Vin Diesel appeared to revive his years-old beef with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson during the Golden Globes, but the moment wasn’t so much reconciliatory as it was… extremely awkward.

Diesel appeared at the star-studded awards ceremony to present the trophy for cinematic and box office achievement. While Wicked rightfully got its due, viewers couldn’t help but notice the “unadulterated loathing” that permeated Diesel’s interaction with Johnson, whom he starred opposite in The Fast and Furious franchise. Taking a pause (or, given the winner, “holding space”) at the start of his presenter speech, Diesel gave a bizarre shout out to Johnson, whose reaction was caught as the camera panned to the Moana star.

Johnson was seen smiling awkwardly, as a few scarce laughs trickled throughout the audience. To be fair, one must have an understanding of the two actors’ tumultuous history for the moment to truly land, but even then it feels like a somewhat stale joke since Diesel and Johnson had ostensibly squashed their beef. For context, the feud dates back to 2016, when Johnson called out an unnamed Fast co-star as “chicken s**t” and a “candy a**” in an Instagram post. 

Later, Diesel revealed himself to be the subject of that roast when explaining in an interview that, as a producer of the franchise, he had used a “tough love” approach to get the best work out of Johnson. While it would be useful for Diesel to remember that this is The Fast and The Furious and is therefore not worthy of this Daniel Day Lewis-like approach to acting, he nonetheless cited his producer strategy as the source of their beef. It was squashed, however, in 2023, when Johnson shocked audiences by appearing as his character, Luke Hobbs, in the mid-credits scene of Fast X. 

Since then, all appeared to be well in the Fast universe, with both Johnson and Diesel set to appear in what might as well be the eleven-hundredth installment, next year’s Fast XI (yep, we’ve moved to Roman numerals, because there’s simply not enough regular digits). Perhaps it was the staleness of the feud, or the fact that Diesel hasn’t appeared in a film this year, which made his Golden Globes moment read a little cringe for viewers. 

“You could literally see The Rock’s hatred towards Vin Diesel in that shot,” one user wrote on X, with another adding that they got to see “what The Rock looks like when he’s fantasizing about tearing Vin Diesel in half.” Others used a series of teeth-baring emojis to sum up the awkward exchange, or expressed excitement that they “thought some s*** was gonna pop off” in the vein of Chris Rock and Will Smith. “This is the kind of drama the Golden Globes needed,” a fourth onlooker wrote. 

While it briefly pulled focus, the interaction was one of multiple talked-about moments at the ceremony, from Kieran Culkin’s deserved win for A Real Pain to Andrew Garfield’s win for being, well, Andrew Garfield. We also got an appearance from the respective winners of the Glen Powell and Timothée Chalamet lookalike contests (yep, you read that right), and celebrated prize-getters like Demi Moore (for The Substance), Emilia Pérez (for best musical or comedy) and Sebastian Stan (for A Different Man).

Did the leaked Moana set pics leave you wondering if The Rock is hitting the gym 2x lately? Well, it seems not because the secret’s out.

There wasn’t much debate on whether Dwayne Johnson is a good fit to play the live-action Maui because who else would they cast? Hercules isn’t around anymore and Hulk retired years ago. But even though Johnson’s years of wrestling helped him come close to the god-like physique of an actual demigod Maui, he still wasn’t an exact match for the character’s bulk. So what did he do?

In a recent interview promoting Moana 2 on Extra TV, Johnson revealed that he had to get a little help from bodysuits to portray Maui’s muscles precisely in the live-action remake of Moana. Though he says that he and Maui share a lot in common, “we’re both egotistical, loud, big mouth,” Johnson revealed that his grandfather “inspired the character of Maui.” Speaking on how close Moana’s story hits, he said,

“My daughters, all three of my daughters were there. That was the first time we’d all been together in a public place before. That was beautiful. My mom was there. It’s our culture. I grew up here, got in trouble here 15 miles up the road. My grandfather’s buried here. My grandfather inspired the character of Maui… It all came together.”

While Johnson had no problems getting into the psyche of Maui, “I have a handle on who Maui is. I know the voice, I know the man, I know his inspiration. I can access things. I got it,” he said that the experience was still “eye-opening” for him.

“The moment I stepped on set, Terri, as live-action Maui, I realized right away, ‘Oh, wow, this is different,’ in terms of this is real flesh-and-blood and skin-and-bones. It becomes real all of a sudden. It was almost like getting in my grandfather’s skin and what that was like.”

