The Movie Dwayne Johnson Will Always Regret—And Why It Haunts Him to This Day

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. From his wrestling roots to his meteoric rise as a Hollywood superstar, Johnson has become a household name thanks to his roles in blockbuster films like The Fast and the Furious franchise, Jumanji, and Hercules. However, not every project in his extensive filmography has been met with critical acclaim. Among the films that Johnson is most likely to regret, two stand out: Doom (2005) and Baywatch (2017). While both movies have been subjects of humor for the actor, Doom seems to be the one he’ll always look back on with the most regret.

Doom (2005): A Critical and Commercial Misfire

Doom, a film based on the iconic video game series, was released at a time when video game adaptations were rarely successful. Despite its potential and the star power of Dwayne Johnson, Doom was a critical failure, earning a mere 19% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was criticized for its weak plot, lackluster performances, and uninspired direction. Johnson, who was still in the early stages of his acting career, later reflected on the film with a sense of humor tinged with regret.

During his 2008 WWE Hall of Fame speech, Johnson joked about the film’s poor reception, saying, “It’s okay, I made Doom. Did you see Doom? Well, you probably didn’t, but it’s okay, nobody else did either.” This comment, made in front of a formal audience, reveals his self-deprecating take on the project. While Johnson had only just begun to establish himself as a serious actor, Doom served as a reminder of the challenges of translating a video game into a compelling cinematic experience, and it marked a significant misstep in his early career.

In later interviews, Johnson has also mentioned how Doom was a learning experience, citing it as a key moment in his growth as an actor. He pointed out that the lessons he learned from Doom helped him make better choices in the future, particularly in his role in Rampage (2018), another action film based on a video game. This reflection suggests that Doom was a significant career misfire, one that Johnson likely wishes he could rewrite.

Baywatch (2017): Commercial Success, But Mocked by the Star

While Doom remains Johnson’s most talked-about regret, Baywatch (2017) is another film that he’s humorously acknowledged as a less-than-perfect entry in his filmography. Based on the beloved television series, Baywatch featured Johnson alongside Zac Efron in a comedic action-adventure. Although the film performed moderately well at the box office, grossing $177.9 million worldwide on a $65–69 million budget, it was largely panned by critics for its over-the-top humor and lackluster story.

In recent years, Johnson has made light of his involvement in Baywatch, poking fun at the film during WWE appearances. In January 2024, he joked about the movie during a WWE Raw episode, comparing wrestler Jinder Mahal to Baywatch and saying, “Well, nobody else did either,” referring to Mahal’s apparent lack of familiarity with the film. This humor echoes his earlier comments about Doom, showing that Johnson is willing to acknowledge his film choices with a sense of humor, even when they don’t land as expected.

Despite the humor, it’s important to note that Baywatch was far from a disastrous failure. The film, while not critically adored, did make a profit and found its audience in the form of a fun, guilty pleasure. However, the fact that Johnson still makes jokes about it suggests that it’s not a film he holds in high regard, even if it wasn’t a complete flop.

The Regret: Doom Over Baywatch

When comparing the two films, it’s clear that Doom holds more weight as a regret for Johnson. Doom was an early career choice that had significant consequences for his reputation as an actor. It was a critical disaster, and the lessons Johnson learned from it have shaped the way he approaches roles today. On the other hand, Baywatch, while mocked by Johnson, still had a degree of commercial success and never carried the same weight of failure that Doom did.

Johnson’s comments about Doom in his 2008 Hall of Fame speech, along with his reflections on the movie’s reception, suggest that it’s a project he’d prefer to forget. Baywatch, while a source of humor, didn’t have the same lasting impact on his career.

Conclusion: A Humorous Regret, But Growth Through the Years

Ultimately, Dwayne Johnson’s film career is filled with triumphs, but Doom remains the movie he’s most likely to regret. The film’s poor reception, combined with Johnson’s early career inexperience, makes it a notable misstep in his journey to becoming a global superstar. However, Johnson has demonstrated immense growth since then, using the lessons from Doom and other early projects to guide his future career decisions.

In the end, even Johnson’s regrets serve as reminders of how far he’s come and how far he’s willing to go to keep challenging himself. Whether in films like Jumanji, Fast & Furious, or his producing ventures, Dwayne Johnson has shown that he’s not defined by his past missteps but by his ability to learn, grow, and succeed in an ever-evolving industry.