Following the disappointing opening weekend for his new film, The Smashing Machine, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson took to Instagram to share a message of gratitude and reflection. The A24 biopic, in which Johnson portrays MMA legend Mark Kerr, marked the lowest box office debut of the superstar’s illustrious acting career.
The film earned just $6 million in its North American opening against a reported $50 million production budget, falling well short of its projected range of $8 million to $15 million. It finished third for the weekend, behind the Taylor Swift documentary The Official Release Party of a Showgirl and the war drama One Battle After Another. The opening was lower than Johnson’s 2010 thriller Faster, which previously held the distinction of his lowest debut.
Despite the underwhelming commercial performance, Johnson focused on his pride in the work itself. In his social media post, he acknowledged the unpredictability of the film industry while expressing satisfaction with his commitment to the role. “In our storytelling world, you can’t control box office results – but what I realized you can control is your performance, and your commitment to completely disappear and go elsewhere,” Johnson wrote.
He also specifically thanked the film’s director, Benny Safdie, and noted the profound personal impact the project had on him, stating that the film has “changed his life.” While the movie has struggled commercially, it has been met with favorable reviews from both critics and audiences, holding a 74 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Johnson’s dramatic turn as the troubled MMA pioneer has been widely praised for its intensity and emotional depth.
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