‘Awards Chatter’ Pod: Dwayne Johnson on ‘The Smashing Machine,’ Its Box Office, ‘Jumanji’ and ‘Moana’ Sequels and That bin Laden Tweet

‘Awards Chatter’ Pod: Dwayne Johnson on ‘The Smashing Machine’ and More

During a recent recording of The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, held before an audience of 500 film students at Chapman University in Orange County, Dwayne Johnson reflected on his career and his Oscar-buzzed role as Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s A24 film The Smashing Machine.

“I was ready to chase the challenge and not chase the box office,” Johnson said of portraying Mark Kerr, an early MMA fighter whose life took a dark turn.

Johnson’s statement carries weight given his unique status in Hollywood. At 53 years old, he remains the most bankable star of his generation. Forbes named him the top-grossing actor worldwide in 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.

With a career spanning 40 films, mostly action and family comedies, Johnson’s movies have grossed nearly $14 billion globally, averaging about $349.7 million per film. Within the past year, he achieved a rare feat by having two movies — Moana 2 and Red One — debut at number one at the box office in the same calendar month, a milestone unseen for 27 years.

As a result, the expectation is that any film starring Johnson will be a blockbuster hit.

Author's summary: Dwayne Johnson prioritizes challenging roles over box office success, yet consistently delivers blockbuster hits, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood's highest-grossing actors.

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The Hollywood Reporter The Hollywood Reporter — 2025-11-07

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