‘Awards Chatter’ Podcast: Dwayne Johnson Reflects on ‘The Smashing Machine’ and Career Highlights
In a recent recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Dwayne Johnson spoke to an audience of 500 film students at Chapman University about his latest role and career journey.
Portrayal in ‘The Smashing Machine’
Johnson discussed his role as Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, an A24 film focused on the early days of MMA and Kerr’s challenging life. Johnson emphasized his motivation:
“I was ready to chase the challenge and not chase the box office.”
Career Achievements and Box Office Success
Johnson is recognized as one of the most successful actors of his generation. Forbes named him the top-grossing actor worldwide in 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.
- He ranks as the fifth-highest-grossing actor of all time.
- His 40 films, mainly action and family comedies, have earned nearly $14 billion globally.
- The average box office take per film is approximately $349.7 million.
Recent Box Office Milestone
Within the past year, Johnson achieved a rare feat by having two movies, Moana 2 and Red One, open at number one in the same month—a record unmatched by any other actor in 27 years.
This combination of critical challenges and commercial success continues to shape Johnson’s unique career path in Hollywood.
“When Johnson stars in a film, it will be a blockbuster.”
Summary: Dwayne Johnson balances artistic challenges with massive box office success, cementing his status as Hollywood’s most bankable star while exploring new, demanding roles.
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