This $35M Bomb Killed One Of The Best Parts Of Dwayne Johnson's Movie Career & He Needs To Get Back To It

It's been 15 years since Dwayne Johnson's last, old-fashioned R-rated action movie Faster, and this is a part of his career he should return to. Dwayne Johnson's action movies have (largely) been massively successful in the last decade, with 2011's Fast Five finally giving the WWE superstar his movie breakthrough. However, when Johnson first began fronting movies in the early 2000s, he was touted as the natural successor to stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone.

Unfortunately for him, the likes of Doom didn't exactly set the world on fire. Following his Fast Five breakthrough, the star has largely avoided overtly violent projects, with Dwayne Johnson's franchises being family-friendly fare like Jumanji or Moana. In terms of box office, this has served him very well, though conversely, he's been critiqued for just how samey and bland his movies can feel. After a solid decade of formulaic offerings, Johnson is due a return to his roots.

It's Been 15 Years Since Dwayne Johnson's Last R-Rated Action Movie Faster

This 2010 thriller cast Johnson as a vengeful killer

Dwayne Johnson was famously passed over as Jack Reacher for the 2012 movie, which was especially disappointing since he considered himself to be perfect casting for the hulking avenger. It could argued that Faster was Johnson's take on Reacher, with the R-rated action thriller finding Johnson's borderline mute ex-convict killing his way through the gang that murdered his brother. The film grossed $35 million (via The Numbers) and only earned a tepid 41% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Faster is, to date, Johnson's last genuine stab at leading an R-rated action flick.

It found the star at an interesting crossroads in his career. None of his previous action roles like Walking Tall had fully clicked, and most of his output had been kid's movies like The Game Plan. Faster was an attempt to reinvent his screen image, and was modeled on the gritty thrillers of the 1970s and 1980s. The film has found itself a cult following 15 years on, but it did little to boost Johnson's bankability at the time.

Why Johnson Shied Away From R-Rated Movies Following 2010

Johnson hasn't appeared in a rated R project since 2017

The year after Faster, Johnson played Hobbs in Fast Five and the course of his career changed dramatically. He had finally found his screen persona, and began fronting back-to-back blockbusters. It should be noted that much has changed since the heyday of stars like Arnie, with the high-concept blockbusters of yesterday giving way to PG-13 fare. Johnson found his niche within this framework, however, fronting back-to-back hits like San Andreas, Rampage, and many others.

For much of the last decade and change, Johnson has established himself as a brand and has worked hard to cultivate that. There is a telling 2018 Rolling Stoneprofile on the star where he talked about having the ending of Rampage changed, as he was upset the movie's giant gorilla George was supposed to die. He felt this would upset his viewers, who just want him to deliver a good time.

My problem is I have a relationship with an audience around the world. For years I’ve built a trust with them that they’re gonna come to my movies and feel good. So every once in a while, you have to drop this card, which is: You’re gonna have to find another actor. We need to figure something out, otherwise I’m not gonna do the movie.

This formula has paid off commercially - if not necessarily critically. While Faster is his most recent R-rated action vehicle, he has sprinkled other R movies along the way, including Michael Bay's crime drama Pain & Gain or the Baywatch movie remake. After accepting a Razzie award for the latter, Johnson admitted the film didn't work out and tellingly has avoided any other R projects in the years since.

Dwayne Johnson Should Return To His R-Rated Action Roots

The Smashing Machine could signal a shift in Johnson's career

The-Rock-from-Red-One-and-The-Smashing-Machine

Faster isn't a hidden classic, but it is one of Johnson's most undersung star vehicles. It's one of his darkest performances, where he tempered down his natural charisma to play a character consumed by revenge. He hasn't really returned to that mode in the years since, but after so many years of branded PG-13 outings like Red Notice or Red One, he needs to change the menu. The good news is that Johnson will return to more adult-oriented projects with his upcoming A24 biopic The Smashing Machine.

Every Fast & Furious Movie With Dwayne Johnson	Release Year
Fast Five	2011
Fast & Furious 6	2013
Furious 7	2015
The Fate of the Furious	2017
Hobbs & Shaw	2019
Fast X	2023

This covers the career of MMA legend Mark Kerr and looks set to be Dwayne Johnson's most dramatic performance in years. There's a lot of buzz surrounding the film, and the star himself has signaled he's ready to break away from the formula that has worked so well for him. It would be nice to see him embrace R-rated fare like Faster again too, where he can flex both his action and acting muscles for movies aimed at grown-ups.

Source: The Numbers, Rotten Tomatoes, Rolling Stone