The Rock’s Reign Is Cracking: Hollywood’s Biggest Star Faces a String of Box-Office Bombs
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson once ruled Hollywood as the industry’s biggest, highest-paid star, riding a wave of blockbuster franchises like Fast & Furious, Jumanji, and Netflix’s Red Notice. Today, a series of commercial flops has critics wondering if his reign is ending. The shift is real, and the numbers tell a stark story: Johnson’s recent projects have struggled to recapture his previous certainty at the box office. The most striking example is The Smashing Machine, a $50 million biopic that earned only $10 million in the US, despite a performance that drew praise from critics and fellow filmmakers alike. The film’s modest box-office return has intensified questions about whether Johnson can still reliableIy anchor a major release.
In This Article:
From WWE to Hollywood’s Box-Office Anchor: How The Rock Became an A‑List Star
Johnson transformed his wrestling fame into serious money and global appeal with a calculated mix of action roles, family-friendly hits, and savvy branding. The Fast & Furious franchise, along with Jumanji and Netflix’s Red Notice, helped him seize a rare level of worldwide box-office power and the ability to command substantial salaries. At 53, the Rock looked untouchable—a rare blend of hard-hitting action star and accessible, family-friendly icon who could drive enormous audiences around the world.
A String of Flops: The Films that Punctured His Box-Office Streak
The Smashing Machine wasn’t the only misfire. Disney’s Jungle Cruise cost about $200 million to produce and, while it found life on Disney+ after a lukewarm theatrical run, it did not become the blockbuster hoped for. DC’s Black Adam also underperformed—critically and financially—contributing to Warner Bros.’ decision to reboot the DC universe without Johnson. The Baywatch remake, co-starring Zac Efron, yielded disappointing numbers, and other attempts to broaden his appeal have struggled to translate into big theatrical returns. Taken together, these flops have intensified scrutiny of his star status and where his career goes next.
Public Scrutiny and Johnson’s Own Reflection
Critics and fans have debated whether The Rock’s box-office pull is in decline. YouTuber John Campea recently stated that Johnson’s reign ‘was officially over’ and that his broad appeal has clearly started to wane. Johnson countered with an emotional post about the unpredictable nature of storytelling and the need to focus on performance. ‘In our storytelling world, you can’t control box office results,’ he wrote. ‘But what I realized you can control is your performance, and your commitment to completely disappear and go elsewhere. I will always run to that opportunity.’ He thanked director Benny Safdie for believing in him, adding, ‘Truth is this film has changed my life.’
What Comes Next? Sequels, Reboots, and a New Creative Partnership
Despite the recent setbacks, Johnson still has ambitious plans. Sequels to his biggest franchises are in the works: Jumanji 3 is planned for release next year, followed by Fast X: Part 2 in 2027. A Jungle Cruise sequel is in development thanks to strong Disney+ performance. Additionally, he is slated to headline a live-action Moana, a potential boost given the massive success of the animated film. Behind the scenes, he will also team with Benny Safdie again on Lizard Music, an adaptation picked up by Amazon MGM Studios. Deadline confirms the studio’s enthusiasm for the collaboration and stresses that Lizard Music will be a timeless, unique cinematic story.
