Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been a top star for 20 years and still has no legacy, nothing to reveal for it.
He has one movie that will stand the test of time, the underrated 2013 work of art Pain & Gain, but that’s not a Dwayne Johnson film (although it’s his best performance). Rather, it’s a Michael Bay and Mark Wahlberg film.
Fast Five (2015) is another keeper, the most popular of the reducing Fast & Furious franchise, however again, that’s not a Dwayne Johnson movie.
These are Dwayne Johnson’s motion pictures:
- The Rundown (2003 )
- Tooth Fairy (2010 )
- Faster (2010 )
- Journey 2: Mysterious Island (2012 )
- Hercules (2014 )
- San Andreas (2015 )
- Central Intelligence (2016 )
- Baywatch (2017 )
- Jumanji: Invite to the Jungle (2017 )
- Rampage (2018 )
- Skyscraper (2018 )
- Jungle Cruise (2019 )
- Red Notification (2021 )
- Black Adam (2022 )
There are more, but those are the main ones, and some of those films are undoubtedly amusing. I even own a few of them on Blu-ray. However where’s the classic, the all-timer?
Over the very same time– 20 years– on top of several entertaining titles, Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered the following stone-cold, classic classics …
- Conan the Barbarian (1982 )
- The Terminator (1984 )
- Predator (1987 )
- Total Remember (1990 )
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991 )
- Real Lies (1994 )
I would go even further and argue that Schwarzenegger’s lesser titles from this age leading any of the forgettable vanilla Johnson’s been pumping out for two decades:
- Task force (1985 )
- The Running Guy (1987 )
- Twins (1988 )
- Kindergarten Cop (1990 )
- Last Action Hero (1993 )
Steven Seagal will always be remembered for Above the Law (1988) and Under Siege (1992 ).
Jean-Claude Van Damme has Kickboxer (1989 ), Universal Soldier (1992 ), Tough Target (1993 ), and Timecop (1994 ).
Chuck Norris has a half-dozen approximately early kung-fu B-movies that ensure his place as an action icon, along with Missing in Action (1984) and Code of Silence (1985 ).
Stallone cemented his location in the genre with Very first Blood (1982 ), Cobra (1986 ), and Cliffhanger (1993 ).
Bruce Willis has the very first three Pass away Difficult films, The Last Young Boy Scout (1991 ), and Armageddon (1998 ).
Vin Diesel has both the Quick and the Furious and Riddick franchises.
Keanu Reeves has The Matrix (1999 ), Point Break (1991 ), Speed (1994 ), and obviously, John Wick (2014 ).
Mark Wahlberg has The Left (2006 ), Boogie Nights (1997 ), The Fighter (2010 ), and Discomfort and Gain (2013 ).
I could happen with Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon), Tom Cruise (Mission: Difficult), Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones), Kurt Russell (Escape from New York City), Will Smith (Self-reliance Day), Denzel Washington (Guy on Fire)…
Dwayne Johnson still doesn’t have a single title like that, not one that speeds up the pulse or evokes precious memories of being knocked out of your theater seat. He might have a longer career than some of those pointed out above; he might sell more tickets and even make more money, but as far as a tradition with action fans …?
Pure vanilla.
Schwarzenegger knew exactly how to end up being an icon … Iconic catchphrases, epic characters that carry an edge of violence, and top-flight directors wanting to push the category. People will constantly keep in mind Schwarzenegger for his motion pictures.
People might keep in mind Johnson … but not his movies. He’s too generic, too eager to please, too happy with himself, and terrified to color outside the lines.
Schwarzenegger wanted a tradition and nailed it.
Johnson simply wants to be famous.
In 50 years, we’ll still be seeing Terminator, Predator, Total Recall, and the others … No one will be seeing High-rise building or Jungle Cruise.
Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC. Follow his Facebook Page here.