(Updated 10/19/2022)
It was only a matter of time before Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson smashed his way into a superhero movie. The frequent franchise favorite and former WWE megastar finally has a comic book movie of his own with DC’s BLACK ADAM. Johnson suits up as an ancient figure who has been imprisoned for centuries. Once freed, will he resume his anger-fueled rampage, or bend his powers to a better purpose?
And where will BLACK ADAM fall on a rundown of the star's biggest and best movies? Time will tell on that front, but in the meantime, we're looking back at Johnson's best work on the big screen.
The Rundown (2003)
Ask almost any fan of Dwayne Johnson for their list of his best films, and they’re guaranteed to include THE RUNDOWN. Released early in Johnson’s movie career (when he was still billed as The Rock), the 2003 action comedy pairs the charismatic wrestling champ with Seann William Scott, fresh off his star-making turn in the AMERICAN PIE series. Johnson plays Beck, a highly-skilled bounty hunter who desperately wants to pursue his dream of becoming… a chef. Beck’s shady boss talks him into one last job — bringing his son (Scott) back from Brazil. What follows is a hilarious buddy comedy packed with great action beats that give Johnson a chance to showcase his physical talents. THE MUMMY RETURNS may have been Johnson’s first big-screen acting gig, but THE RUNDOWN cemented his future as an action star.
Southland Tales (2006)
One of The Rock's earliest movies is probably his strangest. The second film from DONNIE DARKO director Richard Kelly was designed as an opportunity for actors to break out of molds into which they had been pressed. Johnson stars as boxer Santoros, an action movie star suffering from amnesia and caught up in an absolute whirlwind of strange apocalyptic events in slightly-futuristic Los Angeles. SOUTHLAND TALES is divisive — the longer Director's Cut is more satisfying than the shorter theatrical version if you can find it — but we love this movie for its risk-taking. This is both a strange genre movie and a commentary on genre movies, and it is packed with unpredictable set pieces. It looks better and better as the years have gone on. SOUTHLAND TALES is set in 2008 but looks more realistic with every passing day.
Pain & Gain (2013)
Dwayne Johnson costars with Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Mackie in this dark and unusual movie from director Michael Bay. While PAIN & GAIN features all of Bay's signature visual flourishes, it is unlike any other movie from the director in that it is based on a true story. The stars play a bodybuilding trio that engages in some absolutely horrific acts in pursuit of riches. Johnson‘s character is a composite of multiple real figures, an ex-con who struggles to remain steadfast in his new Christian faith and sobriety. The lure of easy money proves to be his undoing, however. PAIN & GAIN is probably the bleakest movie featuring Johnson, but it also features one of his best acting performances. It's far from the family-friendly fare the actor has turned into his bread and butter, but if you want to see what he’s able to do when the restraints come off, this is your movie.
Furious 7 (2015)
Johnson entered the high-octane world of the FAST & FURIOUS franchise in FAST FIVE as Luke Hobbs, a government agent who reluctantly becomes a member of Vin Diesel’s family of outlaws. He reprised the role in FAST & FURIOUS 6, but FURIOUS 7 — from horror filmmaker James Wan — is easily the best of the three main-story films featuring Hobbs. After spending about half of the movie sidelined in the hospital following a run-in with Jason Statham’s villainous Deckard Shaw, Johnson triumphantly emerges with one of the best scenes (and lines) of the film: Observing that Diesel and his crew need help, Johnson tells his young daughter “Daddy’s gotta go to work,” and flexes his bicep so hard that the cast covering his entire arm rips apart, Hulk-style. And then he gets a grenade launcher.
Moana (2016)
Disney’s MOANA is an animated film for kids, sure, but it’s an epic adventure worthy of inclusion on any list of Johnson’s best movies. MOANA tells the story of a defiant Pacific Island girl (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) who sets sail on an unforgettable journey to return a powerful relic to the goddess Te Fiti, with a little help from Maui—an arrogant demigod voiced by Johnson. Some of Johnson’s best characters are flawed anti-heroes who need to overcome their own limitations to become real heroes, and Maui is no exception. Johnson is also just really fun to experience in an animated Disney musical, proving once again that he really can do it all.
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017)
2017’s JUMANJI reboot/sequel had a bit of an uphill battle to climb with audiences who had fond memories of the 1995 movie starring the late Robin Williams. Johnson and co-stars Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan were up to the challenge, delivering a quartet of hilarious performances as the avatars of four teen friends who are transported into the world of a mysterious old video game. As Dr. Xander “Smolder” Bravestone, Johnson is exactly the sort of confident, heroic explorer you’d expect him to be in a big action flick. But when he becomes the video game stand-in for a nerdy, neurotic teen (Alex Wolff), Johnson levels up his comedic acting skills with a truly memorable performance.
Black Adam
All of which brings us to BLACK ADAM. Johnson's newest movie is the result of a long labor of love that began not long after he made SOUTHLAND TALES. Where will his anti-hero outing end up on the list of Johnson's best movies? We'll find out soon!
BLACK ADAM opens on October 21.
All images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.