The Rock Earns Golden Globe Nominations for ‘The Smashing Machine’ – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt are officially Golden Globe nominees for their work in The Smashing Machine, marking a major moment for the A24 biopic despite its underwhelming box office run.

Announced Monday morning, Johnson is nominated for Best Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, while Blunt secured a nomination for Best Supporting Female Actor. The 2026 Golden Globe Awards will take place on January 11.

The Smashing Machine, released in October, follows the life of former UFC and MMA standout Mark Kerr, with Johnson portraying Kerr and Blunt playing Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn Staples. The film earned just over $21 million worldwide, a total widely viewed as a disappointment — though Johnson has emphasized he never fixated on box office numbers.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson opened up about what the recognition means to him.

“A few things. One of them is the importance of listening to the little voice that sits behind your rib cage… that you can do more, and there is more, and it can be scary,” he said. He explained that stepping out of comfort zones is difficult, especially when life is already going well, but this story pushed him to challenge himself creatively. “I wanted to really push and challenge myself… I had something very special to me, which was the story.”

Johnson also noted that the nomination honors those who fight through addiction, reflecting Kerr’s real-life struggles.

“The nomination represents the fight in everybody… Mark Kerr had it all and lost everything, and then has since become sober,” Johnson said. He added that he has lost 15 friends in recent years — wrestlers and fighters — to addiction. “It shook me… I’m so happy we made this film. It is a love letter to those that I just talked to you about. That’s why this nomination means so much.”

The Rock Earns Golden Globe Nominations for ‘The Smashing Machine’

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