And we all know that he’s getting into the character pretty perfectly, as seen in the recently leaked set pictures. But when the reporter asked him whether Johnson had put on extra muscles for the role, his eyes widened and he cracked up, “I’m so happy you said ‘You bulked up,’ because when you say, ‘You bulked up,’ that means you couldn’t tell.”

In reality, it took Johnson a good couple of hours every day to put on a bodysuit of Maui’s muscles and his famous tattoos. However, he was counting on the truth to not be out until the film’s release given how discreet the filming has been.

“We shot outside and when those pictures surfaced, I was like, ‘Sh*t, we got caught, ’cause we were putting up, like, walls so there was no paparazzi. But they got into boats and started shooting pictures. But, I’m happy you liked it.”

So, this settles a long debate that has been around since the leaked set photos of Johnson surfaced earlier in November. And we now also know how much struggle went behind getting the photos. So, thank you to whoever took the risk of boating around to get a snap of Johnson’s bare chest, which wasn’t a bare chest at all.

Once upon a time, sequels to Walt Disney Animation Studio’s biggest hits were little more than direct-to-video cash grabs trying to squeeze some extra dollars from a successful property. Fortunately, in recent years, the House of Mouse realized it would be better for the brand to put some elbow grease into follow-ups. These efforts still fall short of creating masterpieces, as Ralph Breaks the Internet and Frozen 2 failed to capture the originals’ magic. Still, they were good enough to justify a trip to the theater. Moana 2, on the other hand, makes a good argument against Disney ever doing a sequel again.

Moana 2 reveals that returning Te Fiti’s heart was not enough to free the ocean. The currents connecting all the tribes in the world remain locked because the vengeful god Nalo has sunk the island from where all the traveling routes flow. Suddenly, that becomes an urgent necessity, as the people of Motunui realize they will go extinct if they remain isolated. That means Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho), now officially a wayfarer, has to reverse Nalo’s curse if she ever hopes to find other people.

This premise is enough to reveal that Moana 2’s plot is as shallow as a puddle. The first movie underlined how Motunui thrived for centuries before Moana first decided to restore her people’s ancient exploration tradition, a fact that’s now put into question. Plus, the sequel never explains exactly why the big baddie Nalo has gone to such extreme lengths to erase humanity’s history. Everything is just put into place to justify Moana gathering a new crew and going on a new adventure, even though every turn of the tide leaves us soaked with disappointment.

What made the first Moana so unexpectedly good is how Jared Bush’s script weaves together mythology with deep themes of building your own identity, finding value in tradition, and humans’ responsibility to protect nature. Yes, Moana is exciting, but it also has something to say, which explains its continued appeal long after the hype of the release has vanished. The same cannot be said for the sequel, which just reuses fantasy and adventure tropes, splashes a Polynesian paint on top of it, and calls it a day.

Right from the start, it’s clear that the primary goal of Moana 2 is to turn a solid standalone story into an expansive franchise. To do that, the sequel has to stop every few minutes to slosh another gallon of half-baked exposition at the audience. The story takes the backseat, as Moana 2 needs to ensure everyone has learned the names of the new gods, fantastic creatures, and mythical concepts that will come into play for a threequel and beyond. As for the titular character, she’s just there, being dragged by the currents of multiple deus ex machinae that steal her focus as the protagonist in favor of simple solutions — the plot must move on, even if that means sacrificing Moana’s agency in her world.

It would be easy to blame the extra pair of hands who wrote Moana 2, as Dana Ledoux Miller joins Bush for the sequel. However, the disconnectedness of the movie’s scenes smells like an executive intervention. Moana 2 is less worried about being a good movie than checking all the boxes in a pre-threequel list. Meanwhile, it forgets that while there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious and betting big in the future, if you want people to keep coming back for more, you must ensure your current installment is enjoyable.

It’s not just that Moana 2 is inferior to its predecessor in every aspect. The movie is also a slog. The constant plot dump and the miraculous resolution of almost every conflict botch the sequel’s rhythm to a point where even a 100-minute runtime feels too much to bear. It doesn’t help that Moana and Maui (voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) don’t get character arcs, instead retreading their steps and revisiting the same conflicts of the first movie. Maui suffers the most, being reduced to little more than a glorified cameo sprinkled over the script so his demi-god abilities can be part of the final battle.

As for the newcomers, Moana is joined by three of her tribemates in the sequel, each reduced to a single personality trait. There’s Moni (voiced by Hualālai Chung), a Maui fan; Loto (voiced by Rose Matafeo), an anxious inventor; and Kele (voiced by David Fane), a grumpy farmer. None of them has a single line that goes with the stereotypical representation they get when they first appear, and their presence doesn’t change the plot significantly.

