The Rock has given some insight into how he felt when his latest movie, The Smashing Machine, hit theatres worldwide and received lower than expected interest from moviegoers.
The former WWE Champion’s most recent project saw him transform into former MMA fighter Mark Kerr, retelling the professional and personal story behind one of the pioneers in the combat sports world.
Although the initial reaction was strong as the movie got a lengthy standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, was well-received by critics, and there was even talk that Dwayne Johnson could be nominated for an Oscar, the movie drew $11.3 million domestically and $20.2 million worldwide, far below the $50 million budget.
While the numbers were somewhat disappointing, the Hollywood star has a different perspective on is project.
“The Smashing Machine Is A Turning Point”: The Rock
Speaking with Scott Feinberg of Hollywood Reporter, Rock reflected on his acting career, and how it had been more than 20 years since his big break in Hollywood. Additionally, Rock elaborated on how it was a more personal triumph for him as opposed to a financial one:
“Smashing Machine also represents a turning point in my career that I’ve wanted for a long time: for the first time in my career — 20 plus years since The Scorpion King came out — I made a film to challenge myself and to really rip myself open and to go elsewhere and disappear and transform, and not one time did I think about box office. In our world you’re like, “Shit, how are we going to look?” And then Friday night comes and you’re like, “Oh man.” You wake up Saturday, and sometimes you wake up feeling good, and sometimes you’re like, “Oh my God, didn’t do well.” I had not thought about that at all. And even that Friday night when we opened, I went to sleep peacefully and woke up peacefully because it represented this thing. And even though we didn’t do well [at the box office], or as well as we wanted to, it was okay because it just represented the thing I did for me.”
Featured image: WWE
