Dwayne Johnson’s remarkable work in The Smashing Machine is garnering much appreciation from cinema enthusiasts and combat sports fans in the US and Canada. Still, the Benny Safdie-directed movie crashed hard at the box office, earning roughly $5.9 million in its first weekend, which was way less than its targeted opening weekend of $8 million to $15 million. (via Variety)
A few hours ago, Johnson expressed his thoughts about the movie’s underwhelming box office performance. The Rock took to his Instagram account to express his feelings after witnessing The Smashing Machine‘s financial failure. (via therock on Instagram)
“From deep in my grateful bones, thank you to everyone who has watched “The Smashing Machine”. In our storytelling world, you can’t control box office results — but what I realized, [what] you can control is your performance, and your commitment to completely disappear and go elsewhere.
And I will always run to that opportunity. It was my honor to transform in this role for my director, Benny Safdie @bowedtie. Thank you, brother, for believing in me. Truth is, this film has changed my life. With deep gratitude, respect, and radical empathy,
dj”
The critical appreciation Johnson is receiving for his performance speaks volumes about the efforts he put into portraying Mark Kerr’s character on the screen. The 53-year-old had to undergo a taxing process to transform his body for his role.
Dwayne Johnson’s Physically Challenging Transformation for The Smashing Machine
Johnson’s massive stature and wrestling background made him a good choice to play Kerr on the screen. However, these virtues weren’t sufficient for his role, as the movie revolves around Kerr’s MMA career and his associated background struggles. As a result, The Rock had to undergo a demanding physical transformation, along with sharpening his MMA skills.
Johnson detailed the physical challenges associated with his role in The Smashing Machine during his appearance on the October 2 episode of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He revealed how Safdie felt a bit awkward while asking him to get even “bigger” for his role, given Johnson’s naturally stout build.
“Our director, Benny Safdie. He is the best. He said to me, ‘Hey DJ, I don’t know how to tell you this, I don’t know if you’ve ever heard this; [but] you’re gonna have to get bigger.”
Johnson complied with Safdie’s requirement without hesitation and gained “over 30 pounds of muscle,” as his role required. However, training MMA with that added weight made things more challenging for the 53-year-old.
“I had to put on 30 pounds of, [correction] just over 30 pounds of muscle…Mark Kerr had just this quality of muscle, like, fast-twitch-quality muscle, because he was a wrestler [who transitioned to MMA]. And I had to put on this weight, [and] still be able to move like an MMA fighter.”
Check out Johnson’s comments below:
Nevertheless, the hurdles Johnson crossed to portray Kerr’s life on the silver screen weren’t just physical. The Rock’s appreciable performance at the emotional junctures of The Samshing Machine also took a toll on him.
Dwayne Johnson Got ‘emotionally wrecked’ While Filming The Smashing Machine
Despite The Smashing Machine‘s MMA-based plot, the movie also highlights a few untoward incidents in Kerr’s personal life, including his banters with his former wife, Dawn Staples, played by Emily Blunt. Being in such emotionally charged scenes took a toll on Johnson mentally, as he labeled them “raw” and “intense.”
The movie features a final argument scene between Johnson and Blunt, which portrays Kerr’s fierce real-life dissension with Staples. After filming the scene, The Rock revealed that it left both him and Blunt “emotionally wrecked.” (via ESPN)
Check out a glimpse of the scene below:
So, does learning about Johnson’s challenges for The Smashing Machine make you want to watch it? Let us know in the comments if and why you are planning to book your seats for a show.
