The Smashing Machine Rushes to HBO Max After Box Office Stumble

Dwayne Johnson took a big swing with The Smashing Machine. It did not set theaters on fire, but it is heading to the couch next month. If anything can give a tough theatrical run a second life, it is a streamer launch. Per Variety, the film drops on HBO Max on January 23, 2026.

What happened in theaters

Before release, The Smashing Machine was pitched as Johnson's prestige pivot and possible awards play. Once it hit, critics were split and the box office never really caught. That is a rough combo for a project that was supposed to showcase a very different side of the Brahma Bull.

But how is Johnson in it?

Short answer: strong. Even people skeptical of his usual tough-guy lane have seen flashes of range before - see Michael Bay's Pain & Gain - and this film puts that side front and center. Christopher Nolan even weighed in, and he did not hold back:

It is heartbreaking. I think it is an incredible performance. I do not think you will see a better performance this year.

So why the hand-wringing?

The movie is a Benny Safdie-driven biopic, and on paper it should have been the bridge to more prestige work. Instead, the soft returns lit up a different conversation: after a recent rocky streak at the box office, how much does Johnson still move tickets, and will he actually pivot to more character-first material or stick with the reliable big IP lane?

Complicating things: that reported collaboration with Martin Scorsese is not moving right now. Scorsese is re-teaming with Leonardo DiCaprio on his next project, which leaves the Johnson pairing in limbo.

The broader picture

Johnson built an empire playing variations of the same deadpan-hero archetype. It made him a giant movie star, but it also earned him the old knock about limited range. The Smashing Machine does not erase that narrative by itself, but it does show him at the top of his dramatic game. The question is whether the business side will let him keep chasing roles like this or nudge him back to the sure-thing playbook.

What he is doing next

• Moana live-action remake in 2026
• The next Jumanji movie in 2026

Both are IP-driven crowd-pleasers with a very good chance of rebounding his box office. Translation: we might see more stoic action heroes and fewer layered characters like the real-life fighter at the center of this biopic, Mike Kerr, at least in the near term.

When and where to watch

The Smashing Machine hits HBO Max on January 23, 2026. If you skipped it in theaters, this is the moment to catch Johnson's most nuanced work in years and decide for yourself whether this lane is where he should be headed.

Seen it already, or planning to press play next month? Drop your take below.