Red Onebrings a new level of action and comedy to heartfelt Christmas movies, with audience reviews remarking on how entertaining the holiday movie is.Red Oneboasts a cast of action stars, particularly Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson, who are always reliable fan favorites. ThoughRed Oneis unique in many ways, there are other great movies that also includeRed Onecast members or that strike a similar tone to the action-packed holiday movie to follow up with.
Johnson and Evans' humor and action as Callum and Jack, Lucy Liu’s commanding presence, andKiernan Shipka’s mythical villain Grylaall add unique elements toRed Onethat have already made it one of2024’s most notable Christmas movies. From previous action comedies starringRed One’s cast, to non-traditional Christmas movies with a heartwarming message, there are numerous projects for audiences to check out next.
The Christmas Chronicles
Cast
The Christmas Chronicles is a 2018 Netflix original Christmas movie starring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus. After sneaking onto Santa’s sleigh and losing all of the world’s presents by crashing the sleigh, two young children named Teddy and Kate race against time to save Christmas. The film was followed up by The Christmas Chronicles 2 in 2020.
Netflix’s 2018 holiday comedyThe Christmas Chronicles,directed by Clay Kaytis, is a perfect follow-up toRed One.The Christmas Chroniclesis a similarly unconventional take on a family-friendly holiday filmthat sees two children saving Christmas after crashing Santa Claus’s sleigh and watching Santa get arrested in a car chase. LikeRed One,The Christmas Chroniclesgives Santa a modern update and includes some cool action scenes.
The Christmas Chroniclesis certainly different in tone than Christmas classics likeFrosty the Snowman, but it’s worth the watch for its creativity. The movie infuses the common themes of Christmas movies, such as gratitude, starting fresh, and finding joy in helping others, without losing excitement. What’s even better is thatthe movie even has a sequel streaming on Netflix toofor fans who want even more Christmas fun.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is an action-adventure comedy directed by Jake Kasdan and acts as the sequel to the original 1995 film. When a group of disconnected high school students end up in detention, they stumble upon a video game titled “Jumanji.” When they decide to try it, the group is dragged into the video game world, all in entirely different bodies. Trapped in a lush-jungle-themed digital world, the four teenagers must play by the game’s rules if they hope to return home.
Prior toRed One, director Jake Kasdan had previously worked with Dwayne Johnson on 2017’sJumanji: Welcome to the Jungleand its 2019 sequelJumanji: The Next Level. Kasdan had already made quite a name for himself directing movies and TV shows, butJumanji: Welcome to the Junglebecame an instant hit. The movie took the original board game setting of 1995’sJumanjiand updated it to a video game to make the movie more fitting for the 21st century. The resulting film is a funny, action-packed adventure.
Thanks to his performance as an awkward teenager turned into the strong group leader,Johnson’s Dr. Xander Bravestone is consistently funny, and the entire cast works well together to elevate Kasdan’s direction. ThoughJumanji: Welcome to the JunglelacksRed One’s Christmas setting,the movie is a perfect follow-up for audiences looking for an action movie with a similar style of humor and a familiar face onscreen.
Krampus
Directed by Michael Dougherty, Krampus is a 2015 Horror and Comedy release that stars Adam Scott, David Koechner, Toni Collette, and Allison Tolman. The film sees a feuding family accidentally unleash a darkness on their home which sees Krampus stalking them on Christmas Eve.
WithinRed One, Krampus is Santa’s adoptive brother,but that is not the only story featuring the Christmas legend. Traditionally, Krampus is a demonic creature from Alpine folklore that punishes bad children on the eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas, serving as a sort of opposite to Santa Claus. While he is not exactly friendly for the majority ofRed One,the 2015 holiday horror film,Krampus, makes the character notably darker.
Krampusfollows a young boy named Max and his family as they prepare for Christmas and spending time with their extended family. When the family begins to be attacked by toys that come to life and monstrous creatures, their grandmother explains that it is the doing of Krampus, who is angry that their family has lost their Christmas spirit.Krampusexplores the origins of the legendary figure that appears inRed Onein more depthwhile adding scares suitable for audiences wanting a little more edge in their Christmas movies.
