Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Crushed at Box Office: Taylor Swift Leaves The Smashing Machine Down for the Count!
Hollywood’s toughest man just suffered the toughest loss of his career—and it wasn’t inside the ring.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s highly anticipated drama The Smashing Machine stumbled out of the gate this weekend, opening with just $6.2 million—a shocking career-low for the global superstar. Expectations had been sky-high, with projections of around $20 million, but instead, the film landed a gut punch that nobody saw coming.
And the opponent who dealt the knockout blow? None other than Taylor Swift.
Her companion film, The Life of a Showgirl, turned theaters into Swiftie central, pulling in a massive $33 million in the US alone and $46 million worldwide, completely steamrolling Johnson’s Oscar-hopeful.
A Career First—And Not the Kind The Rock Wanted
For decades, The Rock has been Hollywood’s box office guarantee. From Fast & Furious blockbusters to family hits like Moana, his name meant money. But with The Smashing Machine, an emotional, arthouse-style biopic about MMA legend Mark Kerr, fans expecting car chases and explosions walked into a gritty, soul-baring drama. Many didn’t know what to make of it.
While critics praised the film—it currently sits at 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and even snagged director Benny Safdie a Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival—audiences clearly weren’t ready for The Rock’s most vulnerable role yet.
Outmuscled on All Fronts
As if battling Swift wasn’t enough, Johnson’s film also got pinned down by Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. That movie passed the $100 million mark worldwide this weekend, marking the biggest success of Anderson’s career, while The Smashing Machine barely clung to third place.
The Rock’s Oscar Dream Still Alive?
Despite the bruising box office numbers, industry insiders aren’t counting Johnson out just yet. Awards season often gives smaller dramas a “second wind,” and The Smashing Machine could find redemption on streaming platforms and in the run-up to the Oscars.
The movie strips away Johnson’s action-hero armor, spotlighting the sacrifices and pain of combat sports instead of blockbuster thrills. It’s a bold gamble—one that could earn him his first serious shot at Academy recognition.
But for now? The Final Boss has been humbled. Taylor Swift just handed The Rock a box office smackdown—and Hollywood is still buzzing about it.
