Dwayne Johnson is everywhere. Seriously. You can't walk past a bus stop or scroll through a streaming app without seeing that famous grin or those massive biceps staring back at you. But if you've been paying attention lately, things are shifting in the world of Seven Bucks Productions. It isn't just about the "jungle movie" trope anymore.
Recent movies with Dwayne Johnson have actually taken a weird, experimental turn that caught a lot of people off guard.
Take Red One, for instance. It was marketed as this massive, holiday-saving blockbuster where Johnson plays a North Pole security chief. On paper? Guaranteed hit. In reality? It was a box office "bomb," grossing about $186 million against a massive $200–$250 million budget. People were quick to write it off. But then it hit Amazon Prime Video and suddenly exploded with 50 million viewers in record time. It’s a classic case of the "theatrical versus streaming" divide that defines modern Hollywood.
The A24 Gamble and the "New" Rock
If you thought you knew what a Dwayne Johnson movie looked like, The Smashing Machine is going to mess with your head.
He’s working with A24. Yes, the same studio that brought you Midsommar and Everything Everywhere All At Once. He’s playing Mark Kerr, a legendary MMA fighter who struggled with addiction and the brutal physical toll of the Octagon. This isn't the "I'm the hero who never loses a fight" Rock we saw in the Fast & Furious movies. This is Benny Safdie directing a raw, gritty R-rated drama.
Honestly, it’s the most interesting thing he’s done in a decade.
He looks unrecognizable in the production stills. No clean-shaven head. No gleaming smile. Just the heavy, weary look of a man who’s been through the ringer. It’s slated for a 2025 release, and the buzz is already pointing toward Oscar season. If he pulls this off, it changes the conversation about his "one-dimensional" acting career forever.
Why Moana is Basically Owning 2024 and 2026
You probably heard that Moana 2 smashed records. It hit over $1 billion at the global box office, proving that Maui is still a massive draw even in animated form. But the real story is what’s happening in July 2026.
Disney is doing the live-action remake of Moana.
Most actors would just pass the torch, but Johnson is actually suiting up as the live-action Maui. He’s already talked about the physical demand—apparently, the "Maui suit" takes hours to get into every single day. This isn't just a paycheck for him; it’s a legacy project rooted in his Polynesian heritage.
The 2026 Slate: A Return to the Familiar
While he’s experimenting with A24, he’s not leaving his bread and butter behind. Here’s what the 2026 calendar looks like:
- July 10, 2026: Moana (Live-Action) hits theaters.
- December 11, 2026: The untitled Jumanji sequel (often called Jumanji 3 or 4 depending on how you count the original) brings back the core four.
- TBA 2026: Fast X: Part II. Hobbs is officially back in the main timeline after that post-credits teaser that had everyone screaming in the theater.
The Black Adam Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about it. Most people are still asking about Black Adam 2.
Basically, it's dead. When James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, the "hierarchy of power" did change, just not the way Johnson predicted. He’s been very transparent about this lately, confirming that Black Adam isn't in the first chapter of the new DC Universe.
While fan-made "concept trailers" for a sequel are all over YouTube with millions of views, they aren't real. Don't fall for the AI-generated thumbnails showing him fighting Henry Cavill's Superman. That ship has sailed.
The Business of Being "The Rock"
It’s easy to forget that Johnson is as much a CEO as he is an actor. His "recent movies" are often vehicles for his other brands, like Teremana Tequila or ZOA Energy. This has led to some criticism that his films feel like "content" rather than "cinema."
But look at The Smashing Machine again.
He’s clearly listening to the critics. By stepping away from the $200 million CGI spectacles for a minute to do a character study, he’s showing a level of self-awareness we don't usually see from mega-stars. He’s balancing the "one for them" (Jumanji, Moana) with the "one for me" (A24).
What This Means for You
If you’re a fan, you’re about to see the most versatile version of Dwayne Johnson yet. You’ll get the massive action beats in Fast X and the family-friendly Maui songs, but you’re also going to see if he can actually act act when there are no explosions to hide behind.
Keep an eye on the release dates for The Smashing Machine in late 2025. That’s the real turning point. For the big franchise stuff, clear your schedule for the summer and winter of 2026. It’s going to be a "Rock-heavy" year, even by his standards.
👉 See also: Carlton of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Why He Still Matters in 2026
Check the official Disney and Sony social channels for the first trailers for the Moana remake and Jumanji—those should start dropping in late 2025. If you haven't seen Red One yet, skip the reviews and just put it on for a family movie night on Prime; it’s better than the critics made it out to be.