{"id":2072539,"date":"2025-10-06T15:34:55","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T15:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2072539"},"modified":"2025-10-06T15:34:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T15:34:55","slug":"dwayne-johnsons-smashing-machine-set-a-record-for-the-wrestler-turned-actor-but-not-a-good-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/dwayne-johnsons-smashing-machine-set-a-record-for-the-wrestler-turned-actor-but-not-a-good-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Dwayne Johnson\u2019s Smashing Machine Set A Record For The Wrestler-Turned\u2013Actor (But Not A Good One)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: A24<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Dwayne Johnson is one of the most globally recognized movie stars. When he makes a movie, it\u2019s almost always good for a box office weekend win. Of course, he\u2019d never had to go up against Taylor Swift before. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/movies\/articles\/taylor-swift-rules-weekend-box-191508475.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:This past weekend at the domestic box office;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">This past weekend at the domestic box office<\/a> was a strange one, not only because <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/m-casual-taylor-swift-fan-211130065.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Taylor Swift took over theaters (again;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Taylor Swift took over theaters (again<\/a>), but because The Rock set a dubious career record.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Johnson\u2019s <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em> opened in theaters this past weekend. The movie marked a major shift in The Rock\u2019s career as an actor, as he played former UFC fighter Mark Kerr in a rare dramatic turn. Johnson\u2019s pivot from the action genre to drama certainly generated a lot of interest, but it appears that interest did not generate ticket sales.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">The Smashing Machine is Dwayne Johnson\u2019s Lowest-Grossing Opening Weekend Ever<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2025\/10\/taylor-swift-box-office-showgirl-1236569790\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Deadline;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Deadline<\/a>, <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em> opened to a paltry $6 million at the box office, which sets a record as the lowest-grossing opening weekend for a Dwayne Johnson movie. It\u2019s an especially dubious distinction considering that Johnson\u2019s last film, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/dwayne-johnson-lovely-message-fans-150600654.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Moana 2, was the highest-grossing opening weekend;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\"><em>Moana 2<\/em>, was the highest-grossing opening weekend<\/a> of his career at almost $140 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">To be sure, <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em> was never expected to be a blockbuster on par with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/news\/2485887\/10-highest-grossing-dwayne-johnson-movies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Johnson\u2019s box office champions;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Johnson\u2019s box office champions<\/a>. Serious dramas have been struggling in theaters as much as any film, and more than most. Still, the movie had been tracking to do more like $20 million a few weeks ago, which would have put the movie on the low end of Johnson\u2019s career, but far from the bottom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It&#8217;s possible Taylor Swift is responsible for at least part of the low turnout. The theatrical debut of her newest album was only announced relatively recently, so the rest of the box office didn&#8217;t have as much time to react. When Swift&#8217;s <em>Eras Tour<\/em> movie was announced, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/jason-blum-talks-moving-exorcist-191930303.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:some movies changed release dates;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">some movies changed release dates<\/a> to get out of the way, but that wasn&#8217;t as easy this time around.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A single movie with a low box office opening weekend isn\u2019t necessarily a big deal, but <em>Smashing Machine<\/em>\u2019s performance might be an indication of what is to come for Dwayne Johnson. While the movie was a change of course for the actor, he has a pair of other dramatic roles lined up, a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/movies\/articles\/dont-look-pregnant-dwayne-johnson-144808436.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:second film with A24 called Lizard Music;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">second film with A24 called <em>Lizard Music<\/em><\/a><em>,<\/em> as well as a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/rock-joining-leonardo-dicaprio-martin-175956698.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:forthcoming project with Martin Scorsese;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">forthcoming project with Martin Scorsese<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Dwayne Johnson Is Still Getting Praise For His Dramatic Performance<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Not a lot of people may have seen <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em> this weekend, but that shouldn\u2019t be taken as any sort of indication of the film\u2019s quality. The film has received solid reviews, and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/movies\/articles\/wasn-t-sure-expect-dwayne-230257823.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Johnson himself is being praised for his performance;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Johnson himself is being praised for his performance<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>The Smashing Machine<\/em> may not have been a box office hit, but like many movies before it, that may still turn it into a streaming success when those who didn&#8217;t go to the theater watch it at home. As an A24 movie, you\u2019ll likely need an <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/hbo-max-subscription-know-price-130351204.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:HBO Max subscription;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">HBO Max subscription<\/a> to watch <em>The Smashing Machine<\/em> when it hits streaming platforms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: A24 Dwayne Johnson is one of the most globally recognized movie stars. When he makes a movie, it\u2019s almost always good for a box office weekend win. Of course, he\u2019d never had to go up against Taylor [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2064688,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[34204,305874,344723,360534,23084],"class_list":["post-2072539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-box-office","tag-dwayne-johnson","tag-opening-weekend","tag-smashing-machine","tag-taylor-swift"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Mark-Kerr-Went-To-Set-While-The-Rock-Was-Playing.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2072539"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2072540,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072539\/revisions\/2072540"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2064688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2072539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2072539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2072539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}