Dwayne Johnson, the beloved Hollywood superstar, has recently faced a challenging moment in his illustrious career with the release of the A24 drama "The Smashing Machine." The film, which debuted to a disappointing box office opening of just $5.9 million domestically, marks the worst opening of Johnson's career. Despite this setback, the actor is maintaining a positive outlook.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Johnson expressed his thoughts on the situation, stating, “you can’t control box office results.” He took the opportunity to extend his gratitude towards director Benny Safdie, who he credited with changing his life through this project. In "The Smashing Machine," Johnson portrays Mark Kerr, a two-time UFC heavyweight champion, bringing depth and authenticity to the role. “From deep in my grateful bones, thank you to everyone who has watched ‘The Smashing Machine,'” Johnson wrote, demonstrating his appreciation for the film and its audience.
Johnson emphasized the importance of performance over box office numbers, remarking, “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. And I will always run to that opportunity.” He continued by expressing his honor in transforming for the role and his gratitude to Safdie for believing in him: “Truth is this film has changed my life. With deep gratitude, respect and radical empathy, DJ.”
According to a report by Variety, "The Smashing Machine" faced a significant drop at the box office, landing in third place with $5.9 million from 3,345 theaters. This figure fell short of initial projections, which estimated earnings between $8 million and $15 million. The weekend's performance represents a career low for Johnson, surpassing the opening of his 2010 thriller "Faster," which earned $8.5 million (unadjusted for inflation). This disappointing performance is also a considerable setback for A24, who invested $50 million in producing the film and spent millions more on promotional efforts, including appearances at prestigious film festivals such as Venice and Toronto.
Despite the box office results, "The Smashing Machine" received critical acclaim during its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where Safdie won the best director prize. Reviews, even those that were not entirely favorable, praised Johnson's leading performance, which is being recognized as a strong contender in the Oscar race for Best Actor. In this gripping true story, Johnson's character, Mark Kerr, navigates a tumultuous relationship with his wife, Dawn (played by Emily Blunt), amidst the highs and lows of his MMA career and personal struggles with substance abuse. Kerr's journey as a mixed martial artist spanned from 1997 to 2009, during which he won four ADCC World Championships.
"The Smashing Machine" is now playing in theaters nationwide through A24, offering audiences a chance to witness Johnson's transformative performance and the compelling narrative of Mark Kerr’s life.
