Thirty years earlier, a small boy named Jack O'Malley leads his cousins up to the attic during a raucous family Christmas. He pulls back the curtain on the party by showing them that the wrapped parcels beneath the tree are from their parents, not from Santa Claus, and he laughs at their disappointment. His uncle Rick rushes up the stairs and scolds Jack harshly for spoiling the illusion, sending the children back downstairs and leaving the young Jack to sulk alone.

In the present day, Jack has grown into a resourceful but morally flexible tracker who earns a living on the fringes. He slips past the mall's security by creating a diversion: he sets a decorated tree ablaze to distract the guards, sneaks inside while shoppers panic, and plants a device in a toy display. As he threads through the crowd he even takes candy from a baby, then slips away before anyone notices. Nearby, an aging Santa known to shoppers as "Red One" sits on his throne meeting families, while Callum Drift, the chief of his security detail from the North Pole's enforcement unit, watches the chaos with grim patience. Callum forces a self-absorbed influencer out of the queue with a menacing glare, protecting the family's moment with practiced force.

Back at his apartment, Jack takes a phone call from a shadowy client who pays him half the fee he expects and tells him the remainder will come when the buyer receives what they commissioned. Jack accepts the uncertain arrangement without asking the buyer's identity. On the other side of the continent, Callum escorts Santa back through a shimmering forcefield into the North Pole compound, where Mrs. Claus greets them warmly. Callum tells Santa he plans to step down after one more Christmas because the world's increasing nastiness has worn him down. Santa tries to talk him out of retiring, but their conversation breaks off when alarms flash: lights in the toy tower stutter and a mercenary team punches through the forcefield and races across the snow.

Callum races after them on a snowmobile, but he loses the intruders before he can catch a single suspect. When he reaches Santa's private room he finds the bed empty and the blanket rumpled; the man he protects has been taken. Callum radios the emergency and MORA--the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority--dispatches director Zoe Harlow. Zoe arrives by aircraft and immediately identifies that someone leaked the compound's location. She orders that they find the best tracker available: Jack O'Malley, who goes by the professional handle "The Wolf." She gives Callum a deadline: twenty-four hours remain before Christmas Eve.

Jack's ex, Olivia, calls him while he is on the street; their son Dylan has gotten into trouble for trying to hack the school's PA system. Jack scolds Dylan for executing the prank poorly and learns that Dylan has a concert that evening that Jack has not planned to attend. The phone call reads as another reminder of Jack's absentee parenting. Later, Jack walks into his apartment and finds it surrounded by North Pole agents. He fights the operatives briefly, then Zoe disables him with a stun device and brings him through a portal to the North Pole to explain the breach.

At the compound, a massive polar bear named Garcia and other guardians hold Jack in a detainment room. Zoe interrogates him and Jack admits he was paid to track a location and sold that information to an anonymous buyer; he insists he had no idea the coordinates pointed to the North Pole. Callum reads Jack his status from MORA's ledger--Jack ranks as a Level 4 Naughty Lister--but Zoe still relies on Jack's tracking skills. After a quick demonstration of mythological reality--MORA's files conjure the Headless Horseman as a briefing example--Zoe tells Jack the mercenary team's trail leads to a winter witch named Gryla. Callum, whose distrust of humanity runs deep, reluctantly takes Jack as a partner.

Santa wakes in a subterranean cell where a young woman sits across from him. She straps him into a machine and attaches filaments to his chest and temples. The device siphons the warmth of his magic and feeds it into a replicating rig that prints hundreds of small glass snow globes--glaskafigs--each of which can imprison the person who first touches it. The witch turns one globe over in her hand, smirks, and watches the output rollers stamp identical globes for distribution. Santa struggles and calls out; the witch, who identifies herself as Gryla, ignores his pleas and adjusts the dials to draw more of his life-force.

Callum and Jack enter a portal in a toy store that spits them into an oversized playroom and they use a magically enlarged toy car to cross oceans to Aruba, where they track down a small-time broker named Ted who handled the original sell of the North Pole's location. Ted plays coward until Jack roughs him up. During the interrogation, Jack slips and says Gryla's name aloud in frustration; that utterance alerts Gryla herself because her power includes listening for her name, and she reacts by routing henchmen to punish Trey's interlocutors. An ice cream truck bursts through the harbor waves, and three enormous animate snowmen spill out and stomp toward the agents. The first wears a carrot nose and a coal grin; Callum yanks the nose free and crushes the creature's ability to re-form. Jack improvises a tactic on the second: he tosses a propane tank onto an open grill and hurls a bottle of liquor to spark a massive explosion that scatters steaming chunks. The third snowman nearly pins Jack in a frozen pool, but Callum rips off its nose and shatters it before the pair can be encased. Ted is left frozen in place by the cold magic unleashed during the attack and cannot answer further questions.

