So, you’re looking for the big Christmas action flick where The Rock plays a high-tech North Pole bodyguard and Chris Evans is basically a cynical bounty hunter. You’ve probably scrolled through Netflix for twenty minutes, getting more annoyed by the second because it’s nowhere to be found.
Honestly, it’s a bit confusing. Most people just assume any massive, shiny action movie with these two stars belongs to the "Red Notice" universe over at Netflix. But Red One streaming is a totally different beast. This isn't a Netflix original.
If you want to watch it right now, you have to head over to Amazon Prime Video.
Where to watch Red One streaming without the headache
The movie officially landed on Prime Video on December 12, 2024. Amazon MGM Studios owns this one, so it’s their exclusive baby. If you have a Prime membership, you’re good to go. You can just hit play. No extra fees, no digital "rent" button—unless you aren't a subscriber, of course.
If you're not a Prime member, you can still find it on platforms like Apple TV or Fandango at Home, but you’ll likely have to pay a rental fee or buy it outright.
It's kind of wild how fast this hit streaming. It only spent about a month in theaters before Amazon pulled the trigger on the digital release. Why? Well, the box office numbers weren't exactly "Jumanji" level. It made around $185 million globally against a massive $250 million budget. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a theatrical run.
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But here is the weird thing: people actually love it at home.
While critics absolutely shredded the movie—we're talking a 30% on Rotten Tomatoes—the audience score sits way up in the 90s. Families are treating it like a "new classic" even if the pros think it’s a mess. It turns out that watching a Jacked Santa (J.K. Simmons) get kidnapped is exactly what people want to do in their pajamas on a Tuesday night.
Is it worth your time?
Look, if you’re expecting Citizen Kane with reindeer, keep moving.
This movie is loud. It's expensive. It’s got a talking polar bear named Garcia. Basically, it’s a "shut your brain off and enjoy the ride" kind of experience.
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The plot is fairly straightforward: Santa gets snatched by a mysterious force, and Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) has to team up with the world’s best tracker, Jack O’Malley (Evans), to get him back before Christmas Eve. It’s got that "odd couple" vibe that Johnson and Evans play really well. They riff on each other, things explode, and there are some surprisingly cool world-building details about how the North Pole actually functions like a secret military base.
One thing that’s actually pretty cool? The gadgetry.
They have this tech that can turn Hot Wheels cars into full-sized vehicles instantly. It’s the kind of stuff that makes you wish you were ten years old again.
Why the confusion about Netflix?
The "Red One" vs. "Red Notice" thing is a real problem.
The Rock stars in both. Both have "Red" in the title. Both look like they were filmed in a very expensive, slightly sterile digital warehouse. It's easy to see why everyone gets them mixed up. But again, Red One streaming is an Amazon exclusive.
If you try to find it on Disney+ or Max, you’re going to come up empty-handed there too. Amazon is keeping this one close to the chest because it’s their biggest swing at a holiday franchise yet. They even had it at the top of the streaming charts well into late 2025 because people kept coming back to it.
The best way to watch
If you want the best experience, try to watch it on a screen that supports 4K.
The North Pole visuals are actually pretty stunning, even if some of the CGI is a bit hit-or-miss. Amazon has it available in UHD, and if you have a decent sound system, the action sequences actually pack a punch.
Just don't expect it to stay "new" forever. Like most holiday movies, it peaks in December and then hides in the "Recommended" section for the rest of the year. But for a family movie night where you don't want to think too hard, it’s a solid pick.
Log into your Amazon Prime account and search for "Red One." It should be the first thing that pops up. If you're on a trial, you can watch it for free before the month ends. If you've already burned through your Prime trial, checking the "Rent" section on your TV's app store is your next best bet.
Grab some popcorn, ignore the critics, and just enjoy the talking polar bear.