From the DC Extended Universe to Universal’s Dark Universe, it feels like Dwayne Johnson is constantly rumored or attached to yet another franchise role. Since his big-screen debut way back in 2001’s The Mummy Returns, the wrestler-turned-actor has become one of the most beloved and profitable movie stars of the modern age. So it’s no wonder that every franchise is anxious to get into business with him. In just the past few years alone, Johnson has lent his impressive star power and boundless likeability to a number of franchises, boosting their performance considerably. Let’s look at some properties that have gotten to smell what The Rock is cooking.
4 Baywatch (2017)
We might be stretching the limits a bit here, but hear us out. Although this big-screen adaptation of the 1990s cult hit was considered a box office disappointment, we shudder to think how much worse it would have turned out without Johnson’s charisma and comedic timing along for the ride. As it stands, the film failed to earn back its $69 million budget domestically, but again (we’re noticing a pattern here), Johnson’s presence helped it reach an impressive worldwide gross of $170 million. Without him, this film probably would have gone the way of recent TV-to-film adaptations like CHiPs. If nothing else, Baywatch helped revive brand awareness in a big way.
