Amazon MGM wisely chose to open the film early overseas in order to avoid a direct showdown with Paramount’s Gladiator II, which launched internationally this weekend ahead of its Nov. 22 domestic debut.

Moviegoers were not exactly feeling the Christmas spirit this weekend, or at least not based on their attendance at “Red One” showings.

The Christmas action comedy "Red One" flew to the top of the box office on its opening night Friday, with close to $11 million in sales.

Red One, featuring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in the lead, has made an underwhelming start at the box office. Compared to its reported budget of $250 million, Red One debuted with a weak opening weekend.

That’s solid in the post-lockdown, post-strike era of the box office. For a Johnson film, it otherwise would be a sign of his A-Lister prowess. He’s good at getting those weird non-IP mid-budget films like Skyscraper into the black.

Amazon MGM Studios' big-budget holiday opening won't have any trouble winning the weekend, but the verdict is out on whether it can hit its intended target.