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Christmas—the most magical time of the year—has the ability to stir up emotions that are as sweet as the scent of fresh pine trees and as warm as a cup of hot cocoa. We gather with family, exchange stories, and indulge in the joy of traditions. Oh, and let’s not forget the gifts—because what’s Christmas without a little bit of greed wrapped in glitter?
But if there’s one thing that makes this season even more special, it’s the holiday flicks that have become as essential as the Christmas cakes.
However, not all Christmas films hit the mark. Some, despite having big names and grand ideas, miss the sleigh ride altogether. And thus, making us wonder how it made it past the editing room. Take, for instance, Arnold Schwarzenegger’sJingle All the Way—a holiday comedy that left a trail of disappointment in its wake.
And as if that wasn’t enough to shake our faith in festive films, we now have Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’sRed One, a Christmas fantasy that also struggled to land its punch.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’sJingle All the Way: An Overhyped Holiday Headache?
WhenJingle All the Wayhit theaters in 1996, it was supposed to be the next big thing in holiday comedies. The plot, centered aroundArnold Schwarzeneggerand Sinbad as two fathers in a mad dash to buy the elusive Turbo-Man action figure for their kids on Christmas Eve, had the makings of a ridiculous but fun Christmas caper. We mean, what could go wrong? But, oh boy, a lot did.
So let’s talk about the numbers. Despite pulling in $129 million (viaThe Numbers),Jingle All the Waywas pummeled by critics who couldn’t understand why this Christmas comedy was such a mess.Rotten Tomatoesawarded it a whopping 21% approval. The cherry on top? A lawsuit in 2001 accusing Fox of stealing the film’s concept, though that verdict was overturned three years later (seeLA Times).
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In addition to Schwarzenegger, Sinbad,Jingle All the Waypacks in Rita Wilson, Jake Lloyd, Robert Conrad, Jim Belushi, Martin Mull, Harvey Korman,Curtis Armstrong, and Richard Moll—basically, a Christmas stocking stuffed with star power.
Red One: The Rock’s Not-So-Rock-Solid Christmas Flick
Now, let’s talk aboutRed One. Released on July 10, 2025,Dwayne Johnson’s attempt at creating a Christmas action-adventure comedy was meant to take the holidays by storm. The concept had promise—Santa gets kidnapped, and the head of North Pole security (The Rock) teams up with a hacker (Chris Evans) to save Christmas. It sounds fun, right?
But much likeJingle All the Way, this moviemissed the sleighentirely.
WhileRed Onehad a stellar cast (Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, and even MCU’s Chris Evans), the movie felt like a rushed attempt to cash in on the holiday action trend. Even with a $200 million budget, it couldn’t manage to win over fans, grossing only $164 million globally (seeThe Numbers).
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So, how doesJingle All the Waystack up againstRed One? Well, when it comes to Christmas movie disasters, the former is so spectacularly bad that it earned a spot at number nine onRotten Tomatoes’ ‘The Worst Christmas Movies’ list.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1996 holiday flop is so rotten, it makesRed Onelook like the gift that keeps on giving!
Regardless, this holiday season, if you’re looking for a laugh—or maybe just a reason to shake your head—Jingle All the WayandRed Onewill both get the job done. But don’t say we didn’t warn you: some Christmas disasters are best left in the past… or at least at the bottom of your holiday movie pile.
Red Oneis available in theaters, whileJingle All the Wayis streaming on Disney+.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
