The Rock Scores First Golden Globes Nomination for The Smashing Machine

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for the first time. The actor, famous for his action-packed films, has been trying to take on more dramatic roles, and now he’s up for Best Actor alongside some of the industry’s most celebrated performers.

Golden Globes Nominations — Best Actor in a Drama Film:

Here’s a look at some actors and the projects they’re known for: Joel Edgerton in ‘Train Dreams,’ Dwayne Johnson in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ Michael B. Jordan in ‘Sinners,’ Wagner Moura in ‘The Secret Agent,’ Jeremy Allen White in ‘Springsteen,’ and Oscar Isaac in ‘Frankenstein’.

See the full nominees…

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 8, 2025

Despite not being a box office success, director Peter Berg’s The Smashing Machine is earning praise for Mark Wahlberg’s performance as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, potentially putting him in contention for significant awards, including an Oscar nomination.

Oscar Buzz

A24, the film studio that made The Smashing Machine, typically produces independent and artistic films. When Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson joined the project to play a role in a biopic, and pictures emerged of him looking drastically different, many people still wondered if he could deliver a convincing dramatic performance.

The movie debuted at the Venice International Film Festival in September, and people immediately started predicting it could win an Oscar.

Variety magazine pointed out similarities between Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance and Mickey Rourke’s Oscar-nominated role in The Wrestler, highlighting that both actors had experience in combat sports that informed their work. They also likened Gyllenhaal’s physical change for the film to Brendan Fraser’s Oscar-winning transformation in The Whale (another A24 film).

Rourke received a Golden Globe award for his acting, while Fraser was a nominee. Johnson’s Golden Globe nomination could suggest he’s also in contention for an Academy Award.

Yes, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Is a Serious Oscar Contender for ‘The Smashing Machine’

— Variety (@Variety) September 9, 2025

Before the movie came out, Johnson explained that taking on this dramatic role meant confronting difficult emotions and past experiences he’d avoided for years. He said the film provided an outlet for those feelings, and he fully committed to the process, regardless of whether it was ‘method acting’ or something else.

Unfortunately for The Smashing Machine, audiences largely stayed home.

Box Office Bomb

While critics and audiences generally liked The Smashing Machine and Dwayne Johnson’s acting, the film didn’t attract large crowds. Though Johnson received a Golden Globe nomination for his role, the movie’s serious and difficult subject matter – the story of Kerr’s life and struggles – was a departure from his typical action films, and most people didn’t go to see it.

Film critic Christian Toto highlighted the movie’s portrayal of difficult themes like addiction and a troubled relationship, alongside intense MMA fights. He observed that just when viewers anticipate a typical training sequence or a big fight, the film unexpectedly returns to a more realistic setting.

October was a particularly slow month for movies, and The Smashing Machine didn’t perform well. It opened at number three in the U.S., earning just $5.8 million—the lowest opening weekend of Dwayne Johnson’s career as a lead actor. The film quickly fell to eighth place in its second week, with ticket sales dropping by 69%.

In comparison, Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam—which didn’t perform as well as hoped—debuted at number one in October 2022 and earned $67 million.

Redemption

Look, I love a good blockbuster as much as anyone, and it’s awesome when those films connect with audiences. But I really wanted to push myself creatively. I got to a point where I was more interested in taking on challenging roles than just aiming for the biggest box office numbers. It felt like the right time to prioritize artistic fulfillment over commercial success.

It’s not surprising that The Smashing Machine wasn’t a big hit in theaters. Whether Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s acting choices will be recognized with awards like a Golden Globe or even an Oscar remains to be seen.

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2025-12-12 01:01