Taylor Swift Beats Dwayne Johnson As He Earns Lowest Of His Career
Dwayne Johnson just got smashed at the box office with the release of his latest film, The Smashing Machine. The sports drama opened in theatres last Friday but managed to earn only $6 million in its debut weekend across 3,345 venues. The R-rated biographical drama faced intense competition from Taylor Swift’s concert film, Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl.
Box Office Update for The Smashing Machine
The Smashing Machine, also starring Emily Blunt, arrived with high critical acclaim following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where director Benny Safdie won the Best Director award. Despite the buzz, the film opened in third place, collecting $6 million from its wide release.
The film reportedly has a production budget of $50 million, excluding marketing and promotional expenses. Industry projections had expected a $20 million opening, but those hopes were dashed after Taylor Swift’s surprise announcement of her new concert film.
Taylor Swift Tops the Box Office
Even with minimal promotion, Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl dominated the box office, raking in an impressive $33 million over the weekend. The film easily claimed the top spot, while Leonardo DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another followed in second place with $10.3 million in its second weekend.
Swift’s massive global fanbase and her ongoing pop-culture reign proved unstoppable, leaving The Smashing Machine struggling to find footing among younger audiences.
About The Smashing Machine
In The Smashing Machine, Dwayne Johnson portrays MMA fighter Mark Kerr, whose life inspired the 2002 documentary of the same name. The film delves into Kerr’s rise as a decorated athlete and his struggles with substance abuse, as well as his complicated relationship with his girlfriend, played by Emily Blunt.
Johnson and Blunt previously shared the screen in Jungle Cruise. The movie marks Benny Safdie’s first solo directorial venture after parting ways with his brother, Josh Safdie, who is currently working on Marty Supreme starring Timothée Chalamet, slated for release later this year.