Dwayne Johnson’s Biggest Box Office Flop Is Struggling on Streaming as Well

Dwayne Johnson’s Biggest Box Office Flop Is Struggling on Streaming as Well Dwayne Johnson at the Smashing Machine premiereImage via Carlos Tischler/EyePix/INSTARimages By  Rahul Malhotra Published 29 minutes ago Rahul Malhotra is a Weekend News Writer for Collider. From Francois Ozon to David Fincher, he'll watch anything once.

He has been writing for Collider for over two years, and has covered everything from Marvel to the Oscars, and Marvel at the Oscars. He also writes obsessively about the box office, charting the many hits and misses that are released weekly, and how their commercial performance shapes public perception. In his time at Collider, he has also helped drive diversity by writing stories about the multiple Indian film industries, with a goal to introduce audiences to a whole new world of cinema. 

Swing and a miss > measured victory. Also, #JusticeForHan. (He/Him). Sign in to your Collider account follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

After a terrible theatrical run, The Smashing Machine debuted on PVOD platforms a couple of weeks ago, but almost immediately found itself down for the count. Star Dwayne Johnson remains a massive draw despite his recent setbacks, and sports movies tend to be embraced by audiences. But something about The Smashing Machine failed to click with audiences, leading it to drop out of the domestic PVOD charts within days of its debut. After hovering around the middle of the domestic iTunes table, the movie slipped right out by the end of this past week. The Smashing Machine marked a major change of pace for Johnson, who had devoted the better part of his career to massive money-spinning franchise movies.

But when a string of them started underperforming, he decided to dial it back several notches. The Smashing Machine marked the smallest-scale project he's headlined in years, perhaps since he transitioned from professional wrestling to acting around two decades ago. During those years, he rose up the ranks in a carefully calculated manner and began delivering massive blockbusters on the strength of his brand. But after delivering underperformers such as Jungle Cruise, Black Adam, and Red One — not to mention the failed Netflix franchise-starter Red Notice — he pivoted to The Smashing Machine, based on the true story of UFC fighter Mark Kerr.

'The Smashing Machine' Is the Biggest Flop of The Rock's Career

Also featuring Emily Blunt, the sports drama marked the solo directorial debut of Benny Safdie, whose split from brother Josh Safdie certainly raised a few eyebrows. The movie also marked another attempt by A24 to level up after spending a decade in the small-budget zone. Produced on a reported budget of $50 million, The Smashing Machine grossed only $10 million at the box office. This makes it the lowest-grossing star vehicle in Johnson's career, barring Southland Tales, which featured an ensemble cast. The movie received mostly positive reviews, and is now sitting at a "certified fresh" 70% score on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics' consensus reads, "Dwayne Johnson goes the distance with his transformative turn as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, a gritty biopic that sidesteps cliché even at the expense of narrative satisfaction while still landing the dramatic body blows that count." You can watch The Smashing Machine at home, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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The Smashing Machine

Like Follow Followed R Drama History Release Date October 3, 2025 Runtime 123 minutes Director Benny Safdie Writers Benny Safdie Producers Beau Flynn, David Koplan, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia 5 Images Dwayne Johnson & Emily Blunt in The Smashing MachineImage via A24The Rock as Mark Kerr wearing a white hat and sitting down in The Smashing MachineDwayne Johnson in a hospital bed in The Smashing Machine.Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson talking with a doctor in The Smashing MachineDwayne Johnson posing with three men for a picture in The Smashing Machine.Close

Cast

See All

• Dwayne Johnson Mark Kerr
• Emily Blunt Dawn Staples

The Smashing Machine is a biographical drama that chronicles MMA fighter Mark Kerr's turbulent journey through addiction, success, and personal relationships during his peak era in the UFC. Set to be released in 2025, it explores Kerr's battle against personal demons amidst the high-stakes world of mixed martial arts.

Genres Drama, History Powered by Expand Collapse

• Movie News
• Dwayne Johnson
• Benny Safdie

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