Dwayne Johnson’s Critically Acclaimed New Film Opens with the Lowest Box Office of His Career
Dwayne Johnson’s latest film, The Smashing Machine, has arrived in theaters, but its opening numbers have surprised many.
The biographical sports drama debuted to just $6 million at the domestic box office, marking the lowest opening of Johnson’s career. The film also earned $850,000 in Thursday night previews.
Directed, written, co-produced, and edited by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine tells the story of Mark Kerr, a former amateur wrestler and mixed martial artist. Johnson stars as Kerr, while Emily Blunt plays his girlfriend, Dawn Staples. The film also features Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk in supporting roles.
Exclusive clip from Benny Safdie’s ‘THE SMASHING MACHINE’, starring Dwayne Johnson.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 25, 2025
In theaters on October 3. pic.twitter.com/Eb8OgfXvwq
The movie is based on the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr. It had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, competing in the main festival lineup. Safdie was awarded the Silver Lion for Best Director at the festival. Following its festival run, A24 released the movie in U.S. theaters on October 3.
Critics have generally responded positively to the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, 73% of 213 reviews were favorable. The site’s consensus reads: “Dwayne Johnson goes the distance with his transformative turn as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, a gritty biopic that sidesteps cliché even at the expense of narrative satisfaction while still landing the dramatic body blows that count.”
Metacritic gave the movie a score of 65 out of 100 based on 53 critic reviews, indicating “generally favorable” feedback. Audience ratings were slightly lower, with CinemaScore assigning a “B-” grade.
The film had a reported budget of $50 million and has been praised for Johnson’s performance, which many see as a significant departure from his usual action-packed roles. While the box office start is modest, it remains to be seen if strong word of mouth and international releases will help boost its overall earnings.
The Smashing Machine shows Dwayne Johnson taking a bold step into more serious acting. While the opening weekend numbers are low, this could be a movie that grows in appreciation over time. What do you think about Johnson taking on a role like this? Share your thoughts in the comments.