To be clear, the voice cast is terrific, and the little fun Moana 2 has to offer comes from their genuine enthusiasm for the project. Even so, using 3D animation on such unidimensional characters feels like a waste, as no bright and colorful set piece can compensate for a group of forgettable characters.

Moana 2’s biggest sin, though, is how bland the musical numbers are compared to those of the first movie. The first movie’s musical direction was so good that “You’re Welcome” became a hit regardless of Johnson’s singing voice sounding like, well, Johnson. In the sequel, it’s easy to realize that the whole cast cannot sing, as they paired Johnson’s rugged voice with the worst tune of an unmemorable batch.

The only exception is Awhimai Fraser’s song. The actress voices Matangi, a mysterious addition to Moana lore who steals every scene she appears. But once she starts singing “Get Lost,” you realize that’s her movie, not Moana’s. If there’s justice in the world, the song will be a runner for the awards season, and every Hollywood studio will compete for Fraser in the upcoming years.

Aside from that, Moana 2 still looks amazing. The water effects crafted for the first movie were refined for the sequel, and the ocean rarely looks this good in animation. Since the sequel deals with storms and strong winds, the technical team has the opportunity to showcase the incredible talent fostered at Walt Disney Animation. That does result in an eye-popping spectacle. We only wish there was a better story to go along with it.

2016’s Moana wasn’t just a film — it was a phenomenon. Like Frozen which came before it, and Encanto which came after it, Moana was lightning in a bottle. It felt like we were witnessing an animated renaissance for Disney.

Despite already being an adult at the time of its release even I was caught up in the wave of excitement that preceded this film and I wasn’t disappointed upon leaving the theater either. The first movie lived up to the hype and then some. So Moana 2 is finally here and people are excited — the hype train has left the station. Based on the reception to the first film alone, you’d expect something truly magical, truly worthy of being called a sequel to that original, but can the sequel really live up to that?

What are reviewers saying about ‘Moana 2’?

First impressions seem to be a resounding “meh,” with one X user calling the film “lovely but underwhelming,” and “still a serviceable film.”

#Moana2 fails to reach the emotional heights of its predecessor under the weight of a rushed script & lackluster musical numbers. However, it’s still a serviceable film thanks to some stunning visuals & a winning performance by Auli’i Cravalho. Lovely but underwhelming. pic.twitter.com/cU8CBh2cox

— adam (@apat10) November 26, 2024

OK, well that’s a tad disappointing considering we’ve waited eight years for this. Somehow the phrase “still a serviceable film” sounds worse than calling it straight-up bad. Like damn, this film won’t even be remembered in a month — at least Disney’s last animated flop, Wish, got people talking, even if for all the wrong reasons.

But that’s just one person’s opinion, right? Maybe they just weren’t feeling it. 

Moana 2 was… a movie. You could tell it used to be a TV show, because it gives off “plot of the week” every 20 minutes. It has an interesting concept which I don’t thing they utilised that well, and the main villain is possibly the worst I’ve seen in a Disney movie. Post credit… pic.twitter.com/xU2XYrGFPx

— Joe (@hzjoe03) November 26, 2024

Although I wish that were the case it seems most reviewers are giving equally tepid reactions, calling the film “inconsequential,” “safe” and “hollow.” Ouch.

saw MOANA 2 — it’s beautifully animated so you can see why they felt this was a spectacle worthy of the big screen, but unfortunately the film feels inconsequential and emotionally cold compared to its predecessor. charming and entertaining, but ultimately safe and hollow.

— tyler “llewyn” taing (@tylerllewtaing) November 26, 2024

Why is Moana 2 receiving poor reviews?

I’m tempted to chalk this up to the Dwayne Johnson curse (seriously, that guy picks the worst movies) but the reviews all seem to agree on one major factor that held Moana 2 back: It wasn’t supposed to be a movie.

The original story was planned to be a Disney Plus exclusive series but for “story reasons” it was decided to make it a movie. Dialogue was changed, songs were cut or added, but ultimately it did nothing to save the film.

And let’s talk about those songs because the first film had some great musical numbers. In fact, every song in Moana was a real earworm. Can we at least get excited for some new music in the sequel? 

the music is… fine. some numbers are fun in the moment, but it lacks the urgency and depth that Lin Manuel Miranda’s music had. instead, these are imitations of classic Disney song tropes. so many songs reference motifs from the first movie. don’t remind me of better songs!