Gremlins
When a father gives his son Billy a magical creature known as a Mogwai as a gift, the boy is given strict rules to follow regarding its care. When a lapse in judgment creates the mischievous Gremlins - creatures intent on destruction that threaten to ruin Christmas for the entire town of Kingston Falls - it’s up to Billy and his Mogwai companion Gizmo to save the town from the army of little monsters.
Gremlinsis the perfect follow-up toRed Onefor viewers who are interested in the mythological creatures that appear throughout the movie. The magical creatures that make appearances inRed One, like Krampus,Red One’s villain Gryla, andeven the Headless Horseman, all have their beginnings in legends or stories in the same way that gremlins do. In this case,Gremlinswas inspired by the mischievous creatures of the same name, which were first mentioned in the 1920s and became popularized in a book by Roald Dahl.
Red One Ending Explained
2024’s Red One is a Christmas movie that sees the kidnapping and rescue of Santa Claus, with lots of action, comedy, and a bit of drama.
ThoughGremlinsincludes less action thanRed One, focusing instead on combining aspects of comedy and light amounts of horror, it is still a classic Christmas movie that works well as a double feature withRed One. The evil creatures inGremlinswreak havoc on the town of Kingston Falls during Christmastime in a similar way to Gryla’s sons throughoutRed One, with a few laughs and heartfelt moments along the way.
Charlie’s Angels
Charlie’s Angels is the first movie in the Charlie’s Angels franchise that began in 1976. The film was released in 2000 and starred Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as the titular “Charlie’s Angels.” The film received a sequel in 2003 titled Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. Charlie’s Angels was a box office success and received mixed to positive reviews upon release.
Lucy Liu’sCharlie’s Angelscharacter, Alex, is like a spiritual predecessor to her character, Zoe Harlow, inRed One. The 2000 movieCharlie’s Angelssees Liu’s Alex, Cameron Diaz’s Natalie, and Drew Barrymore’s Dylan working as investigators for Charlie Townsend as they try to rescue a man they believe has been kidnapped. The Angels are stealthy and in control, just as Zoe Harlow, the Director of the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (MORA), is inRed One.
Liu and her co-stars' performances inCharlie’s Angelsmake the movie funny and entertaining enough on its own, and their action sequences put the film over the top. ThoughCharlie’s Angelsis certainly not a Christmas film, and it features a very different set of characters, for fans ofRed One’s action and the quippy dialogue between its leads, Johnson and Evans,Charlie’s Angelsis perfect.
Elf
Elf follows Buddy, a human raised as an elf at the North Pole. As an adult, he journeys to Manhattan to find his biological father, a work-driven businessman. The film explores Buddy’s comedic attempts to navigate human society and his quest to bring holiday spirit to his family.
ElfandRed Oneare the perfect pairing for the holiday movie fan who loves comedy.Will Farrell’s role as Buddy the Elf has become iconic sinceElf’s releasein 2003. The movie follows Buddy, who grew up at the North Pole, as he realizes he is a human and ventures out into the real world to find his dad. The two get off to a rough start, but in the end, much like Callum and Jack inRed One, they manage to bond and save Christmas.
Beyond ultimately helping Santa and saving Christmas, bothRed OneandElftouch on the idea of the real meaning of Christmas.
WhileElfdoes lack the action sequences that help makeRed Oneso exciting, its comedy is next level and,surprisingly, the two films do share some important themes. Beyond ultimately helping Santa and saving Christmas, bothRed OneandElftouch on the idea of the real meaning of Christmas. Characters in each film realize that many people have lost the joy of Christmas, leading to more people being on the naughty list or not believing in Santa at all.Red OneandElfhelp audiences realize that people are often kinder than they seem.
Violent Night
David Harbor dons the silk red coat and hat of Santa Claus in Violent Night, a black comedy Christmas action film by director Tommy Wirkola. A group of mercenaries lays siege on the property of a wealthy family on Christmas Eve in hopes of scoring a self-bestowed gift of $300 million, leaving Santa Claus as the unlikely but capable last line of defense. Though the family themselves may not be perfect, the youngest daughter remains a kind-hearted child. With her help, and a unique repertoire of magical skills and tools at his disposal, Santa will double-check his naughty and nice list as he dispenses his own brand of justice to the assailants.
