OVERVIEW
Recently, Dwayne Johnson’s cinematic career has been erratic.Ever since he left the Fast & Furious franchise, he has had trouble at the box office.
When Johnson made the decision to put aside his rumoured animosity with Vin Diesel in order to rejoin the team, he accepted this reality.Although Dwayne Johnson is among the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, a deeper examination reveals the reason behind his recent decline in prominence.
Johnson’s filmography may be divided into two distinct periods: before and after Fast Five. The Rock’s career was greatly aided by the ensemble picture, and since leaving the franchise, he has had trouble at the box office.
The Dwayne JohnsonWhen Johnson made the decision to put aside his rumoured rivalry with Vin Diesel and rejoin the team, he also accepted this reality. Given his recent string of major setbacks and his comeback in Fast & Furious, the Rampage star’s career is at risk.See Also: 1 Despite having powerful actors like David Harbour and Jon Bernthal as co-stars, the Dwayne Johnson movie demonstrates that the rock can excel in serious roles.Dwayne Johnson’s Not So Great Career Before And After Fast & Furious
Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs in Fast Five
Dwayne Johnson debuted in The Mummy Returns in 2001, and he later starred in the modestly successful spin-off of the franchise, The Scorpion King. Johnson had a number of box office failures following his debut starring role. The Red Notice actor later featured in some kids & family movies, which were more successful than his action or comedy roles. His biggest hit during this period was Get Smart, where he played a supporting role to Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway.
However, Fast Five changed everything for The Rundown actor. Johnson was averaging $112.6 million at the box office with his earlier films, but after Fast Five, this number drastically changed to $446 million for the next 25 films (via ScreenRant). The surge in Johnson’s box office was most visible in his family movie, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, which surprisingly grossed $318.1 million.
One largely visible pattern in Dwayne Johnson’s box office success post-Fast Five was the abundance of ensemble films. Johnson’s highest-grossing movies were all either Fast & Furious movies or other ensemble films. His top-grossing film to date is the 2015 film, Furious 7, which grossed $1.5 billion worldwide, according to Numbers. This data points to the fact that his biggest solo movies haven’t been as successful.
However, it also doesn’t challenge the Faster actor’s status as a bankable star. San Andreas’ $456.3 million success and Hercules’ $243.4 million success entirely came from Johnson’s star power. However, his solo hits are not comparable to the other big shots like Tom Cruise or Robert Downey Jr. The lack of a blockbuster solo hit film and the recent big flops like Black Adam and Jungle Cruise show that Johnson’s ability to draw a crowd is limited.
Johnson even struggled to carry a franchise movie outside of the Fast & Furious movies despite his several attempts. Johnson seems to have understood this pattern as he has finally returned to the Vin Diesel-led franchise.
What Does Dwayne Johnson’s Return Mean To Fast & Furious?
Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson in Hobbs & ShawFast & Furious played a significant part in Dwayne Johnson’s career, but it’s also noteworthy that the franchise flourished following Johnson’s arrival. Prior to the entrance of the DC actor, Fast & Furious, the fourth movie in the series, was the biggest hit, earning a relatively low $359 million at the box office. Fast Five, which raked in a staggering $629.9 million at the box office, was the catalyst for the franchise’s explosion after Johnson’s casting as Luke Hobbs.Following Johnson’s exit, the franchise also saw a drop in popularity, which was allegedly brought on by a falling out with co-star Vin Diesel. The upcoming Fast X movie hinted to Johnson’s comeback, which should help the franchise’s other flicks. Given that Hobbs & Shaw was his largest theatrical smash outside of an ensemble and that the franchise played a significant role in Johnson’s career success, he is also acknowledging his defeat.