From WWE Champion to box office attraction, Dwayne Johnson is a classic example of a man destined for greatness. As evident from being the highest-paid male actor for two years in a row, to say that the most electrifying man in sports entertainment transitioned well to the silver screen would be an understatement. Here are some of the best Dwayne Johnson movies of all time:
15. The Game Plan (2007)
Boston Rebels quarterback Joe Kingman is in a state of shock after an 8-year-old girl named Peyton Kelly alleges that she is his biological daughter from his divorced wife, Sara. Joe reluctantly allows her to live in his home and soon realizes that she is having a profound impact on his life.
At the behest of his agent Stella Peck, Joe begins to manifest a fatherly image for good publicity but eventually reshapes his personality to accommodate his daughter in the best way he can. Additionally, The Game Plan marked the last time when Dwayne Johnson used his professional wrestling ring name “The Rock” in a movie.
14. The Scorpion King (2002)
Back in 2001 when Dwayne Johnson was active in professional wrestling and known as The Rock, he was trying to break into acting and starred in The Mummy Returns as the Scorpion King. It was his movie debut and the commercial success convinced Universal Pictures to have him star as the character in a spin-off flick.
With the absence of high-profile stars Rick O’Connell and Rachel Weisz, Johnson was on his own and he did not disappoint. The Scorpion King held the number one spot at the box office upon its release and Johnson’s career as one of the most bankable megastars in Hollywood took off.
13. Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
Ever wondered about the source of the famous “The Rock Driving Meme” from a decade ago? Look no forward to the 2009 science fiction action flick Race to Witch Mountain. Fresh off the success of The Game Plan, director Andy Fickman and Dwayne Johnson team up once again for a Disney movie.
Jack Bruno is a cab driver and an ex-con who gets the chance to save the world. While doing his job in Las Vegas, he comes across two aliens who resemble human children. Chaos ensues when they reveal that an alien assassin named Siphon is bent on destroying the Earth.
12. Skyscraper (2018)
To sum it up, Skyscraper is a combination of The Towering Inferno and Die Hard. The plot lacks originality but it can be argued that if Dwayne Johnson was not the star, the movie would have never received unprecedented attention. That is a testament to the former professional wrestler’s superstardom.
As the 225-floor skyscraper called The Pearl is set ablaze, former Marine and private security consultant William Sawyer must save the day and most importantly, his family. Though the plot has been done to death in Hollywood, the action sequences in Skyscraper are beyond impressive.
11. Gridiron Gang (2006)
Inspired by the juvenile detention facility Camp Kilpatrick that allowed its inmates to play high school football, Gridiron Gang is a story about redemption through a second chance. As the detention facility gets jam-packed with teenagers charged with murder, robbery, and drug dealings, Sean Porter offers them help.
Figuring out that playing football will assist them in learning teamwork, dedication, and perseverance, Porter enrolls them in the rigorous sports program. As the team starts picking up victories and building self-esteem, the majority of the players disassociate themselves from their life of crime and gang rivalries.
10. San Andreas (2015)
When Blake Gaines gets lost in San Francisco in the aftermath of a 9.1 magnitude earthquake, it is up to her father Ray, a Los Angeles Fire Department helicopter rescue pilot to find her out. Desperate times call for desperate measures as Ray pairs up with his wife Emma, who is already on the brink of divorce. Reluctantly putting their differences aside, the duo gears up to bring their daughter to safety.
Although San Andreas received mixed reviews from movie critics, it was a massive commercial success, earning $474 million on a $110 million budget. Moreover, the movie cemented Dwayne Johnson’s stellar legacy as a major box-office attraction as it served as his biggest opening as a lead actor.
9. Pain & Gain (2013)
Attempting to get rich quickly, Daniel Lugo, Paul Doyle, and Adrian “Noel” Doorbal – referring to themselves as the Sun Gym Gang – kidnap the sleazy but rich entrepreneur Victor Kershaw to extort him money. The plan succeeds as he transfers all his assets to Lugo.
