Dwayne Johnson’s THE SMASHING MACHINE Earns Critical Praise But Flops at the Box Office with $6 Million Opening
Dwayne Johnson’s latest film, The Smashing Machine, hit theaters with plenty of hype and glowing reviews but has stumbled when it comes to ticket sales.
The sports drama directed by Benny Safdie brought in just $6 million during its opening weekend, landing in third place at the box office. Unfortunately, that’s far from the estimated $50 million that A24 reportedly spent to produce the movie.
To make matters worse, this marks the lowest opening of Johnson’s entire career, which is a surprising outcome for one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
It’s a shame because this movie features the best performance that you’ll see from Johnson. I would love to see him take on more roles like this where he actually gets a chance to show off his acting skills. But, after an opening weekend like this, he may go back to making more of those mindless and souless blockbusters.
Despite the lackluster box office numbers, critics have rallied behind the film. The Smashing Machine made its debut at the Venice Film Festival, where Safdie earned the Silver Lion for Best Director.
The film currently holds a solid 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with over 200 reviews praising Johnson’s raw, emotionally charged performance. Many are already predicting that the actor could be in the running for an Oscar nomination next year.
The film follows Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr, chronicling the fighter’s struggles with personal loss and the mental toll of a career built on violence and competition. Emily Blunt co-stars as Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples, grounding the story with a heartbreaking human element that’s resonated with critics.
Elsewhere in the weekend box office, Taylor Swift dominated once again with her “cinematic experience,” The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, pulling in $33 million domestically and $46 million worldwide.
While it didn’t match the record-breaking success of The Eras Tour, it still solidified her status as an unstoppable force in entertainment.
Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another continued its impressive run, outperforming The Smashing Machine and officially becoming the highest-grossing film of Anderson’s career, surpassing There Will Be Blood.
It’s a tough break for The Smashing Machine, especially given its critical acclaim and Johnson’s dramatic transformation into a role far removed from his usual blockbuster fare. Still, the film’s artistry and emotional depth have struck a chord with critics, and that might just give it a second life as awards season ramps up.
The Smashing Machine is now playing in theaters.