MOVIE NEWS – It was supposed to be a prestige-defining moment and a serious Oscar contender for Dwayne Johnson, but The Smashing Machine has turned into one of the biggest disappointments of his career. Despite strong reviews and awards buzz, the film’s opening weekend numbers were dismal, marking a new low point for “The Rock.” The question now is whether this failure will cast a shadow over Johnson’s future projects — and his shot at awards season glory.

The Smashing Machine took a brutal hit at the box office, posting what appears to be the weakest opening weekend of Dwayne Johnson’s career. Produced by A24, the sports biopic was widely seen as a potential awards pivot and a chance to redefine Johnson’s acting trajectory. Following a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, expectations were sky-high — many even predicted that the film could surpass Civil War for A24’s best-ever opening. But the reality was far less impressive.

According to Box Office Mojo, the movie debuted in third place with just $6 million, trailing Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl and One Battle After Another. As Screen Rant notes, this marks Johnson’s worst opening since 2010’s Faster, which earned $8.5 million in its first weekend — before his career skyrocketed with titles like Fast Five, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and Moana.

Why Did ‘The Smashing Machine’ Fail So Hard?

Normally, a $6 million opening wouldn’t make headlines for an A24 release. In fact, that number would typically be considered solid for the studio. But many expected Johnson’s star power to boost the film far beyond that figure. Industry analysts were predicting a $15–20 million debut, making the result a significant miss. With a production budget of $50 million, the movie now faces a steep uphill climb to turn a profit in theaters.

Johnson’s box office appeal has been slipping in recent years. While Black Adam opened with $67 million, its $168 million domestic total was seen as a disappointment compared to the heights of Fast & Furious or Jumanji. Last year’s Red One — which opened with $32 million — was considered a career low, and The Smashing Machine was expected to reverse that trend. Even though the film has received better reviews than Red One or Black Adam, far fewer people are likely to see it.

The big question now is whether the movie’s poor box office performance will hurt its awards prospects. With a 73% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s a solid but not stellar showing, and while many critics have praised Johnson’s performance, his once-strong Best Actor chances are now uncertain. By the time Oscar voting rolls around, the movie may have already faded from voters’ minds.

Source: MovieWeb