Dwayne Johnson’s New Movie Sets Disappointing Box Office Record

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Having become known for starring in big-budget Hollywood action movies, Dwayne Johnson wanted a change and a new acting opportunity. This led him to Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, a film based on the life of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Although playing an MMA fighter seemed like a natural fit for the former professional wrestler, Johnson was clearly seeking a more challenging role – one that could be both artistically and creatively fulfilling. The Smashing Machine was initially hoped to be an awards contender, relying on the idea that audiences would be intrigued by seeing “Dwayne Johnson in a dramatic role.” Sadly, the film has not been successful in theaters.

As reported by Deadline, The Smashing Machine brought in only $6 million domestically during its opening weekend, significantly less than the initially predicted $20 million. This marks the lowest opening weekend box office total of Dwayne Johnson’s career. The film is currently forecasted to finish in third place this weekend, following One Battle After Another ($11.1 million) and Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl ($33 million).

Why Did The Smashing Machine Bomb at the Box Office?

The Smashing Machine’s disappointing performance is a bit unexpected. While Dwayne Johnson’s movies aren’t always critically acclaimed, he’s consistently brought in audiences and been a box office success. His films have collectively earned over $15 billion worldwide. Even with several franchise films in his past, people have repeatedly shown up to see him in theaters. Given that The Smashing Machine received some of the best reviews of Johnson’s career, many expected his popularity and the positive press to make the film a hit-despite being a different type of movie than films like San Andreas or Rampage.

It’s clear that the film didn’t perform as expected, and surprisingly, how people talked about it might be the reason. The Smashing Machine has a “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and won the Best Director award at the Venice Film Festival, but overall, the reaction hasn’t been as strong as for other films hoping to win awards. While the reviews were positive, they weren’t as glowing as those for something like One Battle After Another; The Smashing Machine didn’t generate much excitement among critics before its release. Also, it received a B- CinemaScore, which suggests that most viewers weren’t particularly impressed. Considering the response it’s received, it’s doubtful The Smashing Machine will be able to improve its performance over time.

The Smashing Machine didn’t have much direct competition for viewers, but several other films were released around the same time. One Battle After Another has received critical acclaim and is considered a strong contender for awards this year. Movie fans looking for potential Oscar winners this weekend were probably more likely to choose that film. The unexpected release of The Official Release Party of a Showgirl (added to the schedule only in mid-September) dominated the box office this weekend, taking away some opportunities for other films to be shown. However, it appealed to a very different audience than The Smashing Machine. Showgirl probably affected The Smashing Machine’s performance to some extent, but it’s hard to say exactly how much.

This wasn’t the outcome Johnson hoped for with his much-promoted attempt at serious acting. It will be fascinating to see how this affects his future choices. His upcoming movie, a live-action version of Moana, appears to be a reliable choice for box office success. After that, he’s reportedly aiming to collaborate with acclaimed directors, possibly joining forces with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio for a Hawaii-based gangster story. Audiences seemed to be getting tired of Johnson’s usual action roles (Black Adam, Red One), so this move towards dramatic acting felt logical. Let’s hope his next project performs well and genuinely breathes new life into his career.

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2025-10-05 19:43