Dwayne Johnson faced a surprising stumble at the box office this weekend when his latest film opened with just $5.9 million in the United States, marking the lowest debut of his career.
The R-rated biopic, The crushing machine, About UFC Champion Mark Kerr was a personal project of Johnson and directed by Benny Safdie, who won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
The film raised high hopes after its premiere in Venice, where it received strong reviews and a long standing ovation.
Audiences were surprised when the story focused on addiction instead of the typical underdog sports story.
However, the film earned a B- CinemaScore, showing that it had difficulty winning over mainstream viewers.
With a budget of $50 million, supported in part by tax credits and an estimated $35 million in foreign sales, the film is expected to lose between $10 million and $15 million.
A24 faced criticism for its marketing, which focused heavily on online promotion and trend-setting audiences, with little regard for older viewers.
The film also had stiff competition from other releases, including the surprise one from Taylor Swift. Launch party for a showgirlthat attracted attention and the theatrical space.
One report said that wrestling-themed movies often have a limited box office cap, but Johnson’s film still opened higher than similar titles like The Wrestler and The Iron Claw.
The Rock, who took a big pay cut for the project, said the film changed his life and reminded him why he chooses challenging roles.
Additionally, fans can expect Dwayne Johnson to bounce back with major future projects, including Disney’s live-action Moana and Sony’s Jumanji 3 in 2026.
