Dwayne Johnson’s ‘The Smashing Machine’ Taps Out with Disappointing Box Office Debut
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s latest cinematic venture, the biographical sports drama The Smashing Machine, delivered a knockout blow to expectations this weekend, opening to a mere $6 million domestically despite widespread release and high-profile festival buzz.
The film, directed by Benny Safdie and starring Johnson as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, marked the actor’s lowest opening weekend ever, falling short of pre-release projections that once hovered around $20 million.
Released by A24 on October 3, The Smashing Machine follows Kerr’s rise in wrestling and UFC amid personal battles with substance abuse, co-starring Emily Blunt as his girlfriend Dawn Staples. Despite earning praise for Johnson’s transformative performance—described by critics as “revelatory” and worthy of Oscar consideration—the movie struggled to connect with audiences. It finished third at the box office, overshadowed by Taylor Swift’s concert film The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, which dominated with $33-34 million.
Industry analysts point to several factors for the flop. The film’s deliberate pacing and focus on addiction over typical sports drama tropes alienated Johnson’s core fanbase, accustomed to high-octane action like the Fast & Furious series. Its R-rating and arthouse positioning from A24 may have confused moviegoers expecting a mainstream blockbuster, leading to a B-minus CinemaScore and sparse theaters. Swift’s last-minute announcement stole premium screens and buzz, while the niche appeal of wrestling biopics historically limits box office potential—previous entries like The Iron Claw opened to just $4.8 million.
The $50 million production budget spells financial trouble for A24, with losses estimated at $10-15 million after marketing costs, though backend deals may soften the impact. Early tracking had promised A24’s second-best opening, but word-of-mouth from premieres at Venice and Toronto revealed a film more introspective than crowd-pleasing.
Johnson, undeterred, took to social media to express gratitude, emphasizing artistic commitment over commercial success: “You can’t control box office results—but what I realized you can control is your performance.”
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While the movie holds a 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, its awards trajectory may suffer from the weak theatrical run.
As Hollywood grapples with post-pandemic recovery, The Smashing Machine’s stumble underscores the challenges of blending star power with prestige drama in a market favoring event films.