— tyler “llewyn” taing (@tylerllewtaing) November 26, 2024

No. No we can’t. In fact, just don’t get excited about anything ever again because like the rest of the movie, the songs are reportedly “lacklustre” or “fine” at best. Despite having Dwayne Johnson’s permission, I doubt fans will be singing along this time.

This whole thing reminds me of those old straight-to-DVD Disney sequels that were so much worse than the original films. Who could forget Cinderella II: Dreams Come True or The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (Okay that film was all right). Moana 2 isn’t quite at that level but it’s definitely giving early 2000’s Disney vibes.

Anyway, reviewers aren’t always right. In fact, there are plenty of reactions online from those who enjoyed the film. It’s not bad, it’s just not going to live up to the high expectations set by the first film, (but did we realistically expect it to?) If you’re excited for Moana 2 then check it out and make up your own mind. But if you want to play it safe and experience a magical film with guaranteed great musical numbers currently in theaters right now, I’d recommend this little film called Wicked — maybe you’ve heard of it?

Dwayne Johnson has voted “Yes” on the referendum about singing along to musicals at the movie theater and, we’re sorry to say this, but it’s become abundantly clear that he hasn’t been to your run-of-the-mill cinema in a minute.

“Sing! You’ve paid your hard-earned money for a ticket, and you’ve gone into a musical, and you’re into it. Sing,” Johnson told BBC News at Moana 2‘s London premiere.

The 52-year-old actor is reprising his role as Maui in the soon-to-premiere sequel to Moana, and he’s given fans the green light to sing along to the new songs, including “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?,” the successor to his epic solo from the first film, “You’re Welcome.” Disney has even released the soundtrack ahead of time to get you ready for your screening.

“This is a terrible take,” weighed in one X user. “This man is out of touch. People who have paid their hard earned money for a ticket don’t want to hear Brenda who is sat a few seats away, screeching at the top of her lungs,” agreed another.

The discourse around the topic was mostly triggered by the smashing success of Wicked, the film adaptation of the equally popular eponymous Broadway musical starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

Now that Wicked has officially pulled the musical genre out of the dungeon Hollywood had thrown it in, the people are in need of re-learning some movie-going etiquette. There’s a reason singing along is frowned upon by the Broadway community, and that same energy should carry over to movie theaters.

At a pop or rock concert, the sound is incredibly loud and part of the energy originates from the audience joining in. For theater and film, however, the experience should be about enjoying the performers’ more intricate craft — and you can’t very well do that if someone is attempting to hit the “Defying Gravity” notes in the row above you.

Though Johnson thinks paying “your hard-earned money for a ticket” grants you the right to belt out your favorite show tunes or Disney songs during a screening, he’s forgetting about everyone else who also paid to watch and listen to the film’s cast, not you. If you are that tempted to participate, either quietly hum along, or wait for your local theater chain to organize a special karaoke screening.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have also given their two cents

Wicked stars Grande and Erivo, both masterful singers, were a little more diplomatic with their stand on the heated debate, giving reason to both sides. “It’s tempting,” the Glinda actress told NBC. “I say, if you come the first time and you sing through, sing through. But come a second time and let us sing to you,” said the Elphaba performer. Grande’s real feelings about the topic almost jumped out from under all the media training, though. “If someone throws popcorn or their phone at you, maybe stop,” she joked.

Although there are no plans yet for Moana 2 sing-along screenings, Universal Pictures has announced Wicked showings specifically designed for viewers to join in (we assume, at the expense of the people watching other movies, like Gladiator II, in the next room). These will be happening starting Christmas Day across a thousand North American cinemas, per Variety. Disney previously did the same for Frozen and the first Moana, so we say Johnson and everyone desperate to show off their pipes in a rendition of “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” should wait until then.

It’s been a great weekend at the domestic box office, with two major 2024 releases finally making their debut. These are the highly anticipated Broadway musical adaption Wicked, and Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel Gladiator 2. But for all their show-stopping and cinematic glory, they aren’t the only movies playing this weekend.

Alongside these two movies is another blockbuster that has entered its second week in theaters and that is Red One, the holiday action flick starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Despite the overwhelmingly positive fan reaction from those who have already seen the movie, Red One is struggling at the box office, to the point where it has set a new (though unenviable) record for its leading man.

The week two figures for Red One at the box office show the biggest week-over-week drop for The Rock since the iconic misfire that was Black Adam. Needless to say, the hierarchy of holiday movie power won’t be changing anytime soon.

