Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Red One’ Sets China Theatrical Release (EXCLUSIVE)

As a movie reviewer who has spent a considerable amount of time traversing the global cinematic landscape, I must admit that my excitement for “Red One” is as boundless as the North Pole itself! Having witnessed Dwayne Johnson’s magnetic charm and physical prowess in numerous films, particularly those in the Fast & Furious franchise, I am confident that he will once again captivate audiences worldwide.


I’m thrilled to announce that the Christmas-themed comedy adventure movie, “Red One,” featuring the charismatic Dwayne Johnson, is all set for its grand premiere on the mainland China silver screen!

In this movie, Jake Kasdan is the director and it features Santa Claus, who goes by the name Red One, being abducted. To rescue Christmas, the head of security at the North Pole, Johnson, has to join forces with the notoriously daring bounty hunter Chris Evans in an exhilarating, globetrotting adventure filled with action.

The movie is set to premiere in China on November 8th, making China one of the initial regions to screen it. This means that Chinese audiences will get to watch the film a full week before viewers in North America, as the release there has been scheduled for November 15th.

The movie is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and globally distributed by Warner Bros., except in China where import films typically go through a government-owned company. However, it’s rumored that Warner handled the negotiations for import, regulatory approvals, and local promotion in China.

The brief promotional period poses a challenge for the movie. Additionally, being outside of an established franchise could also limit its success. Yet, it’s important to note that Johnson is extremely popular in China. Consequently, while these factors might suggest a lower potential for success, Johnson’s popularity offers a significant advantage.

For quite some time now, Johnson has garnered a great deal of respect, acknowledgment, and admiration in China. This is largely due to his distinctive personality, charm, and physical attributes. Additionally, his efforts to master Mandarin Chinese and his partnerships with talented Chinese individuals have also been highly regarded.

2020 saw The Global Times, a state-owned newspaper recognized for its concise insights into U.S.-China relations, publish an entire article expressing sympathy towards Johnson upon his contracting COVID-19. This piece was inspired by a post from Johnson on Instagram that was later shared on the Sina Weibo social media platform, garnering an impressive 150 million views.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson’s films consistently performed well in China, particularly those from the “Fast & Furious” series. At least four of his films – “Furious 7” (2015), “The Fate of the Furious” (2017), “Rampage” (2018) and “Skyscraper” (2018) – earned more in Chinese cinemas than they did in North American theaters.

The film titled “Skyscraper” partially took place in China. It showcases Dwayne Johnson’s character, a retired FBI agent, battling against a group of terrorists to protect the city’s tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong.

In the time following COVID-19, many Hollywood films have found it challenging to resonate with the new preferences and behaviors of Chinese moviegoers. These films don’t pose much competition for the supremacy of locally produced movies and are being imported under more lenient conditions. Interestingly, Chinese cinema operators might be hoping that some upcoming Hollywood productions could provide a boost to an underperforming theater industry.

Currently, a series of re-showings for all eight “Harry Potter” films is being presented in Chinese cinemas. The initial movie, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” opened in the second spot during the most recent weekend. Meanwhile, “Joker: Folie à Deux” is scheduled to release on October 12th, while “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” will hit Chinese screens on October 23rd.

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2024-10-15 08:16