However, the Sun Gym Gang has no time to celebrate as Kershaw hires the retired private investigator Ed Du Bois, III to inspect the unfortunate events that occurred to him. Fasten your seatbelts as Pain & Gain is directed by none other than Michael Bay.
8. Get Smart (2008)
The devious spy agency KAOS is plotting a terrorist attack and the United States’ top-secret intelligence agency CONTROL must stop them. Featuring a star-studded cast of Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Terry Crews, James Caan, Bill Murray, and Patrick Warburton, the movie can do no wrong.
Add Dwayne Johnson as a double agent to the mix, and Get Smart gets an upgrade. Despite a measly budget of $80 million, the movie was a gigantic commercial success and went on to earn $230 million. More than a decade after its release, director Peter Segal is still hopeful about a sequel.
7. Rampage (2018)
What happens when a rare Albino Western lowland gorilla, crocodile, and wolf get infected by a pathogen that increases their size, strength, and agility? All hell breaks loose in Chicago!
Based on the Midway arcade game of the same name, Rampage is a true roller coaster of action, science fiction, and adventure. As for Dwayne Johnson, he was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for Best Movie Actor.
6. Snitch (2013)
Jason Matthews is sentenced to ten years in prison on the charges of drug trafficking but maintains his innocence. His estranged father John steps in and swears that justice will prevail.
To do so, John infiltrates the narcotics underworld as an undercover informant so he can put all the high-ranking drug dealers behind bars. As thrilling as the plot is, it is inspired by real events faced by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
5. Hercules (2014)
It might come as a surprise to know that the 2014 Hercules movie starring Dwayne Johnson was not based on the significant figure of Greek mythology that continues to inspire countless movies even now.
The movie was based on the graphic novel Hercules: The Thracian Wars and earned a whopping $244.8 million at the box office. Though met with mixed reviews, the action sequences and Johnson’s acting performance were particularly praised.
4. The Rundown (2003)
Bounty hunter Beck is tasked to locate Billy Walker’s son Travis from El Dorado, a mining town in Brazil in exchange for enough cash that will enable him to open his very own restaurant. Though Beck soon finds out the whereabouts of Travis, his journey is far from over.
Though Seann William Scott, best known for portraying Steve Stiffler in the American Pie franchise, provides comedic relief in any movie he stars in, Dwayne Johnson is not too far behind and is as hilarious as he is charismatic as observed in The Rundown.
3. Central Intelligence (2016)
Forensic accountant Calvin Joyner is displeased with his job and his marriage with his high school sweetheart Maggie Johnson is deteriorating. His life turns around when he catches up with his former schoolmate Robbie Weirdicht.
Their meeting after 20 years is far from smooth sailing as Robbie is now a CIA agent and needs Calvin’s accounting skills to succeed in a top-secret operation. As Calvin is forced to participate in the operation, he realizes that the safety of the United States is in his and Robbie’s hands.
2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Released merely three years after the death of beloved actor Robin Williams who starred in the original Jumanji, the announcement of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle initially received fierce criticism. Moreover, it was intended as a direct sequel to the original movie instead of a reboot or a standalone sequel.
Pundits claimed that the entire idea of a sequel would be disrespectful to the work of Williams but Dwayne Johnson proved everyone wrong. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle received positive reviews and was commercially successful enough for Columbia Pictures to greenlight the sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level, which too turned out to be a huge hit.
1. Furious 7 (2015)
It is no secret that the fourth installment of Fast & Furious was a total bust. It was a critical flop and not even the combined star power of Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodríguez, and Gal Gadot could save the movie.
The future looked grim until Dwayne Johnson was cast as Luke Hobbs in Fast Five and he not only saved the franchise from impending doom but also put it back on the entertainment map. Since then, he has had a starring role in three installments and one spin-off movie. When it comes to which installment featuring Johnson stands out from the rest, it is undoubtedly Furious 7.
Honorable Mentions
We can’t help but mention these great performances by Dwayne Johnson as well:
- Doom (2005)
- Southland Tales (2006)
- Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
Did we miss any of the best Dwayne Johnson movies of all time? Let us know in the comments below!
