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Dwayne Johnson's Sports Drama Nears Forgotten 1990s Thriller's Box Office
19 Oct
Summary
- Dwayne Johnson's sports drama The Smashing Machine earns $18 million globally
- Film closing in on lifetime gross of 1996 thriller The Fan starring Robert De Niro
- Directed by Benny Safdie, the movie tells story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr

As of October 19th, 2025, Dwayne Johnson's sports drama The Smashing Machine is closing in on the lifetime gross of a forgotten 1990s sports psychological thriller. Directed by Benny Safdie, the film about MMA fighter Mark Kerr has earned $18 million globally, placing it among the top 100 highest-grossing movies of the year.
While the film has not drawn massive crowds so far, it is steadily gaining momentum. The Smashing Machine is now just $600,000 away from surpassing the $18.6 million worldwide earnings of the 1996 thriller The Fan, starring Robert De Niro and Wesley Snipes. Industry analysts expect the Dwayne Johnson-led movie to reach this milestone in the coming days.
The Smashing Machine, which traces the meteoric rise and personal struggles of MMA legend Mark Kerr, has received glowing reviews from critics. However, its box office performance has been unpredictable, highlighting the highly unpredictable nature of the industry. As the film continues its theatrical run, it is also inching closer to overtaking the $18.1 million earned by the South Korean dark comedy thriller No Other Choice earlier this year.