Afterward Callum proposes that Gryla might be working with Krampus, Santa's estranged adoptive brother and the creator of the Naughty List. He and Jack break into Krampus's lair, a fetid cavern of trophies and mischief, hoping to appeal to him. Their presence alarms the demon-figure; guards seize them and bring them before Krampus. Callum makes a solemn plea, urging Krampus to return to his brother's side and help rescue Santa. Krampus refuses to be swayed; instead he insists on a barbaric tradition called Krampusschlap: Jack must suffer a humiliating slap to prove their worth. Callum takes the blow and flies across the room. Jack then activates a gauntlet that amplifies Callum's return swing, landing a massive smack that knocks Krampus back and gives them the opening to escape. The duo flee with Krampus's bounty and a warning that Krampus will not cooperate.

Jack gets an unmarked package waiting in his car after that encounter; it bears his name, but he refuses to open it. Soon after, his phone buzzes with a video call from Dylan; the boy is angry that Jack missed his concert and then holds up a mysterious globe he received as a gift in the stands. When Dylan touches the glass orb it pulses cold and drags him through a miniature landscape: the globes teleport their occupants to Gryla's lair. Jack has no time to think; he grabs his own package and touches the globe to follow. He materializes beside Dylan inside a tiled vault where rows of childlike snow globes sit on shelves. Gryla watches them through a camera and shows them off to her henchmen. As father and son confront one another amid the humming machines, Jack forces a conversation he has avoided for years: he apologizes for being absent, admits his mistakes, and tells Dylan he wants to do better. Dylan answers with restraint, forgives his father's failures, and the two of them find a real moment of connection. Their genuine remorse and promise of better behavior change their internal balances enough that the glass prisons around them crack and shatter, freeing them both.

Meanwhile, Zoe reveals she had secretly planted a tracker on Jack before they left the mainland. The signal pings back not to Aruba or a distant mountain lair, but to the North Pole compound itself. Callum and Zoe quickly deduce that Gryla never removed Santa from the compound; instead she and her shapeshifting minions have infiltrated the North Pole and impersonated staff and Mrs. Claus while they siphon Santa's power in the vault. Callum speeds across the compound and finds impostors masquerading as Mrs. Claus and security cops; Zoe and the team free the real Mrs. Claus and Garcia the polar bear, and they regain control of sections of the complex. In Santa's old workshop they discover the conveyor belts and presses churning out glaskafigs in mass, and Jack, Dylan, Callum and Zoe realize that Gryla intends to use the sleigh to distribute those imprisoning globes worldwide, locking up everyone she adjudges naughty.

Gryla prepares to hitch an unconscious Santa to the sleigh and use his name and power to pilot the vehicle across the globe. The heroes race to the roof as Gryla lifts off. Callum and Jack sprint along the sleigh's ramp, grappling with Gryla's goons and clinging to exposed runners. Jack leaps and unhooks the reindeer's harnesses, and the sudden loss of the team's taut control causes the sleigh to falter and dip. Gryla staggers and tumbles toward the edge; she reverts to true form and expands into a towering, hideous ogress with hair like bristling icicles. She roars and swats at the interlopers with hands that crack snow into shards. Krampus, who had been circling with his own sled, slams into the fray and begins to pummel Gryla in a fit of anxious loyalty to his brother. Gryla batters Krampus aside without mercy, but her strength begins to wane as Santa stirs.

Santa lifts his hand from the harness of the reindeer and channels the old command that has always united his team. The reindeer surge, rear up, and launch at Gryla with coordinated force. They hurl her into the air; her bulk slams into the pile of glaskafigs she has manufactured. The impact sends hundreds of the glass spheres scattering. One globe catches Gryla's monstrously tangled form and the glass snaps shut, sealing her inside and rendering her power inert. Zoe steps forward, plucks the globe containing Gryla, and secures it for MORA custody.

No one else dies during the confrontation. Ted remains frozen and is taken into MORA's custody for questioning; several of Gryla's henchmen are knocked unconscious or captured, and multiple animate snowmen are dismantled in combat--Callum rips noses and Jack detonates compressed gas to destroy them--but these losses do not result in fatalities among the primary characters. Krampus and Santa exchange words after the battle; they accept one another's choices and part without further bloodshed.

With Gryla contained and the glaskafig production halted, the compound's staff moves quickly to ready Santa for his Yuletide run. They administer restorative care, recharge the sleigh's systems, and reattach the reindeer. Zoe coordinates clearance around the world so the sleigh can pass unseen while Callum, Jack and Dylan climb aboard. Santa invites them to accompany him and gives the reins to Callum for the first sweep of their route. They do not simply escort him; Jack, who had lost his childlike wonder long ago, watches Dylan's face as they slide over cities and towns and begins to feel that feeling return. He points out rooftops to Dylan and helps him spot chimneys; Dylan leans into his father's shoulder and the two laugh as the sleigh dips to leave neatly wrapped presents on porches.

