**"Red One" Debuts at Top of Box Office Amid Debate on Streaming Success Metrics**

Amazon MGM's latest holiday action comedy, "Red One," featuring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, kicked off its box office journey with a modest $34.1 million from 4,032 theaters across North America. This figure was enough to dethrone "Venom: The Last Dance," which had dominated for three weeks. Nonetheless, the film's launch sparks discussion about success benchmarks in an era where streaming is reshaping the industry.

Produced at a hefty $250 million, excluding an additional $100 million allocated for global marketing, "Red One" faces scrutinous eyes regarding its financial viability. The debate echoes similar scenarios, such as "Joker: Folie à Deux," branded a flop with a $37 million start against a $200 million budget, whereas "Killers of the Flower Moon" opened to $23 million and was considered more successful despite equivalent costs.

Despite the lukewarm critics' reception and its 33% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Red One" managed to charm audiences, earning an "A-" CinemaScore. The plot revolves around the kidnapping of Santa Claus, played by J.K. Simmons, and the ensuing rescue mission led by his security head, Dwayne Johnson, and a skilled bounty hunter played by Chris Evans. The film's ability to sustain audience interest through the holiday season will be crucial to justify its steep production costs.

On the international front, "Red One" secured an additional $14.7 million from 75 markets in its second weekend, achieving a total of $84.1 million globally. Kevin Wilson, head of theatrical distribution at Amazon MGM, acknowledged the forthcoming competition from blockbuster hopefuls like "Wicked," "Gladiator II," and "Moana 2," but emphasized the film's unique offering.

Wilson also underscored Amazon MGM's broader strategy, asserting that the value of big-budget films extends beyond box office revenues to generating buzz for Prime Video. Though viewership numbers on streaming platforms are not as readily available as box office data, the film's future—potentially implying a sequel—might hinge on its overall performance across both theaters and streaming.

In the box office race, "Venom 3" followed in second place with $7.3 million from 3,421 theaters in its fourth week, accumulating $127.6 million domestically and $436.1 million globally. "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" from Lionsgate ranked third, adding $5.4 million, and "Heretic" by A24 settled in fourth with $5.16 million. Universal and DreamWorks Animation's "The Wild Robot" completed the top five with $4.3 million.

The overall domestic box office continues to lag, showing declines of over 11% from the previous year and nearly 27% from 2019. However, the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, with the release of "Gladiator II," "Wicked," and "Moana 2," is anticipated to revitalize the market, offering some much-needed holiday cheer for the industry.