Over the three-day weekend, Red One is set to earn around $13 million according to Deadline, which will be a 59 percent drop off from its debut weekend where it took in $31 million. So while the movie is looking to cross that $50 million milestone domestically, it still has a huge way to go before it makes back that history-making, eyebrow-raising budget which is said to have exceeded $250 million (that’s a lot of Santa hats). The good news is that its global take has helped significantly, and in total Red One has made $117 million so far.

In other box office news, Wicked topped the haul this weekend at the domestic box office, making an estimated $114 million during its opening days. Trailing behind by a significant margin was Gladiator 2 which opened in the United States to a $55 million take. Fortunately, the Ridley Scott sequel to the 2000 original already opened in some international markets last week, so its total earnings are already over $220 million.

While things in the Red One camp are looking rocky, it’s not game over just yet. As we mentioned previously, the sentiment from those who have actually seen the movie couldn’t be better to the point where it has maintained an audience score on Rotten Tomatoes of over 90 percent. Perhaps this positive feedback and word of mouth could give the film more legs as we approach Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season.

If you aren’t familiar with what Red One is about then trust us, you’re not alone. It’s not a premise that you would guess just from hearing the name. Red One tells the story of Santa’s assistant who is tasked with locating the big man after he’s kidnapped, but to reach him he’s forced to recruit a “level four naughty lister” to help get the job done.

Yes, that’s what the movie calls him. This deviant is played by Chris Evans, adding to the movie’s A-lister clad cast that also includes J.K. Simmons, Kiernan Shipka and Lucy Liu. If you’re looking for a holiday film that’s a little different, then Red One might be right for you. There are a lot of people who have seen it that would say it is, they just happen not to be the critics.

Dave Bautista‘s past reflections on his acting career have reignited discussions about his distinct approach to Hollywood and the inevitable comparisons to fellow WWE alumnus like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. 

While both wrestlers-turned-actors have successfully transitioned to the big screen, Bautista has been vocal about wanting something different for his career. In a viral quote from a GQ interview last year, Bautista stated, “I just want to be a good f***ing actor. A respected actor.” That one sentence tells you everything you need to know about why Bautista refuses to play into the narrative of being “the next Rock.” It underscores his commitment to acting as an art form, setting him apart from the path often associated with action stars like Johnson.

Carving his own path

Bautista has always made it clear he’s not interested in chasing box-office success for the sake of it. Instead, he’s focused on building a filmography he’s proud of. He doesn’t want to settle for mindless but lucrative action flicks. Bautista’s journey into acting has been marked by an emphasis on versatility and collaboration with top-tier directors. Over the years, he’s worked with renowned filmmakers such as Denis Villeneuve in (Dune), Rian Johnson (Glass Onion), and Sam Mendes (Spectre). His roles in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Dune: Part Two further cement his reputation as a serious actor. 

Bautista has deliberately avoided the formulaic action-hero roles often linked to Johnson, instead opting for nuanced, character-driven performances. Even social media has weighed in on the debate, with many praising Bautista for his range. Beyond his acting chops, his rugged charm, humor, and genuine humility have won over fans everywhere. He’s proof that you can be both a tough action star and a relatable human being. The internet isn’t shy about calling him out as a “zaddy,” either, and honestly, he seems to take the title in stride.

It’s time to retire the comparison game

Over the years, fans on social media haven’t hesitated to draw comparisons between Bautista, Johnson, and even John Cena. While understandable, given their shared origins in the WWE, that’s pretty much where the similarities end for all of them. Many praise Bautista for his range, noting his ability to step into diverse roles that challenge stereotypes of former wrestlers. In contrast, Johnson’s filmography — ranging from Jumanji to Jungle Cruise — has faced criticism for its reliance on predictable action tropes, with Johnson often portraying a larger-than-life savior figure. Thirdly, John Cena has also won significant charm for blending comedy and action rather flawlessly. 

Dwayne Johnson built his movie career on high-octane blockbusters like Fast & Furious, Jumanji, and Black Adam. While these roles have been lucrative, they’ve also sparked debates about his versatility as an actor. The lukewarm reception to Johnson’s recent $250M Christmas action film Red One highlights this divide. Despite its star-studded cast and significant budget, the movie opened to disappointing box office numbers. Additionally, reports about Johnson’s alleged on-set behavior — ranging from lateness to disruptive workout breaks — have further clouded his reputation.