Callum watches the exchange from beside Santa and sees Jack soften, reconnect with his son and with the idea of giving rather than taking. He feels the old conviction in himself glow again. Recognizing this restoration of faith and seeing Santa's determination, Callum retracts his earlier resignation: he decides not to retire after all. After they finish the long night of gift-bearing, the sleigh glides home across the aurora-lit sky. Santa, Callum, Jack and Dylan descend over the North Pole where workers cheer and Mrs. Claus embraces them. Zoe secures Gryla's globe in MORA's vault and notes the seized evidence: thousands of replicated glaskafigs are destroyed or sealed.

In the film's closing moments, Santa pilots the sleigh back toward his workshop while the reindeer slow to a landing. Jack stands beside Dylan on the sled and watches the windows of the polar compound recede beneath them. He holds Dylan's hand and smiles in a way he had not since childhood, and Callum returns to his duties with a renewed purpose. The cameras pull back on the four figures--Santa, Callum, Jack and Dylan--settling back into the North Pole as the facility hums with the quiet work of a holiday saved. The final shot lingers on the snow-blanketed landscape as the lights of the village go on, and then the scene fades to black.

Simple Narrative of the Ending

In the movie "Red One" (2024), the story concludes with the successful rescue of Santa Claus, who was kidnapped by the winter witch Grýla. The unlikely duo of Callum Drift, the head of North Pole security, and Jack O'Malley, a notorious hacker, work together to track down Grýla and save Christmas. Through their adventures, they overcome numerous challenges, ultimately leading to a climax where they defeat Grýla and restore Santa to his rightful place, ensuring the continuation of Christmas festivities.

Expanded Narrative of the Ending

To fully grasp the ending of "Red One," let's break down the key events leading to the climax and conclusion:

1. The Quest Begins: The film sets the stage with Santa Claus, code-named Red One, being kidnapped by an unknown entity. Callum Drift, disillusioned with the growing Naughty List but still committed, teams up with Jack O'Malley, a skilled but cynical hacker. Their mission is to locate and rescue Santa before Christmas is ruined.

2. Tracking the Kidnapper: Callum and Jack embark on a globe-trotting adventure, first tracking down Ted, the broker who bought the information leading to Santa's location. They find Ted in Aruba, where he reveals that the kidnapper is Grýla, the winter witch. However, their conversation is overheard by Grýla, who sends her snowmen henchmen to eliminate them. Despite this, Callum and Jack manage to defeat the henchmen and Ted is frozen, preventing further questioning.

3. The Pursuit Continues: The duo continues their pursuit of Grýla, facing numerous obstacles and challenges along the way. Through their journey, they develop an unlikely bond, with Callum's faith in humanity and Christmas being slowly restored by Jack's wit and resourcefulness. Jack, initially skeptical of Santa and the spirit of Christmas, begins to see the true value in the holiday and the people around him.

4. Confronting Grýla: As they near Grýla's lair, Callum and Jack prepare for a final showdown. Grýla, motivated by a desire to ruin Christmas, uses her powers to create a harsh winter environment, hoping to stop them. The battle involves a mix of action, humor, and heart, as Callum and Jack leverage their skills to outmaneuver Grýla's minions and ultimately face the witch herself.

5. The Final Confrontation: In the climactic final confrontation, Callum and Jack use all their skills to defeat Grýla. Callum, with his military background, takes on Grýla's physical defenses, while Jack uses his hacking abilities to disable her magical powers. The fight ends with Grýla being defeated and Santa being freed.

6. Christmas Saved: With Santa rescued, the duo returns to the North Pole, where preparations for Christmas are in full swing. The film concludes on a hopeful note, with the spirit of Christmas revitalized both for Callum and Jack. The movie ends with a message of redemption and the power of teamwork and friendship, as the two unlikely heroes ensure that Christmas magic is preserved for another year.

The ending of "Red One" highlights themes of redemption, friendship, and the power of believing in something greater than oneself. It showcases how even the most cynical individuals can find faith and purpose in unexpected ways. The film also explores the importance of teamwork and how two vastly different individuals can come together to achieve a common goal, in this case, saving Christmas.

"Red One" (2024) is rated PG-13 for action, some violence, and language, which may make it less suitable for younger children or sensitive viewers. Here are some potentially objectionable or upsetting elements:

• Language: The movie includes strong language, such as instances of "ahole," "bullsh," and "sh**." There is also a scene where a character almost says the F-word before being cut off.
• Action and Violence: Frequent action and fight scenes, involving kicking, punching, and minimal weapon use, are present throughout the film. These scenes are generally not bloody but can be intense.
• Frightening Characters: Some creatures, like killer snowmen and Krampus, might be scary for younger viewers. However, humor is used to mitigate the fear.
• Suggestive Content: There are minor sexual innuendos and some scantily-clad individuals in a beach scene.

Overall, while "Red One" is entertaining, it may not be suitable for all families, especially those with very young children, due to its content. It is generally recommended for children aged 9 and up, depending on their sensitivity to strong language and action scenes.