The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson pens a heartfelt note after The Smashing Machine became his worst box office opening

Even the most prominent actors have their bad days, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson demonstrated that. His recent movie, The Smashing Machine, did not receive the type of big opening everybody anticipated. As a matter of fact, The Smashing Machine proved to be the poorest box office debut of his career, and that was very uncharacteristic for one of the most bankable names in Hollywood.

However, rather than keeping quiet or allowing disappointment to get the better of him, Johnson did what he does best: he spoke out from his heart. On his social media, the actor posted an emotional note to his fans. Instead of discussing the film’s performance, he preferred discussing the things that are of more value to people: passion, effort, and being down to earth.

His message resonated with a lot of people, and he was reminding them that success does not always have to be about numbers. Sometimes it is about the amount of heart you put into something, even when things do not happen your way. This reaction of Johnson was indicative of his humility and optimism, which made him such a beloved personality in the entertainment industry. He was not disappointed but instead, thankful for the experience, the team, and the fans who still believe in him.

Dwayne Johnson’s post after The Smashing Machine flopped at the box office

Dwayne Johnson reflected on the years of dedication that he put into The Smashing Machine, a rough and dramatic biopic on MMA fighter Mark Kerr, in his heartfelt post. He referred to the film as a work of love and credited Benny Safdie, the director, and Emily Blunt, his co-star, for transforming him into a better actor.

In his Instagram post, Dwayne Johnson wrote:

“From deep in my grateful bones, thank you to everyone who has watched “The Smashing Machine.” In our storytelling world, you can’t control box office results — but what I realized you can control is your performance, and your commitment to completely disappear and go elsewhere. And I will always run to that opportunity. It was my honor to transform in this role for my director, Benny Safdie. Thank you brother for believing in me. Truth is this film has changed my life. With deep gratitude, respect and radical empathy, DJ.”

Johnson has acknowledged that The Smashing Machine’s initial box office performance was not as good as he or his fans had expected. Nevertheless, he claimed that working on the movie was one of the most rewarding events in his life. He mentioned that he was proud of the risks they took, and it was not about the amount of money that the movie earned, but about creating something honest and real.

How did fans react

The post made by Dwayne Johnson received a lot of love from fans, athletes, and other actors. Even after the poor debut of The Smashing Machine, social media was filled with messages that applauded his sincerity and down-to-earth attitude.

It was noted by many that The Smashing Machine was a massive deviation from his typical action films; no superheroes, explosions, or snappy dialogues, but raw feeling and hard work. Some claimed that that was precisely what made the film stand out. Even those who did not necessarily enjoy the slow pace of the movie admitted that The Smashing Machine was one of the most emotional and authentic performances of Johnson to date.

The Rock’s next chapter

The Smashing Machine might not have the highest box office earnings, but Dwayne Johnson does not seem to be distressed about it. He is looking forward to the future already, whether it is action-thrillers or playing Maui in Moana 2.

One of the most powerful thoughts he shared in his message is: “Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.” It best exemplifies his optimistic nature, which is something that made him one of the most iconic stars in Hollywood. The Rock is tough as iron and cannot be brought down, be it in the ring, the gym, or the box office. One thing that this moment accomplishes is that no matter how low things get, The Rock will continue to move forward.