Seemingly, unlike Johnson, Bautista is evidently eager to expand his horizons. He has even expressed interest in starring in a romantic comedy — a genre few would associate with his tough-guy image. Altogether, he’s proven that a former wrestler can handle roles with depth and complexity. Fans are optimistic about this potential pivot, as it reflects Bautista’s willingness to break boundaries and explore new facets of his craft. 

The long list of things 2024 has given us that we never asked for has a new entry — a Moana live-action movie. The upcoming remake of the beloved modern animated classic is already going before cameras, and now our first glimpse at Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui in the flesh is here. And what can I say except… people don’t know what to think.

There was never going to be a Moana remake without Johnson — because he’s so definitive as his character but also because he’s co-producing the film alongside Disney. His initial performance as Maui came out at a very different time in the Red One star’s career, however, and if Johnson was hoping to rekindle his reputation with this walk down memory lane then it seems he was mistaken. Set photos from the Moana shoot have hit the web, and folks aren’t taking too kindly to the Rock’s real-life Maui locks.

The pics, depicting our new Moana Catherine Lagaʻaia (replacing the animation’s Auli’i Cravalho) and Johnson’s Maui on a beach set, showcase the bald-headed beefcake in a very fake-looking jet-black wig. Not to mention that his arms, which really don’t need to be faked, appear to be padded with rubber muscles. As one disappointed Disney diehard noted on X, “This looks like cosplay i can’t.”

Are we sure this is from a Moana remake and not from a Scorpion King remake?

Somebody had to say it.

People are actually praying some CGI will be used to fix this mess of a Maui design.

Others are too preoccupied to react to the set pics because they’re only just discovering a Moana remake is a thing in the first place. “Moana 2 isn’t even out yet and their already making a live action????” exclaimed one user anxious for the future of cinema.

It’s true — Disney is suffering from major Moana-mania this year, which probably has a lot to do with the fact the 2016 original was the #1 most-watched movie across all of streaming in 2023. For that reason, not only was Moana 2 bumped up from a Disney Plus release to a theatrical one but a live-action remake was also fast-tracked. Yes, this is definitely the shortest amount of time between the premiere of a Disney animated film and its live-action adaptation. You’re welcome?

As for Johnson, it’s ironic that he’s now actually starring in a Disney live-action remake when the very idea of this happening was mocked during his guest host gig on Saturday Night Live back in 2015. In one memorable skit, the Rock dressed up as a surprisingly buff Bambi for a hilariously gun-toting action-thriller reimagining of the adorable deer. No news yet on if Johnson will reprise Buff Bambi in Moana amid his hopes to launch his own Disney cinematic universe.

While Moana 2 sails into cinemas this Nov. 27, the Moana redo is scheduled to crash into theaters on July 10, 2026.

Red One might be one of, if not the most expensive holiday movie ever made, and at a glance, its previews look like nothing groundbreaking, but what if I told you the movie was resonating with fans just as much as Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece, Oppenheimer?

We aren’t the first ones to utter these two completely different movies in the same sentence, in fact, the first that we know of was Red One star Dwayne Johnson himself. Ahead of the new film’s release, Johnson shared a story about the time he went to see Oppenheimer, and how that got him inspired about the future of Red One.

“With Red One, our intention was to make a movie that you can enjoy on the biggest screen possible,” Johnson said during an interview with IMAX. “I was midway through shooting Red One and I had an opportunity to see Oppenheimer. I watched in the IMAX theater where Christopher Nolan watches and screens his movies. It was amazing, but I was thinking: ‘Holy shit. Red One on this screen and with this technology could be game over.”

For anyone who knows what Red One is you’re probably confused to hear a statement like that, and yeah we’d agree. However, the only thing that’s important is what audiences are thinking, and those who have lodged their reviews on Rotten Tomatoes have spoken, and it’s feeling a lot like Oppenheimer.

Right now Red One has an incredible audience review score of 90 percent on the review website with more than 1000 scores lodged. That mirrors closely the 91 percent that Oppenheimer has curated since its initial release.

What makes it even more intriguing is the fact that critics slammed the holiday movie resulting in an abysmal 33% Tomatometer score. Even the first reactions to the movie were lackluster. While they praised the chemistry between characters on screen, they didn’t offer much in the way of highlighting other strengths in the production. But again, all that matters is the fans, and they’re loving it.

A glance at the reviews lodged by audiences shows that they love the holiday spirit that the movie emits. Not just that, but the special effects, cast, and unique story are all being extremely well received, so that’s a job well done for Johnson and the team right?

