Although known for his film roles, Dwayne Johnson was a professional wrestler for the WWE for a long time. After retiring from the ring, he began his career in film and became one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, with some of his films grossing millions at the box office!
Also known by the nickname "The Rock," the American actor was born in 1972, and is of Samoan and Canadian descent. Some of Dwayne Johnson's most popular films are "The Mummy Returns" (2001) and "The Scorpion King" (2002), which gave him his first leading role.
Want to learn more about his career? We've put together a complete list of the 10 best films starring Dwayne Johnson!
One and a Half Spy (2016)
Kicking off our list of Dwayne Johnson's best films is "Spy and a Half," a 2016 film directed by Rawson Marshall that blends comedy, police action, and adventure. The story begins when an accountant named Calvin Joyner bumps into an old school friend, Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson), and discovers he's a CIA agent!
With dangerous missions to follow, Calvin unwittingly finds himself in a twisted story alongside his spy friend. The on-screen chemistry between the two actors stood out, earning them a nomination for Best Actress at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 72% critic rating and a 62% audience rating.
If you want to watch this movie, it is available in the Amazon Prime Video catalog and on Telecine.
Welcome to the Jungle (2003)
"Welcome to the Jungle" is another of Dwayne Johnson's films, a 2003 comedy directed by Peter Berg. The plot introduces us to a bounty hunter named Beck (Dwayne Johnson), aiming to retire and finally open his own business. However, he accepts one last mission before retirement: rescuing Travis, a young man who is after Helldorado!
Many challenges, enemies, and adventures will stand in the way of these two characters. This film was nominated for several awards but didn't win anything significant. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 69% rating from critics and a 66% rating from audiences. For those interested, it's available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
Jungle Cruise (2021)
This is one of Dwayne Johnson's most adventure-fantasy films, released in 2021 and directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. The film follows a researcher and her brother on an expedition into the Amazon, until they encounter captain and tour guide Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson), who leads them on their search for a powerful and mysterious ancient tree.
In this adventure, natural and supernatural forces test the characters' resolve and courage. "Jungle Cruise" was nominated for a Critics' Choice Super Award in the category of Best Actor in an Action Movie for Dwayne Johnson, and its Rotten Tomatoes score is 62% from critics and 92% from audiences, proving to be a success!
The film is available for streaming on Disney+.
Hercules (2014)
Hercules is a popular character in Greek mythology, and Dwayne Johnson was one of the actors who portrayed the son of Zeus. In the film named after the Greek hero, Hercules leads a group of soldiers in several battles after completing the 12 labors. A king calls him to train his army, and Hercules embarks on a mission that will test his loyalty and strength.
This is one of Dwayne Johnson's lowest-rated films on Rotten Tomatoes, with just a 58% critical approval rating and a 48% audience approval rating. He even received two award nominations but didn't win either. The film is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
Rampage (2018)
Directed by Brad Peyton, "Rampage" is one of Dwayne Johnson's films that blends action and science fiction, telling the story of Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson), a primatologist who has a connection with an albino gorilla named George. However, George and other animals undergo experiments that alter his size, making him gigantic, aggressive, and a potential threat to Chicago.
Thus, the story becomes a race against time to prevent a catastrophe and find an antidote to return the animals to their normal size and behavior. The film received no nominations, and reviews were mixed, with a 51% approval rating from critics and a 71% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Rampage” is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video and Apple.
Skyscraper (2018)
Another Dwayne Johnson action film, this time directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. The plot follows a former FBI agent named Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson), a rescue specialist. However, during a mission in China, his reputation is tarnished when he is accused of causing a fire in the world's tallest and safest building.
Now Will must clear his name while facing numerous dangers in an attempt to reverse this situation. "Skyscraper" was nominated for four awards but won none, and its Rotten Tomatoes rating is 48% from critics and 68% from audiences.
The film is currently available for streaming on Globoplay and for rental on Amazon Prime Video.
The Agreement (2013)
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, "The Deal" is one of Dwayne Johnson's films that tells the story of John Matthews (Dwayne Johnson), a businessman who lives happily with his wife and daughter until his son from a previous marriage is wrongfully imprisoned. To free him, he must fulfill a deal: infiltrate a drug cartel to capture the ringleader!
In this action-packed plot, John and his family's lives are constantly at risk. "The Deal" was nominated for an award, but didn't win, but its Rotten Tomatoes score is 57% from critics and 61% from audiences. It can also be watched for free with ads on NetMovies.
Get Smart (2008)
This is one of Dwayne Johnson's films in which the actor doesn't play the lead role, but rather a highly experienced and charismatic field agent, mentoring the protagonist, Maxwell Sart. Maxwell works at the spy agency and dreams of becoming a spy, but is unexpectedly promoted to this position.
Directed by Peter Segal, the film offers a fun take on the espionage genre. Dwayne Johnson plays Agent 23, but the film received no nominations, with an average approval rating of 51% from critics and 67% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
"Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" is one of Dwayne Johnson's most popular films today, directed by Jake Kasdan. The film follows four students who discover a video game called Jumanji and are transported into it, taking on the bodies of their avatars. Here, Dwayne Johnson plays Dr. Smolder Bravestone, an explorer and hero of the game.
Thus begins a race against time to unravel the mysteries and escape the game before they're trapped forever! The film received several award nominations, including the Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film and the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Cast. The film also has a strong approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (77% from critics and 85% from audiences).
The film is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Fast Five: Rio Heist (2011)
Without a doubt, this is one of Dwayne Johnson's most popular films and the one he is most remembered for: Fast & Furious 5! This sequel to the famous franchise was directed by Justin Lin, bringing more action to the street racing film series.
The story continues following Dominic Toretto and Brian O'Conner after Toretto escapes from prison and both take refuge in Rio de Janeiro, where they plan to steal the fortune of a local drug dealer. Dwayne Johnson appears in the plot as federal agent Like Hobbs, who has been assigned to capture both fugitives.
"Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist" was nominated for several awards, including the People's Choice Award for Best Action Movie and the Teen Choice Award for Best Action Movie, and its Rotten Tomatoes score is also impressive, totaling 78% in critical approval and 83% in audience approval! The film is available for streaming on Netflix.
Conclusion
These are Dwayne Johnson's 10 best films, demonstrating the actor's versatility in everything from action to comedy and humor. Despite starting his career as a WWE wrestler, Dwayne has worked hard and cemented his Hollywood career, becoming one of the most prominent names in cinema today.
And if you like this type of content about cinema and actors, also check out: the 10 best movies to watch as a couple on Netflix e 10 Oscar-nominated films to watch at the cinema in 2025.
