Dwayne Johnson’s biopic The Smashing Machine stumbled in theaters, but it hasn’t tapped out just yet. The film has already made its digital debut. Thus, it gives viewers a second chance to catch Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr, all without leaving the couch. Since November 4, it has been available for digital purchase on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
It’s priced at $24.99 on Amazon, and rentals aren’t yet available, but the PVOD release is clearly A24’s attempt to revive interest after the box office misfire. For anyone who skipped the theatrical round or blinked and missed it, this digital window is the easiest way to see Johnson in one of his most dramatic roles yet.
When Will The Smashing Machine Start Streaming on HBO Max?
So now that the digital version is out, everyone’s staring at their calendars, wondering when The Smashing Machine will parachute onto HBO Max. A24 hasn’t circled a date in ink yet, but its recent track record makes the guesswork pretty simple. The studio’s Pay-1 deal with Warner Bros.
All A24 theatrical releases are added to Max once they complete their theatrical run. So, maybe it will be released on Max in December. But, looking at how recent A24 titles, like Eddington, will make the shift roughly four months (on 14th November) after their theatrical bow, early February 2026 feels like the sweet spot.
When it finally lands on Max, fans can watch it with a subscription, which is at least kinder on the wallet than that $24.99 digital purchase for anyone willing to wait. Basically, patience might be the real MVP here.
Why Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine Failed at the Box Office?
The irony of the whole situation is almost cinematic. Johnson finally teamed up with a filmmaker like Benny Safdie. The man poured himself into the role of Mark Kerr. He transformed physically and emotionally in a way longtime fans always hoped he would. Emily Blunt matched his energy. And the film brought something far moodier and more vulnerable than his usual blockbuster outings. Yet when it hit theaters, audiences barely showed up.
The movie has earned $11.35 million in the U.S. This isn’t exactly victory-parade money, but it’s at least something. The global total has finally nudged past the $19 million mark (via The Numbers).
Under normal A24 circumstances, that number wouldn’t spark an alarm — but this wasn’t a regular A24 drama. With a $50 million budget and two major stars front and center, the expectations were different. And unlike One Battle After Another, which opened the week before with modest numbers but glowing reviews, The Smashing Machine carried a more mixed festival reputation. Viewers praised Johnson’s performance, sure, but the movie around him didn’t hit the same high notes.
Part of the struggle came from mismatched expectations. UFC and WWE fans walked in expecting an all-out, bone-crunching combat spectacle. Instead, Safdie delivered something introspective, loose, and emotionally heavy — the kind of film that whispers instead of roars.
Meanwhile, the typical A24 crowd didn’t immediately connect with the sports-centric marketing, which leaned more on physicality than mood. A non-franchise film with a dark, quiet tone needs strong buzz to survive, and this one didn’t get the spark it needed. In short, the movie was basically shadow-boxing in a dark room, and the audience didn’t know where to look.
The theatrical stumble doesn’t diminish the fact that Johnson delivered one of the most surprising performances of his career — just that the timing, tone, and audience expectations didn’t line up. The film didn’t flop because of Johnson — it flopped because everyone walked in expecting a suplex and got sadness instead.
Still, with digital release underway and streaming not far behind, The Smashing Machine may find the audience it missed the first time. Some films just prefer the living room over the multiplex.
So, when are you going to give this movie a try? Let us know in the comments.
