Dwayne Johnson faced a surprising stumble at the box office over the weekend as his latest film opened to just $5.9 million in the US, marking the lowest debut of his career.
The R-rated biopic, Smash Machine, about UFC champion Mark Kerr was a personal project for Johnson and directed by Benny Safdie, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
The film received high hopes after its Venice premiere, where it received strong reviews and a standing ovation.
Audiences were surprised when the story focused on addiction rather than a typical underdog sports narrative.
However, the film received a B-CinemaScore, indicating that it struggled to win over mainstream viewers.
With a budget of $50 million, supported in part by tax credits and an estimated $35 million in foreign sales, the film is expected to lose around $10-15 million.
A24 faced criticism for its marketing, which focused heavily on online promotion and tastemakers while missing out on older viewers.
The film also had stiff competition from other releases, including Taylor Swift’s Surprise Release Party for a Showgirlwhich attracted attention and theater space.
One report said that Wrestling-themed films often have a limited box office ceiling, but Johnson’s film still opened higher than similar titles such as The Wrestler and The Iron Claw.
The Rock, who took a big pay cut for the project, said the film changed his life and reminded him why he chooses challenging roles.
Additionally, fans can expect Dwayne Johnson to return with major upcoming projects, including Disney’s live-action Moana and Sony’s Jumanji 3 in 2026.