Well, the movie still has to recoup that incredibly high budget at the box office, and it seems to be off to a promising start outperforming extremely low domestic estimates. The movie debuted with a $34 million domestic box office take and $84 million globally. This will help out greatly in making back that cash, and we expect now that there are positive reviews from fans that will also make a big difference in getting moviegoers out to see it.

If you’re wondering what the plot of Red One actually is then here’s what you need to know. Red One is a story where Santa has been kidnapped and it’s up to his assistant who Johnson plays to team up with a level four naughty lister, played by Chris Evans, to rescue the big man.

Red One is in theaters now.

Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans delivered a true stinker with Red One. This one’s stench is destined to linger on the careers of everyone involved. That said, the run-of-the-mill, cliché-filled bomb can at least, when everything is said and done, say it didn’t lose as much money as everyone thought it would.

In the lead-up to the film’s release, Johnson infamously made yet another gaffe about how he expected the film to be as well received as Oppenheimer. He thought that not only would it use IMAX, but the film would also feature his large chest so it has to be a sure hit. Unfortunately for Johnson and Evans, both of whom desperately need a hit, the audience seemed to believe they deserved a bit more from their Christmas film.

The intention behind Red One was actually quite noble. These days, there are kids who are attuned to action comedies in the style of the Fast & Furious franchise, and the idea of creating a movie around Santa Claus as an action hero — where gift-giving becomes a mission only he can complete — is potentially intriguing. With this in mind, casting Johnson, J.K. Simmons, and Evans under the penmanship of the Fast saga’s Chris Morgan made it seem like their work was half done.

However, the end product turned out to be a misguided, unoriginal mash-up of far better movies executed in sharper ways. With no considerable humor or Christmas spirit, Red One failed to resonate. Rather than taking risks, it seemed far too interested in patronizing previous cinematic trends than in genuinely entertaining or possibly even moving its audience. As a result, critics tore it apart. Those audience members who did check it out left the theaters with only bad things to say. In all likelihood, this movie will be forgotten long before winter arrives.

Meanwhile, social media users were quick to mock the movie, pointing out how ridiculous Johnson’s statement about making Red One comparable to Oppenheimer now looks in retrospect. The movie has only made $34 million on a bloated $250 million budget, a fact that further fueled online ridicule.

Still, there is a silver lining to this colossal failure. A major rejection like this from audiences can serve as a wake-up call for studios — especially new entrants like Amazon’s MGM Studios, which handled production and domestic distribution of this movie. It shows that audiences remain strongly attached to great stories with genuine perspective and, most importantly, originality. This bomb proves that fans will settle for nothing less.

Ultimately, the legacy of Red One seems to be fans discovering that Johnson allegedly shows up to work eight hours late. One can only wish they had used that downtime to do more work on the script and make it at least a little inventive. If not for Johnson, then at least for Evans. And speaking of Evans, if his recent picks aren’t going to break the box office anyway, perhaps it’s time for him to go back to his roots and collaborate with auteur directors like Bong Joon-ho and Edgar Wright.

Red One seeks to merge high-octane action with kooky CGI monsters, all in an attempt to earn its place among the crop of Christmas movies that have stood the test of time. But this action-comedy’s overambition is its greatest downfall.

Once again, it’s clear that Dwayne Johnson is right at home with being typecast. While he may be surrounded by the larger-than-life fictional personalities that make the holidays great, Red One is yet another avenue to showcase Johnson’s colossal physicality. Some softness does manifest during the movie’s lengthy two-hour runtime, but this feat is largely attributed to his pairing with Chris Evans.

In Red One, Santa Claus (or at least a jacked-up version of him played by J.K. Simmons) has been kidnapped on Christmas Eve. Now, it’s up to the head of the North Pole’s security team (Dwayne Johnson) to bring him back and save Christmas. To accomplish this, he teams up with an infamous hacker named Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans). Topping off the cast are: Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Kristofer Hivju, and Nick Kroll. 

As the buzz for Red One began to increase, social media couldn’t help but notice the film’s alarmingly high budget of almost $250 million. For such a massive sum, you’d expect fireworks. But Red One suffers from only providing short bursts of action and no emotional investment in anything that’s happening. The blame game will have you pointing to Dwayne Johnson, due to a previously established sense of grandiosity, but Jake Kasdan’s direction is also not helping matters.

The pacing is not only erratic, but it aims for eye-catching moments rather than anything meaningful. While this succeeds in awarding the audience with slick action sequences, these eye-candy scenes quickly evaporate into nothingness and don’t move the story forward. Altogether, Red One is completely unsure of what it wants to be. Through forced humor, which undermines the tension, and chains of activities devoid of emotional payoff, Red One, is simply unrewarding.

