Critics praise The Smashing Machine despite weak box office

Dwayne Johnson’s drama The Smashing Machine, a biographical portrayal of former MMA fighter Mark Kerr, opened in early October to strong critical notice but weak box office returns, studio estimates show. Released October 3 and produced by A24 on an estimated 50 million dollar budget, the film has earned roughly 12.4 million worldwide through its twelfth day in theaters, with about 10.3 million from domestic markets and 2.1 million from international markets, according to box office tallies.

The film’s opening weekend drew approximately 5.9 million, but receipts fell sharply in its second weekend, when weekend revenue slipped to about 1.7 million, a drop of roughly 69 to 70 percent from the debut. That pace places the film well short of recouping production costs in its initial theatrical run and makes a financial loss likely without a substantial pickup in later markets or ancillary sales.

Critics and festival audiences have generally praised the film’s craft and Johnson’s performance. Directed by Benny Safdie, the production uses 16mm cinematography and a documentarylike approach to depict Kerr’s rise, struggles with addiction, and attempts at redemption. Reviewers have...