Christmas has arrived early in China as the holiday-themed adventure comedy "Red One" hit Chinese theaters on Nov. 8, a full week before its North American release.
Moviegoers wait in a festively decorated cinemas to attend the "Red One" China premiere held in Beijing, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures]
"Red One," seen as the first installment of a holiday franchise backed by Amazon MGM Studios, was originally scheduled to be released worldwide on Prime Video in December 2023. In response to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, the action-packed movie's release date for North America and other territories was delayed until Nov. 15 of this year, with the film's international release being handled by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Directed by Jake Kasdan, the film features a star-studded cast including Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu and J. K. Simmons. It tells the story of Santa Claus being kidnapped and the mission that Callum Drift, the head of North Pole security, and Jack O'Malley, a bounty hunter, must undertake in order to rescue St. Nick and save Christmas.
A premiere for the movie was held on Nov. 5 in Beijing, with the premiere's decorations including festive installations depicting the film's stars. The audience's feedback was positive after the advanced screening, with many praising it as "fun fantasy family entertainment."