than the "30% Rotten Tomatoes" score suggests.
Basically, if you have a Prime account, just hit play. It’s free (well, included), it’s fast-paced, and it’s arguably the most unique Christmas movie to come out in years. Just don't expect it to win any Oscars.
To start watching right now, open your Prime Video app and search for "Red One." If you're traveling, make sure you've downloaded it for offline viewing, as licensing can sometimes get wonky depending on which country you're in. Enjoy the North Pole's version of a tactical assault.