Strangely enough, Johnson’s charisma, his saving grace as an actor, is largely missing from his performance. Evans, for his part, delivers much of what you’d expect from a former comedic actor. While his time in the MCU saw him move past his comedy film catalog, Red One reminds the audience of how great his timing is. Thankfully, his lighter energy rubs off on Johnson, resulting in Red One‘s funniest moments.

On the topic of the film’s outrageous budget, which rivals some of the best superhero movies ever released, there is no excuse. Red One could have been made with half of this amount, which begs the question of the delusions of grandeur that possessed the suits and ties to greenlight the project. There’s too much happening in the movie, and simultaneously, nothing is happening. Between the fairly predictable twists, the jokes have a hard time landing, and the CGI becomes unbearable after a while. The over-reliance on visual effects takes away any kind of groundedness from the film, and distracts from an obvious lack of substance, or any kind of character development.

But beyond all the displays, fight scenes, and a swole J.K. Simmons, Red One’s strong suit, and possibly its redeeming quality, is its mindlessness. This is a movie that was made, not to teach any lessons, but to distract you from everyday life, using CGI explosions, a talking polar bear, and a power slap competition. The best way to experience Red One is to go in with rock bottom expectations, and just enjoy the extravaganza of it all. After all, in case you forgot, it cost a staggering quarter of a billion dollars to make.

Unfortunately, for those in search of holiday magic, Red One isn’t a good choice. The film lacks Christmas charm, and substitutes warm feelings for cold-hearted action. Coupled with a generic plot with no room for surprises, it’s something that, at best, is a mild distraction.

Dwayne Johnson has admitted to those unbecoming rumors about things he does while shooting films, and we’re not talking about feuding with Vin Diesel over whose biceps fill the frame in The Fast and the Furious movies.

When asked about the pervasive rumor that he urinates into water bottles on set to save time, Johnson candidly told GQ, “Yeah. That happens.”

The gossip first circulated when an expose on Red One’s “$250 million runaway production” was unleashed by The Wrap. The exclusive report goes into detail on how Johnson’s tardiness on set allegedly led to an overstretched budget and frustrated co-stars.

“On set, away from his trailer, if he needs to pee, he doesn’t go to the public bathroom,” a source close to the production claimed. “He pees in a Voss water bottle and his team or a PA has to dispose of it.”

Johnson admitted to this pee practice in 2021, when he said he sometimes had to take bladder breaks during gym workouts and crack open a bottle. He said in an Esquire video, “I need to go to the bathroom a lot. Not a lot, but probably a couple of times during a workout I have to go to the bathroom. So I break out the bottle.”

Additionally, there’s a 2017 Instagram video where this is evidenced in a, you guessed it, Voss bottle. He said, “I go hardcore when I train. I find a bottle, I pee in it and I keep training like a beast.”

It was a little befuddling at the time, but little did we know he was doing this on the set of blockbuster movies and having some poor assistant walk off with his warm bodily fluids in hand.

Red One red flags

When he resorted to it on the set of Red One, the Christmas film was already behind schedule. Delayed release dates were blamed on the Hollywood strikes in 2023; the true story was more complicated. Sources said Johnson was constantly late, and therefore the pressure kept piling on to get things moving.

The WWE superstar-turned-actor often boasts about his work ethic, which is hard to question when you look at his chiseled body and successful businesses. However, Johnson’s version of working hard apparently didn’t mesh with the crew’s.

Sources alleged his “chronic lateness” contributed to an inflated budget that rose to a quarter of a million dollars and the release date changing from Christmas 2023 to Nov. 2024. He apparently “showed up as much as eight hours late to set on the movie, forcing the crew to shoot around him on some days.”

Amazon MGM, the film’s theatrical distributor, promptly tried to shoot down the negative chatter in an interview with The Wrap. “We couldn’t have made it without Dwayne’s constant work and support. Any reporting that implies that we got to this point with him showing up seven to eight hours late to set is both ridiculous and false.”

The GQ article that confirmed he pees into bottles on set also mentioned a packed schedule. Johnson was recently in Japan, finishing the sports drama The Smashing Machine. He then appeared at a Disney event to announce he’ll star in Monster Jam. And in fall 2024, Red One and Moana 2 will be released. Not to mention he’ll soon shoot the live-action Moana.

There’s an argument to be made that being so busy you have to go to the bathroom in plastic containers at work is counterproductive. But something tells us Johnson isn’t ready or willing to entertain that idea.