Dwayne Johnson's 'The Smashing Machine' Opens to Career-Low $6 Million

Dwayne Johnson's latest film, "The Smashing Machine," a biopic about MMA fighter Mark Kerr, had the worst opening weekend of his career, earning just $6 million domestically. Despite Johnson's drastic physical transformation and critical praise for his performance and the film's direction by Benny Safdie, ticket sales fell short of projections, partly due to competition from Taylor Swift's high-grossing "Life of a Showgirl" cinematic experience, which dominated premium large-format screens. Johnson acknowledged the disappointing box office results on social media, expressing gratitude to viewers and pride in his performance, emphasizing that while box office success is uncontrollable, commitment to his craft remains paramount. The film's serious dramatic nature marked a departure from Johnson's usual blockbuster action roles, which likely contributed to its struggle in attracting a broad audience. Industry analysis suggests that the timing of Swift's release and the film's B- CinemaScore also impacted attendance. Despite the setback, Johnson spoke positively about the film's impact on his life and his collaboration with director Safdie.