LikeRed One’s kidnapping,Violent Nightsimilarly involves a hostage situation, only this time it is Santa Claus (played byStranger Things' David Harbour) who is at the rescue. After arriving at their house to deliver presents, Santa realizes that the family has been taken hostage by a group of mercenaries who use holiday codenames. In the action-packed thriller,Santa must save the family from their captors before finishing his Christmas Eve duties.
WhileViolent Nightmight not be family friendly in the same way asRed One, critics and audiences enjoyed it upon release.
Funnily,Violent Nightseems to function as a sort of mirror image ofRed One,with Santa responsible for fighting the villains himself. WhileViolent Nightmight not be family-friendly in the same way asRed One, critics and audiences enjoyed it upon release. Likewise, adult audiences ofRed Onewill be entertained byViolent Night’s action and humor, making this combination perfect for fans of intense action with a Christmas twist.
Knives Out
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, there are suspects aplenty. Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death.
At first glance,Knives Outmight seem like the most unusualRed Onefollow-up on this list, but the two movies are actually the perfect pairing due to their differing Chris Evans performances. WhileRed Oneis built on its action sequences, and Evans has more than made his name as an action star through his previous role in the MCU,Knives Outlets him display his talent in a dramatic role, allowing audiences to see a different side of his work. Though he still maintains a hint of similar wit throughout both.
Knives OutcountersRed Onein many ways, but fans of Chris Evans will enjoy it all the same. Additionally, whileKnives Outnever explicitly states when the movie takes place, the attire of the characters as well as the movie’s Thanksgiving release indicates thatKnives Outtakes place in the period surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas, making it the perfect film for this time of the year.
The Santa Clause
Disney’s The Santa Clause follows Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), a marketing director for a toy company, who, after a recent divorce, is spending Christmas with his young son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd). When he startles an intruder off of his roof on Christmas Eve, Scott accidentally volunteers to be the new Santa, then spends the following year undergoing a magical transformation into jolly old St. Nick.
WhileThe Santa Clauseis not directly related toRed One,arguably Santa Claus movies would not be what they are today withoutThe Santa Clause.Tim Allen’s Scott Calvin accidentally takes over the role of Santa when he puts on the Santa suit one Christmas Eve, leading to chaos in his personal life and at the North Pole. Similar to how Johnson’s Callum comes to Santa’s rescue inRed One, the elves inThe Santa Clauseform a task force to break Scott Calvin out of jail when he is arrested, creating another clever parallel.
Red One Is A Worse Version Of A Classic Disney Christmas Movie
Red One seems to be giving an all-new look at the world of Christmas, but this Disney Christmas classic already beat The Rock to the punch.
Just asRed Onechanged Santa and his helpers to fit in a more modern context,The Santa Clausrevamped Santa for the 1990s and became a Christmas classic in the process.The Santa Clauseis the perfect Santa-themed follow-up toRed One, and really any other Christmas movie too.
Die Hard
Die Hard follows NYPD officer John McClane as he attempts to rescue hostages, including his estranged wife, from terrorists who have overtaken a Los Angeles skyscraper. Released in 1988, this action film is noted for its central character’s resourcefulness and determination in overcoming overwhelming odds with limited assistance.
Die Hardis definitively a Christmas movie, and a classic one at that, so it is only fitting that the action classic would pair well withRed One’s humorous new take on a holiday action movie. ThoughDie Hardmight not be considered a comedy in the same way asRed One, it has its own humorous moments wrapped up in a tense battle between a New York cop and a group of terrorists in a skyscraper. When his wife’s Christmas party is hijacked, John McClane steps in to save the day, taking out his opponents one at a time.
Many modern action movies have found inspiration inDie Hard, and the movie’s cultural importance is massive.Even a Christmas action movie such asRed One, which includes its own unique magical elements, owes a legacy toDie Hard, making the film a must-watch for anyone who hasn’t seen it. WhileRed Oneis certainly an exciting new addition to the Christmas genre, the recommendations in this list are a variety of great choices for fans to expand their watch lists even further and maybe even find a new favorite.
Red One
After Santa Claus is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with a notorious bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a thrilling, globe-spanning mission to save Christmas. This action-packed holiday adventure mixes comedy and festive magic, with an ensemble cast that includes Lucy Liu and J.K. Simmons.
