THE ROCK’S NEW MOVIE FLOPS HARD — COULD THIS BE THE END OF HOLLYWOOD’S LAST TRUE MOVIE STAR?
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has built his career — and his empire — on being unstoppable. But this weekend, the box office told a very different story. His new film, The Smashing Machine, opened to an underwhelming $6 million, a devastating result for a movie with a reported $70 million budget.
Yes, you read that right — $6 million on a $70 million film.
The movie, distributed by A24, was supposed to be the studio’s biggest and boldest swing yet — a gritty sports biopic that would show The Rock’s serious acting chops and elevate him from action-hero status to Oscar contender. But instead of smashing records, The Smashing Machine just smashed expectations — in the worst way possible.
THE LAST MOVIE STAR TAKES A HIT
For years, The Rock was considered Hollywood’s final “sure thing.” After the decline of mega movie stars like Will Smith, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio — who all shifted away from big-budget blockbusters — The Rock seemed like the only one still holding the torch. Every movie he touched turned into gold.
From Fast & Furious to Jumanji to Black Adam, Johnson’s name alone could pull hundreds of millions at the box office. He was the rare celebrity who appealed to kids, families, and action fans alike. Studios saw him as a walking franchise — the last man standing in a Hollywood obsessed with superheroes and sequels.
But The Smashing Machine may be changing that narrative.
BAD BUSINESS OR BAD MOVIE?
Industry insiders are calling the film’s box office performance “a disaster.” One executive told Media Take Out, “A24 was trying to make an ‘awards-worthy’ Rock movie, but the math never made sense. You don’t spend $70 million on a film that looks like it should cost five.”
And that’s part of the issue — A24, known for indie hits like Everything Everywhere All At Once and Uncut Gems, isn’t a studio that can absorb a flop this big. Unlike Warner Bros. or Universal, A24’s projects are fueled by private equity money, and this type of financial loss could shake investor confidence.
Social media users aren’t being kind either. On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote, “This is what happens when you pay A-list prices for a C-list story.” Another added, “The Rock is trying too hard to be taken seriously. We just want to see him save the world and raise an eyebrow.”
CAN THE ROCK BOUNCE BACK?
The Rock has faced tough moments before — from Baywatch tanking to Black Adam failing to spark the DC universe. But this one feels different.
Hollywood insiders are whispering that Johnson’s brand might finally be oversaturated. Between his endless movie deals, tequila launches, and wrestling cameos, fans might just be tired of seeing him everywhere.
Still, if there’s one thing The Rock is known for, it’s resilience. Expect a high-energy PR comeback, some “motivational” Instagram posts, and maybe even a hint that he’s “learning from the experience.”
But behind the scenes, there’s real talk that The Smashing Machine could mark the end of The Rock’s unbeatable box office streak — and maybe, the end of Hollywood’s “last movie star.”
Bottom line: The Rock’s latest film didn’t just flop — it may have cracked the foundation of his carefully built empire.