Despite strong reviews and a 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival — where Johnson drew praise for his portrayal of MMA legend Mark Kerr — The Smashing Machine recorded one of the lowest openings for a Dwayne Johnson-led film. The A24 drama, co-starring Emily Blunt, opened in third place with just USD 6 million, trailing Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which earned USD 11.1 million and has now accumulated USD 107 million globally. First place went to Taylor Swift’s The Official Release Party of a Show Girl, which earned USD 33 million in North America.

Johnson’s response to the box Office

Amid the modest box office turnout, Johnson remained reflective and positive. The actor described the film as life-changing and emphasized that box office results are beyond anyone’s control.