Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has spoken publicly after his latest film, The Smashing Machine, opened to unexpectedly low numbers in its first weekend. The movie, which tells the turbulent story of former MMA pioneer Mark Kerr, earned only around $6 million despite strong critical praise for Johnson’s dramatic performance.
This project was meant to be a major shift for Johnson, who stepped away from his usual action hero roles to portray Kerr in a raw and emotional story. It was also his 50th film, a milestone in a career that has spanned wrestling, television, blockbuster cinema, and business ventures.
The biopic follows Kerr’s rise and struggles between 1997 and 2000, a period that mirrored Johnson’s own evolution from young wrestler to global superstar. While Kerr’s journey focused on the intensity of MMA’s early days, Johnson was simultaneously reinventing himself in professional wrestling, eventually becoming “The Rock” and launching a media empire that would dominate pop culture for decades.
The movie was produced by A24 and directed by Benny Safdie, known for gritty storytelling. Unlike Johnson’s previous big-budget films, this one was designed to be character-driven and emotionally intense, showing sides of the actor that audiences rarely see.
Johnson’s candid reaction to the film’s box office
After the disappointing financial start, Johnson posted a personal message on social media, expressing appreciation for those who supported the film and reflecting on what he learned from the experience.
“From deep in my grateful bones, thank you to everyone who has watched The Smashing Machine. 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.”
He also thanked the film’s director for trusting him with the role.
“And I will always run to that opportunity. It was my honor to transform in this role for my director Benny Safdie. Thank you brother for believing in me. Truth is this film has changed my life. With deep gratitude, respect and radical empathy. DJ.”
The film reportedly needs to reach roughly $125 million globally to recover its production and marketing costs, meaning the road ahead will depend on long-term ticket sales and streaming performance.
A cast featuring MMA and boxing figures
Part of what made The Smashing Machine unique was its inclusion of real combat sports personalities.
Oleksandr Usyk, the current heavyweight boxing champion, made his film debut playing Igor Vovchanchyn, a legendary Ukrainian fighter who once faced Kerr in the ring.
Ryan Bader, a former Bellator two-division titleholder and UFC veteran, portrayed Mark Coleman, Kerr’s close friend and training partner.
MMA pioneer Bas Rutten appeared as himself, marking another acting role following his appearance in Here Comes the Boom alongside Kevin James in 2012.
This blend of Hollywood talent and real fighters was meant to give the film authenticity and connect MMA history with mainstream cinema audiences.
Johnson continues to balance his acting career with other ventures, including wrestling, business investments, and a long history of involvement with MMA and the UFC. His decision to take on Kerr’s story was widely praised for its ambition, and it remains to be seen whether the film will gain traction through critical acclaim and word of mouth in the coming weeks.
