Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt’s A24 sports biopic sees an 82% drop as exhibitors cut thousands of showings.
“The Smashing Machine” Loses Screens at U.S. Box Office
The Smashing Machine is facing a steep decline at the U.S. box office.
After a disappointing third weekend that saw Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt’s R-rated sports biopic earn just $330,000—an 82% drop from the previous weekend’s $1.8 million—U.S. exhibitors have pulled the film from more than 2,500 theaters.
That figure represents a 74% reduction from its initial release across 3,345 locations.
Even during its opening weekend, the film’s performance was underwhelming. Despite debuting in thousands of theaters, The Smashing Machine opened with a modest $6 million, only slightly ahead of The Iron Claw, which earned $4.8 million from fewer screens (2,775 theaters).
Three weeks after release, the film’s global total stands at $18 million—far below A24’s reported $50 million production budget, excluding marketing expenses.
The numbers raise questions about Johnson’s current box office draw and the commercial viability of mid-budget sports dramas.