Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt‘s highly anticipated The Smashing Machine has finally been released in theaters, and while things aren’t looking great box office-wise, a report about the ensemble’s salary has caught our attention.
While the actual figure isn’t known, Deadline reports that Johnson took $4 million to play the role of former wrestler and MMA star Mark Kerr. This is significantly less than the $20 million he usually charges for his work.
As per Forbes, Johnson makes more than $20 million per film plus the back-end profits. Apparently, he also negotiates a seven-figure social media deal for the films he stars in and promotes. So, why the change of heart in Smashing Machine?
According to Deadline’s report, Johnson also took a pay cut for both Blunt and Kerr, giving them a portion of his paycheck. This means that the actress was paid more than the leading man of the film. Smashing Machine was made on a budget of $50 million (via Variety).
Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt Bonded on the Set of The Smashing Machine
Johnson and Blunt’s friendship only grew stronger on the set of Benny Safdie‘s biographical sports drama. At the Los Angeles premiere of the film, the actress praised her co-star (via PEOPLE) for being the best friend people could ask for, adding that he is always “endlessly joyful” for other people’s wins.
She said, “Oh my God, he’s just the best friend. He is endlessly joyful about other people’s successes. He’s innately kind. He’s wise. He gives incredible advice.“
Blunt did not stop there, no. She gushed on and on about just how wonderful Johnson really is in real life, calling him “zen” and talking about how peaceful it is to be around him. In her words:
He’s steady. That zen Polynesian vibe, he lives by it. And so in that way he’s a very calming person to talk to if you’re in the chaos of what this industry can be sometimes…We just became very fast friends, like an immediate secret language, which I think you feel with certain people you work with.
Well, if the above-mentioned report is true, we can understand why Johnson had no problem giving a portion of his paycheck to the woman who speaks so highly of him.
The Smashing Machine Becomes Dwayne Johnson’s Career-Worst Project
For years, Johnson has been pigeonholed in his career to the point where the roles he said yes to were becoming far too predictable than they should. The Smashing Machine was just what he needed to truly show off his skills as an actor.
Unfortunately, the film failed to impress at the box office, bringing in a mere $5.9 million during its opening weekend (via Deadline). Perhaps it had something to do with the surprising release of Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party for a Showgirl, which raked in a whopping $34 million in its opening weekend.
The Smashing Machine is expected to domestically make around $14-20 million on the lower end. As for foreign sales, the number might go up to $34 million. Luckily, the low production cost of $50 million ensures that the film doesn’t lose a lot of money, even if it doesn’t make much in the first place. This would mean that they lose around $10-15 million.
As for Johnson, he addressed the film’s performance on Instagram, stating, “In our storytelling world, you can’t always control box office results – but what I realized you can control is your performance, and your commitment to completely disappear and go elsewhere.“
He thanked Safdie for the opportunity and admitted that The Smashing Machine has changed his life.
A post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock)
The Smashing Machine might not be the box office’s favorite, but it has been receiving positive reviews from fans and critics, with a 72% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics praise Johnson for going the distance with the transformative role, delivering a performance that is gritty and raw. Read FandomWire’s review of the film.
Have you had the chance to watch Johnson stun as Mark Kerr yet? Let us know in the comments section below if you are a fan or not!
The Smashing Machine is playing in theaters.
