Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s latest sports drama The Smashing Machine had a surprisingly slow start at the domestic box office, earning only $6 million in its opening weekend. The movie, which hit theatres last Friday across 3,345 locations, marks one of the lowest openings of Johnson’s career despite positive critical reception during its festival run.
Directed by Benny Safdie, the R-rated film tells the true story of MMA legend Mark Kerr, exploring both his rise in the fighting world and his battles with addiction. Johnson stars alongside Emily Blunt, reuniting with her after their collaboration on Jungle Cruise.
The film had generated buzz following its Venice Film Festival premiere, where Safdie received the Best Director Award. However, strong competition from Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, which debuted to $33 million, pushed The Smashing Machine down to the third spot at the box office. Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another held second place with $10.3 million in its second weekend.
Produced with a $50 million budget, The Smashing Machine was initially projected to earn around $20 million in its debut weekend. The unexpected underperformance is attributed to minimal marketing and the surprise release of Taylor Swift’s concert film.
The movie delves deep into Mark Kerr’s personal struggles, his MMA career, and his relationship with his girlfriend, portrayed by Emily Blunt. Safdie’s direction takes a raw and emotional look at fame, addiction, and redemption. This marks Safdie’s first solo directorial project after parting ways with his brother Josh Safdie, who is currently working on Marty Supreme starring Timothée Chalamet, slated for release in December.
While The Smashing Machine may have faltered financially, critics are praising Johnson’s career-defining performance, calling it his most grounded and emotionally intense role yet. Fans are hopeful that strong word-of-mouth and international releases may help boost its global box office numbers in the coming weeks.