For nearly two decades, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been the undisputed champion of Hollywood’s box office. With a jaw-dropping $15 billion in global ticket sales to his name, he’s been the musclebound anchor of countless franchises — Fast & Furious, Jumanji, G.I. Joe, and Journey, to name a few. He even earned the nickname “franchise viagra,” a testament to how reliably his presence could revive sagging IPs. But after years of flexing for the camera, cracking crowd-pleasing one-liners, and sporting suspiciously similar khaki outfits, Johnson has hit a creative crossroads.
Now, he’s rewriting the script. This October, Johnson makes his most radical career move yet, starring in A24’s The Smashing Machine, a raw, emotionally charged biopic about real-life MMA legend Mark Kerr. Directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), the film is already generating awards buzz after its debut at the Venice International Film Festival — where it received an astonishing 15-minute standing ovation. More than just a career pivot, The Smashing Machine is a statement. It’s Johnson’s way of saying: I’m done playing it safe.
From Box Office King To Serious Contender
There’s no denying Johnson’s blockbuster dominance. But there’s also no denying the recent fatigue — both from audiences and, perhaps, from Johnson himself. Films like Red Notice, Jungle Cruise, Black Adam, and Red One may have kept the popcorn flowing, but creatively, they felt like reruns. The same character, the same arc, the same smirk.
But if Johnson’s been stuck in a loop, The Smashing Machine breaks the cycle. Here, he disappears into the role of Kerr — a man torn between athletic glory and personal demons, grappling with addiction, fame, and pain in equal measure. It’s a performance that demands vulnerability over virility, and Johnson rises to the occasion with a seriousness we’ve rarely seen from him.
And critics are taking note. With an 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes — the third highest of his career — The Smashing Machine has put Hollywood on notice. Dwayne Johnson is more than just charisma and muscle. He’s got real acting chops. He just needed the right vehicle.
Why This Moment Matters
Johnson’s decision to partner with A24 — the indie powerhouse behind Moonlight, Hereditary, and Everything Everywhere All At Once — speaks volumes. He’s no longer chasing the biggest budgets. He’s chasing truth. Art. Challenge.
At the Venice premiere, he said as much:
“The box office is very loud… it can push you into a corner — ‘This is your lane, this is what people want you to be.’ But I had this burning voice that kept asking: ‘What if there’s more?’”
What if there’s more? That’s the question that’s driving this new chapter of Johnson’s career. And based on what’s coming next, the answer is a resounding yes.
The Road Ahead: A Rock Reforged
Johnson isn’t stopping with The Smashing Machine. He’s reteaming with A24 for Breakthrough, a psychological thriller where he plays a twisted motivational guru. And in a stunning move, Martin Scorsese has tapped him for a Hawaii-set crime drama opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt.
Yes, that Martin Scorsese. The guy who doesn’t just hand out roles. It’s a staggering endorsement — and a sign that Hollywood’s heavyweights are starting to smell what The Rock is cooking.
Not Just Muscle — Momentum
Skeptics might question whether Johnson can really make the leap. After all, it’s hard to separate the man from the brand. But if there’s one thing we know about him, it’s that he commits. Whether it was becoming a WWE icon, building a tequila empire, launching a football league, or dominating the global box office — Johnson has always found a way to win when he leans all the way in. Now, with drama, character depth, and a hunger to show something real, he’s leaning in harder than ever.
The Smashing Machine Isn’t Just A Movie… It’s A Turning Point
We’ve seen glimmers of Johnson’s range before in Snitch, Southland Tales, and Gridiron Gang, but never like this. Never this exposed. Never this unfiltered.
And while he still has crowd-pleasers in the pipeline (Jumanji 3, Disney’s Moana, more Fast & Furious mayhem), the creative tide has turned. Johnson is now actively pursuing stories that mean something to him. And potentially, to audiences tired of the same old spectacle.
There’s even buzz around The King, the long-gestating Hawaiian historical epic he’s been eyeing since 2018. Imagine Braveheart, but set in Polynesia. That’s the kind of ambition we want to see.
More Than Just A Comeback
Dwayne Johnson doesn’t need a comeback. He’s never left. But The Smashing Machine is something else entirely. In fact, it’s a rebirth.
It’s proof that even the most bankable star in Hollywood can still surprise us, still grow, still evolve. And if this is what the next phase of The Rock’s career looks like, then buckle up. We may be entering his most exciting era yet. Hollywood wanted a box office machine. But what we got instead is a real actor and one finally ready to take the gloves off.
The Smashing Machine opens in theaters October 3rd. Don’t miss the moment Dwayne Johnson stops playing a character and finally becomes one.