Dwayne Johnson’s ‘The Smashing Machine’ Opens to Historic Low

LOS ANGELES, CA — Dwayne Johnson’s latest film, The Smashing Machine, debuted this weekend to a disappointing $5.9 million, marking the worst opening of his career. The R-rated drama, which tells the story of UFC champion Mark Kerr, had generated significant buzz following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a 15.5-minute standing ovation.

Despite Johnson’s extensive promotional efforts, through social media and appearances, the film’s commercial performance fell flat. Critics gave The Smashing Machine a 73% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but word of mouth seemingly deterred audiences. The film has been criticized for not fitting the typical sports drama mold expected by viewers, instead portraying a slower, more introspective narrative centered on addiction.

Insiders had previously expected the film to open to as much as $20 million, but poor tracking and conflicting marketing may have led to the drop in interest. “It’s never a good sign when a movie plummets from its initial projections,” said a film analyst. The mixed audience reception, indicated by a B- CinemaScore, suggests a divide between critics and viewers.

In sharp contrast, Taylor Swift‘s film Showgirl: The Official Release Party took in around $34 million in its opening weekend. Swift’s film benefited from a last-minute promotional strategy that captured audience interest two weeks prior to release, significantly overshadowing Johnson’s project.

Despite the low opening weekend figures, The Smashing Machine has a relatively low production cost of $50 million, aided by tax credits from its shooting locations in Vancouver and New Mexico. Since the film is projected not to lose much financially, estimates suggest losses could remain in the $10 million range.

Production company A24 is reportedly still backing the film and supporting its director, Benny Safdie, as they look to position it for awards season. “In our storytelling world, you can’t control box office results,” Johnson posted on social media. “But I realized you can control your performance, and this film has changed my life,” he added, expressing gratitude to his audience.

Looking ahead, Johnson is set to return to his box office glory soon with upcoming films including Disney’s live-action Moana and Jumanji 3 scheduled for release next year.