Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson delivered a critically acclaimed performance as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. However, he failed to secure an Oscar nomination in the Best Actor category. This has drawn severe online backlash, with many fans certain that he should have at least gotten the nomination.
Fans react to Dwayne Johnson not getting an Oscar nod for The Smashing Machine
Fans have been claiming Dwayne Johnson delivered the greatest performance in The Smashing Machine. However, it did not land him among the five nominees for the coveted Best Actor Oscar. The honor went to Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), and Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon).
But Johnson fans believe that the actor’s performance deserved a nomination. Even when The Smashing Machine premiered, the actor’s performance was singled out in a film that otherwise saw a divisive response from critics. Fans took to social media platforms like X to talk about this and repeatedly claimed that Dwayne Johnson deserved an Oscar nod.
“Where’s Dwayne Johnson? He absolutely smashed in Smashing Machine,” one user wrote while sharing The Academy’s post about the Best Actor nominees. Another user shared a video from Joe Rogan’s podcast in which Ben Affleck and Matt Damon can be seen talking with Rogan about how impressed they were by the performances in the film.
Another shocked user added, “I am shocked that Dwayne Johnson was not nominated for best actor for his performance in Killing (Smashing) Machine. What he did in that film will be studied actors till the end of time.” Another user said, “He should’ve, that was his best performance to date,” sharing a post that announced that Johnson had not been nominated. So, it seems that even though Dwayne Johnson could not get his name on the Oscars shortlist, he has won the hearts of millions of fans across the world.
