The Town with Matthew Belloni The 'Smashing Machine’ Bomb and A24’s Big-Budget Burden
Oct 6, 2025
Lucas Shaw, a Bloomberg journalist specializing in film and media, shares insights into A24's strategic shift towards higher-budget films amid pressures for blockbuster hits. He and Matt Belloni analyze the disappointing box office of 'The Smashing Machine' starring Dwayne Johnson, discussing its hefty budget and underwhelming debut. They explore whether A24 can transition from indie roots to commercial success and the implications of evolving expectations in a competitive landscape, all while reflecting on the challenges of sustaining artistic integrity.
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A24's Brand Built Its Growth Mandate
- A24 built a clear indie brand tied to quality, awards, and cultural cachet over a decade.
- That brand enabled a high valuation and ambitions to scale into bigger-budget, riskier studio-style films.
Smashing Machine's Costly Misfire
- The Smashing Machine reportedly cost $50–70M and opened to $5.9M domestically, a stark miss.
- Audiences gave it a B-minus CinemaScore after expecting a more conventional Dwayne Johnson movie.
Scaling Requires Bigger Bets And Bigger Risk
- A24 shifted from low-cost distribution to financing larger films to justify a higher valuation and growth aspirations.
- Financing in-house raises both upside and risk because the studio must deliver big commercial returns.