This episode dives deep into Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine,” exploring how a film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, lauded at the Venice Film Festival for its raw portrayal of UFC fighter Mark Kerr, faced an unexpected box office outcome despite being an A24 release. Reginald Titus Jr. and Casey G. Smith unpack the film’s unusual financial performance, Johnson’s transformative acting, and the broader context of how audiences respond to actor-driven dramas versus genre expectations, all while discussing major industry news and HBO’s uncertain future.
What We Cover
- The surprising box office results of “The Smashing Machine” (2025), with a budget of $40 million and a worldwide gross of only $21 million.
- Dwayne Johnson’s profound physical and vocal transformation into Mark Kerr, raising questions about actor recognition and film reception.
- Comparative analysis of fighting films like “The Wrestler” and their budgetary considerations versus box office success.
- The critical reception of “The Smashing Machine” at festivals versus its commercial performance with general audiences.
- The significant $2.8 billion termination fee paid to Netflix by Paramount during the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition battle.
- Controversies surrounding “Scream 7” and the broader implications of actors’ public statements on film productions.
Key Moments
- 0:56 — Reginald and Casey react to the disappointing box office numbers for “The Smashing Machine,” prompting a discussion on industry expectations.
- 1:41 — The hosts compare the film’s performance to other fighting dramas and consider whether Dwayne Johnson’s drastically altered appearance played a role.
- 4:39 — An in-depth breakdown of the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition saga, detailing Netflix’s exit and Paramount’s substantial termination fee.
- 8:26 — A summary of critical feedback for the film, which praised Johnson’s performance but found the storyline somewhat repetitive, contributing to its commercial flop status.
Gear & Films Mentioned
- The Smashing Machine (2025)
- The Wrestler (2008)
- Magazine Dreams
- Surviving the Game (1994)
- Colors (1988)
- Scream 7
- House of the Dragon
- Jungle Cruise
- Looper
- The Fly
- Earth Girls Are Easy
- HBO
- A24
- Paramount
- Netflix
- Warner Bros. Discovery
- YouTube
- Vizio
- Roku
- Zumo
- Tubi
Listener Questions
- How did “The Smashing Machine,” a film with Dwayne Johnson and festival praise, struggle so much at the box office?
- What factors determine whether an audience embraces an actor in a radically different role or prefers their established persona?
- What are the wider implications of recent corporate consolidations and controversies within the entertainment industry, particularly for streaming services like HBO, which Reginald and Casey frequently discuss on Filmmaker Commentary?
