There are few actors with as many ups and downs as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The actor, wrestler, and lifestyle guru earned his celebrity through hard work. However, Dwayne Johnson’s track record has been spotty. One moment, he reached a new career high, especially during his “Franchise Viagra” era. However, the next moment, he misses with a big budget franchise tentpole film.
A common complaint against Johnson has been his insistence to appear in movies where he plays himself. Unfortunately, his 2024 ends with Red One and Moana 2, which seem to fall in that camp. With the bad reviews of Red One dominating most of the coverage, we want to focus on his better movies. Below are five of his best.
7. The Other Guys (2010)
It’s not a long appearance, but Dwayne Johnson is excellent in The Other Guys. Playing into the machismo comedy that built Adam McKay’s career, Johnson proves perfect as a huge comedic presence. His pairing with Samuel L. Jackson was perfection, and their farewell to the movie is still one of the funniest bits McKay ever put on screen.
6. The Scorpion King (2002)
While Dwayne Johnson had the goal of breaking into Hollywood, he had to first succeed in transitioning from wrestling. The Attitude Era provided him his badass credentials, but The Scorpion King proved he had the juice as a movie star. For anyone who grew up in the era, he proved the CGI “Scorpion King” was not indicative of his talent. It’s cheesy, but sometimes his earnest performance feels like a throwback that’s impossible to hate.
5. The Rundown (2003)
One of The Rock’s early setbacks, The Rundown is one of the sillier films in his filmography. That said, it’s also one of the low-key fan favorites, especially after continuous plays on cable. Traveling as a bounty hunter to the Brazilian Rainforest, Johnson has to find Sean William Scott with the help of Rosario Dawson. However, the evil owner of a mining town – played by Christopher Walken – is not keen on helping them. It’s ridiculous, but The Rundown is pure fun. Johnson and Scott make for a good comedic pairing, and Walken’s cartoonish villainy is very funny.
4. Snitch (2013)
One of the most underrated movies of his career, Dwayne Johnson took on a meatier, dramatic role. On its face, Snitch is a fairly straightforward cop drama. However, behind The Rock and Jon Bernthal, the movie packs a surprising amount of heat. Bernthal shines in a support role, but Johnson’s emotional journey and desperation needed to come through for Snitch to work. His feelings make it through, and the crime drama enters the Den of Thieves/Equalizer level of fun.
3. Pain & Gain (2013)
For all the flack Michael Bay gets for his explosions, his sunburnt musclemen in Pain & Gain helped the director regain his footing. Dwayne Johnson has never looked bigger in a movie, and he captures something unique in the paranoia of his character. When The Rock leans into roles where he gets dark, he shows off some of his more unique abilities. Pain & Gain lets him shine, and he proves perfect for Bay’s aesthetic.
2. Moana (2016)
While Dwayne Johnson may not be the obvious choice for the “sidekick” role in a Disney film, but he fits right in with Moana. Playing a Samoan God unlocked part of the key, but Johnson’s voice work proved more than capable. He’s not a perfect singer, but Lin Manuel Miranda put him in a good position for “You’re Welcome.” It’s one of the few self-aware performances of The Rock’s career, and it helps Moana live on as one of Disney’s most rewatchable movies. Now, will the live-action version or the sequel perform as well? That remains to be seen.
1. Fast Five (2011)
Easily the best of his action flicks, Fast Five proved Dwayne Johnson’s star power at a time he needed to shine. While his subsequent appearances in the Fast franchise defang the Hobbes character, his first appearance provided him a showcase role as an antagonist. The fight between The Rock and Vin Diesel was an instantly brilliant moment in the series. Additionally, he got to be angry, violent, and curse with the best of them. He needed more roles like Hobbes in Fast Five to cement his action-movie-star immortality, but instead, he opted for family-friendly mediocrity. It’s a shame that he never reached this level again, but Fast Five is an all-timer, and The Rock is a big reason why.
Red One opens in theaters on November 15, 2024. Moana 2 opens in theaters on November 27, 2024.
