‘Awards Chatter’ Podcast: Dwayne Johnson on ‘The Smashing Machine’ and Career Highlights
During a live recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast at Chapman University in Orange County, Dwayne Johnson reflected on his career and his role as Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s A24 film The Smashing Machine. Johnson described his approach to the film, saying:
“I was ready to chase the challenge and not chase the box office.”
The film portrays Mark Kerr, an early MMA fighter whose life took a difficult path.
Dwayne Johnson’s Box Office Success and Industry Impact
- Johnson is widely recognized as the most bankable movie star of his generation.
- Forbes named him the top-grossing actor globally in 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.
- He ranks as the fifth-highest-grossing actor of all time.
- His 40 films, mainly action and family comedies, have grossed nearly $14 billion worldwide, averaging $349.7 million each.
- In the past year, he had two movies open at number one in the same month—Moana 2 and Red One—a feat not accomplished by any actor in the previous 27 years.
Because of this, Johnson’s involvement often leads to blockbuster expectations.
Summary
Dwayne Johnson emphasizes choosing challenging roles over box office gains while maintaining his status as one of the highest-grossing and most influential actors today.