Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s recent biographical sports drama, The Smashing Machine, released in theatres on October 3, 2025, has been creating quite a buzz — not just for its performances but also for its financial performance and the cast’s salaries. The film, which also stars Emily Blunt, is based on the life of former wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Despite the anticipation surrounding its release, the movie’s opening weekend brought in just USD 6 million at the box office, according to Hindustan Times.
Interestingly, Dwayne reportedly took home USD 4 million for his portrayal of Mark Kerr — a significant drop from his usual pay scale. As per Deadline, Johnson, who is typically paid around USD 20 million per film along with back-end profits, deliberately reduced his fee for this project. The Forbes report also highlighted that Dwayne often negotiates additional seven-figure deals for social media promotion in his films, making this pay cut even more notable.
Emily Blunt, who plays the lead female role alongside Dwayne, reportedly earned USD 10 million for the film, according to Showbiz Galore. The supporting cast includes Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman, who received USD 50,000, Bas Rutten, who was paid USD 250,000, Oleksandr Usyk, who earned USD 200,000 for his role as Igor Vovchanchyn, and Satoshi Ishii, who reportedly took home USD 120,000.
Reports suggest that Dwayne’s decision to accept a reduced salary was influenced by his close friendship with Emily Blunt. The pair, who first worked together on Jungle Cruise, developed a strong bond during the making of The Smashing Machine. The film was made on a USD 50 million budget, and during its Los Angeles premiere, Emily spoke warmly about Dwayne, praising his kindness and positivity. She described him as “the best friend,” someone who is “endlessly joyful about other people’s successes,” and added that he gives “incredible advice.”
Despite the film’s underwhelming box office debut, Dwayne shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, expressing gratitude to everyone who supported the project. In his post, he reflected on how artists cannot control box office numbers but can always control their dedication and performance. He wrote that disappearing completely into a role was an “honor” and thanked the film’s director, Benny Safdie, for believing in him.
While The Smashing Machine may not have met commercial expectations, it stands as a testament to Dwayne’s commitment to storytelling and his willingness to take creative risks, even at the cost of a smaller paycheck.