Looking for a good movie to watch for Christmas? Look no further than Red One, the new Christmas movie starring Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, J.K. Simmons, and Lucy Liu. It’s also directed by Jake Kasdan, the director behind The Rock’s popular Jumanji movies, so you know you can’t go wrong.
The movie is a lot of fun and has everything you could want: cool action, funny lines, comedy, and even monsters. It’s a great family film. As a Christmas movie, it naturally comes with a happy ending. There’s more I won’t spoil—typical of holiday films—but rest assured, you’ll leave with a smile on your face. That’s exactly the kind of movie you want to watch this time of year.
The standout for me is Chris Evans, who plays a deadbeat dad unknowingly responsible for Santa (J.K. Simmons) getting kidnapped. Evans nails the role perfectly.
Dwayne Johnson takes on the role of Santa’s bodyguard with a twist: he’s about to retire, having lost faith in Christmas. His character is more stoic and robotic in nature—a classic tough guy—but Evans and Johnson complement each other perfectly. Evans brings the roguish scoundrel vibe, while The Rock embodies the loyal badass. Together, they must team up to rescue J.K. Simmons and save Christmas.
I was pleasantly surprised by the special effects—they’re fantastic. Whether it’s Johnson enlarging a matchbox car into a real one (the Wonder Woman joke is hilarious and appreciated!), the Krampus scenes (monsters!), or the climactic finale, the visuals deliver. The special effects definitely live up to the reported $200–$250 million budget of Red One.
The Verdict
You know what to expect from a Dwayne Johnson film: cool action and plenty of fun. Paired with a heartwarming Christmas story, Red One is a must-watch this holiday season. It’s a movie you’ll want to add to your list of holiday favorites. For a Christmas film, Red One earns a solid 9/10.
Red One can be watched in theaters and is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
