Dwayne Johnson Watched ‘Oppenheimer’ in Christoper Nolan’s Imax Seat and Thought: ‘Holy S—‘ This Technology for ‘Red One’ Is ‘Game Over’

As a seasoned cinephile who’s had the privilege of witnessing the grandeur of Imax in some of the most iconic cinemas, I must say, Dwayne Johnson‘s decision to adapt his new action movie “Red One” for the Imax format is nothing short of inspired. The sheer scale and spectacle of “Oppenheimer” on that colossal screen left me in awe, and I couldn’t help but think, “If this is what ‘Red One’ could look like, it might just be game over!


Dwayne Johnson expressed his intention to ensure that his upcoming Christmas action film, “Red One,” is compatible with IMAX’s premium large format following a screening of “Oppenheimer” in this format. Inspired by the experience, Johnson had the same IMAX screening room as Christopher Nolan where he watched “Oppenheimer,” and was left astonished. As a natural consequence, Johnson believed that if “Red One” incorporated the same IMAX technology, it could be a decisive advantage, or in his words, “game over.

Johnson stated that ‘Red One’ was intended to be a film best experienced on the largest screens available, and for him, there’s no better choice than IMAX. While working on ‘Red One’, he had the chance to watch ‘Oppenheimer’ in an IMAX theater where Christopher Nolan usually views and screens his movies. He even requested to sit in Chris’ usual spot.

Johnson shared, “I saw ‘Oppenheimer.’ It was incredible, yet it made me think: ‘Wow, “Red One” on this screen with this technology could mean the end.’ I even sent Jake Kasdan a picture of my bare chest and a screenshot, realizing how fantastic [Imax] would be.

It seems that “Red One” won’t be experiencing the massive success like “Oppenheimer” did during summer 2023, as it didn’t manage to become an Imax-worthy event similar to the Christopher Nolan-directed WWII epic. In fact, “Oppenheimer” grossed approximately $1 billion worldwide and received multiple awards, including best picture and best director. Cillian Murphy took home the award for best actor, while Robert Downey Jr. was recognized with the prize for best supporting actor.

In contrast, the film titled “Red One” reportedly cost $250 million to produce, but it only managed to make $26 million at its international debut. The movie is set to hit U.S. cinemas on November 15 and is expected to have a modest opening of around $20 million. Despite this, the film has received significant criticism from critics. In his review for EbMaster’s, Owen Gleiberman stated, “I’m not sure that a Hollywood movie has ever started off the season with less Christmas spirit…Directed by Jake Kasdan with an absence of charm, ‘Red One’ is both an action film and a kidnap-rescue thriller where toy store supply closets mysteriously serve as portals. It also serves as an attempt at building a Christmas world.

Amazon MGM Studios is opening “Red One” in theaters domestically.

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2024-11-14 02:47