Dwayne Johnson is a major action star in Hollywood, but many people forget about a movie he made 23 years ago that really started his film career. That movie is now available on Peacock, which launched in May with a lot of new content. It was one of the first films where Johnson moved beyond his wrestling image and proved he could be a leading actor.
The action comedy The Rundown, directed by Peter Berg and released in 2003, is now available on Peacock as of May 1st. Starring Dwayne Johnson alongside Seann William Scott, Christopher Walken, and Rosario Dawson, the film wasn’t a financial success during its initial release, earning $80 million worldwide on an $85 million budget. In the movie, Johnson plays Beck, a skilled bounty hunter with dreams of becoming a chef, who’s tasked with retrieving a mobster’s wayward son from the Amazon. His mission quickly becomes complicated when he gets caught between a dangerous mining magnate and a hunt for a valuable, ancient treasure.
The Rundown Was a Solid Early Action Outing for Dwayne Johnson
Though Dwayne Johnson has since become a huge action star in films like San Andreas, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and the Fast & Furious series, The Rundown was one of his earliest roles and remains somewhat underrated. The film notably included a brief, uncredited cameo from Arnold Schwarzenegger, who seemingly passed the action-hero torch to Johnson with a simple “Have fun.” Johnson quickly demonstrated he was ready to take on the challenge and become a leading man.
Dwayne Johnson is fantastic in The Rundown, perfectly combining his athleticism, humor, and charm. He plays Beck with a great balance of witty dialogue and thrilling action, and the movie was praised for using real stunts instead of relying on computer effects – letting Johnson truly shine in those intense fight scenes. It’s simply a really enjoyable movie, and the chemistry between Johnson and Seann William Scott creates a classic action-comedy pairing that keeps you hooked. Critics generally liked it too, giving it a 69% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which makes it one of Johnson’s best-reviewed films.
What’s New on Prime Video?
Peacock subscribers will find plenty to watch this May! Along with The Rundown, a variety of movies arrived on May 1st, including Battle: Los Angeles, Cowboys & Aliens, The Day After Tomorrow, Dunkirk, and both Mechanic films. More movies like My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 and Imaginary have also been added, and there’s even more coming soon – look for Arthur the King on May 11th, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare on May 18th, and Wicked on May 21st.
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2026-05-06 23:43