A huge shock has come to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, as his latest film – The Smashing Machine – only earned $6 million in its opening weekend in North America, a record low figure in the action star’s illustrious film career.

Once a “revenue-generating machine” of Hollywood, who turned every film he appeared in into a billion-dollar blockbuster, The Rock is now facing a harsh reality: audiences seem to have turned their backs.

According to a report from Box Office Mojo, The Smashing Machine – a film about the journey of a MMA fighter who lost his way in fame – was expected to open with a grand opening of around $30-40 million. However, the actual figure was only one-sixth of the initial prediction.

During a press conference right after the revenue results were announced, Dwayne Johnson could not hide his disappointment. He shared in tears:
“With my talent and experience, I never thought I would fall into a situation like this. I put my whole heart into this movie, and really… I don’t know what to say anymore.”
His voice choked up, making the whole audience silent. Those present said that The Rock tried to smile, but his red eyes said it all.

Experts said that the reason for the failure of The Smashing Machine came from the change in audience trends and the lack of the right promotional strategy. The movie was no longer The Rock’s typical “explosive” action style, but focused on psychological elements and character depth – something that many of his loyal fans did not expect.
A critic of The Hollywood Reporter wrote:
“The Rock tried to show a new image, more serious and introspective. But it seems that the audience was not ready to accept him as a weak person.”
Meanwhile, fans still expressed sympathy. Many left encouraging comments:
“You have devoted too much to cinema. One failure cannot define your entire career.”
“Sometimes even the strongest person needs a moment to fall – and get back up stronger.”
A source close to the actor revealed that Dwayne Johnson has put all upcoming film projects on hold to take time to reconsider his career direction and spend more time with his family. In a cryptic post on Instagram, he wrote:
“Life is not always a victory. But failures are lessons that help us find ourselves again. At the end of this year, I will change everything…”

This status quickly attracted millions of interactions, making fans curious about the meaning of the phrase “change everything”. Many people predicted that The Rock might leave Hollywood for a while, or switch to producing, instead of acting.
Several inside sources in the film industry also confirmed that he is in talks with a major streaming platform to release exclusive projects – which shows that The Rock is not giving up, just looking for a new path.
Despite this failure, many still believe that Dwayne Johnson – a symbol of perseverance and determination – will never stay down for long. He once rose from zero in WWE, conquered Hollywood with a smile and muscles, and now, he may once again “smash” all his own limits.
A painful failure, but it could also be the beginning of a new chapter in the career of the “man of steel” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
