The Smashing Machine opens up with a decent $6 Million at the domestic box office

Dwayne Johnson's The Smashing Machine arrived with some serious awards-season ambitions and a sizable $50 million production price tag, but the film's box office numbers have been decent, at best, giving Johnson the worst opening of his career.

The film took in roughly $850,000 during Thursday's previews and screenings, already marking a career-low for Johnson who has often led box-office blockbusters. As of now, The Smashing Machine has garnered $6 million at the domestic box office.

In a box office statement reported by The Hollywood Reporter, A24 has said of the film,

“The film presents a bold and deeply personal portrait of legendary MMA pioneer Mark Kerr and marks a dramatic turn from Johnson unlike anything he has done before. Matched by a powerhouse performance from the incomparable Emily Blunt, The Smashing Machine stands as a creative achievement that will resonate far beyond opening weekend.”

Put bluntly, a film with that budget usually needs multiples of its production costs to break even once marketing and exhibitor splits are factored in. Industry rule of thumb is that a movie commonly needs around two to two and a half times its production budget at the box office to reach break even, which would put The Smashing Machine’s threshold well north of $100 million.

More details about The Smashing Machine

Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine dives headfirst into the chaotic, adrenaline-fueled world of Mark Kerr, one of MMA's early legends who had one of the biggest careers in the world of wrestling. Written, co-produced, directed and edited by Safdie himself, the biographical sports drama plunges into the highs and the lows of Kerr's life, capturing both his wrestling roots and the raw energy of his MMA career. Alongside Johnson, the film stars Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples, Kerr's steadfast girlfriend who grounds the story with warmth and resilience.

Apart from Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt’s powerhouse pairing, the film packs a serious punch with a supporting lineup that feels pulled straight from the MMA world itself. Ryan Bader steps into the role of Mark Coleman, Bas Rutten plays himself, and Oleksandr Usyk plays Igor Vovchanchyn. Lyndsey Gavin, Satoshi Ishii, and James Moontasri round out the ensemble, adding authenticity to the film’s sweaty, bruised realism.

Backed by A24, Seven Bucks Productions, Out for the Count, and Magnetic Fields Entertainment, Benny Safdie’s vision for the film is both nostalgic and experimental. Shot between May and August 2024 across New Mexico, Tokyo, and Vancouver, Safdie blended 16mm, 70mm, and even grainy VHS footage to make the story look as bruised and beautiful as Kerr’s life itself.

The film made its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025, where it snagged the Silver Lion before heading to TIFF. By the time it hit U.S. theaters on October 3, critics were calling Johnson’s performance his most human yet. The film has received a 74% Rotten Tomatoes score, a 65 on Metacritic, and a solid “B-” from audiences.