The Smashing Machine Projected for $20M Opening Weekend
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine is tracking for a $20 million debut in its opening weekend. If it hits that mark, the film will become A24’s second-biggest domestic opening of all time. The biopic, starring Dwayne Johnson, opens in U.S. theaters on October 3.
Johnson portrays MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who rose to fame in 2000. The film explores his struggles with addiction, his rivalries, and his turbulent love life. Emily Blunt reunites with Johnson after Jungle Cruise, playing his ex-wife.
The cast also includes Oleksandr Usyk, Lindsay Gavin, Bas Rutten, Ryan Bader, James Montaseri, Yuko Hamamura, Stephen Quadros, Paul Cheng, Cyborg Abreu, Andre Tricoteux, Marcus Aurelio, Whitney Moore, Paul Lazenby, and Ryan Ventura.
Premiering at both Venice and Toronto, the film received positive reviews and currently holds an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its primary audience is expected to be men over 25, followed by women over 25.
Alex Garland’s Civil War currently holds A24’s record with a $25.5 million opening. With a $20 million debut, The Smashing Machine would land in second place, ahead of Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which opened to $23.2 million two years ago under the constraints of the actors’ strike.
Johnson’s earlier R-rated film Pain and Gain opened to $20.2 million in 2013 and went on to gross $87.3 million worldwide.
Disney will release Tron: Ares one week after The Smashing Machine.
