Dwayne Johnson isn't just a movie star. He is a walking, talking, bicep-flexing economy. Honestly, if you look at the list of movies of the Rock, you aren't just looking at a filmography; you're looking at the evolution of modern Hollywood marketing. He transitioned from a professional wrestler with a raised eyebrow into the highest-paid actor on the planet, and he did it by basically being the most likable guy in the room. Even when the movies are, let's be real, a little bit formulaic.
Success didn't happen overnight. It was a grind.
People forget that his early stuff was hit or miss. Remember The Scorpion King? It was a spin-off from The Mummy Returns, and while it proved he could carry a film, nobody was calling him the next Tom Cruise just yet. He had to figure out if he was an action hero, a family-friendly Disney guy, or a comedy lead. Eventually, he decided to be all three at once.
The Fast and Furious Pivot That Changed Everything
If we are talking about a list of movies of the Rock that actually matters, we have to start with Fast Five. Before 2011, the Fast & Furious franchise was sort of stalling out. It was about street racing. Then, Luke Hobbs showed up. Johnson brought this massive, sweaty intensity to the screen that fundamentally shifted the series from racing flicks to high-stakes heist global adventures.
It was a masterclass in "franchise viagra."
He didn't just join the team. He took over. The chemistry (and later, the very public friction) between him and Vin Diesel became the stuff of tabloid legend. But look at the numbers. Fast Five earned over $626 million globally. Fast & Furious 6 and Furious 7 went even higher, with the seventh installment crossing the $1.5 billion mark. When you look at the trajectory of his career, this is the moment he became untouchable. He found his niche: the indestructible lawman with a heart of gold and a very tight Under Armour shirt.
Finding the Sweet Spot in Jumanji and Jungle Cruise
You've probably noticed that a huge chunk of the list of movies of the Rock involves him being in a jungle. It's become a literal meme at this point. The Rundown, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jungle Cruise. It's a running joke that if Dwayne Johnson is in a movie, there’s a 70% chance he’s wearing a khaki button-down in a tropical climate.
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But it works.
The Jumanji reboot was a massive risk. People loved the Robin Williams original, and reboots usually suck. Yet, by leaning into the comedy—specifically the irony of a massive man playing a nervous teenager—Johnson, alongside Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, created a monster hit. Welcome to the Jungle made $962 million. Its sequel, The Next Level, cleared $800 million. He proved he could lead a four-quadrant family blockbuster without needing a pre-existing superhero cape.
Speaking of Hart, that partnership is vital. Central Intelligence showed that Johnson’s best asset isn't his strength; it's his ability to be the "straight man" to a chaotic comedian. It makes him human. It makes him approachable.
The Experimental Years and the Disney Magic
Before he was the king of the box office, he tried some weird stuff. We have to acknowledge the "Tooth Fairy" era. For a few years, it felt like his team was pushing him to be the next Arnold Schwarzenegger—not the Terminator Arnold, but the Junior and Kindergarten Cop Arnold.
The Game Plan (2007)
Tooth Fairy (2010)
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
These movies are actually pretty important for his brand longevity. They made him a household name for kids who didn't watch WWE. If you want to know why families flock to see Moana, it's because he spent years building trust with parents. His performance as Maui is arguably his best "acting" work. He has to carry the emotional weight of a demi-god with abandonment issues, all while singing "You're Welcome" in a way that stays stuck in your head for three weeks.
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Moana is a certified classic. It’s the kind of movie that will be watched for the next fifty years, which is something you can't necessarily say about Skyscraper or San Andreas.
The Black Adam Reality Check
We can't talk about a list of movies of the Rock without mentioning the elephant in the room: Black Adam. For fifteen years, Johnson hyped this movie. He told us "the hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is about to change."
It didn't.
The movie performed okay, making around $393 million, but against a massive budget and a huge marketing spend, it was a disappointment. It was a rare moment where the "Rock Magic" didn't quite cast the spell. It showed that even the biggest star in the world can't always overcome a messy script or a changing superhero landscape. Shortly after, James Gunn took over DC Studios, and the Black Adam plans were shelved. It was a pivot point. It forced him to return to what works: Fast & Furious (appearing in the Fast X stinger) and the upcoming Moana live-action adaptation.
Deep Dive into the Complete List of Movies of the Rock
To really understand the scope, you have to look at the sheer volume of work. He isn't just an actor; he’s a producer through Seven Bucks Productions. He has a hand in everything from the catering to the social media clips.
The Action Heavy-Hitters
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- San Andreas (2015) - The ultimate disaster movie where he literally fights an earthquake.
- Rampage (2018) - Based on a video game, featuring a giant albino gorilla. It’s ridiculous, and that’s why it made $428 million.
- Skyscraper (2018) - Basically Die Hard but in a taller building and with one leg.
- Hobbs & Shaw (2019) - The spin-off that proved he could lead the Fast universe without Vin Diesel.
The Early Career Foundation
- The Mummy Returns (2001) - The debut. The CGI was terrible, but the presence was there.
- Walking Tall (2004) - A remake of the 70s classic. He carries a big stick. It’s simple, effective action.
- Be Cool (2005) - He plays a gay bodyguard who wants to be an actor. It’s a surprisingly nuanced, funny performance that people often overlook.
- Gridiron Gang (2006) - One of his few straightforward dramas. It showed he actually has the acting chops to do more than just punch people.
The Netflix Era
- Red Notice (2021) - Alongside Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot. It became one of Netflix’s most-watched movies of all time. It’s the definition of "streaming content"—glossy, expensive, and easy to watch while folding laundry.
Why He Still Matters in 2026
Critics often give him a hard time. They say he plays the same character in every movie. Maybe he does. But there is an art to that. Like John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, Dwayne Johnson provides a specific experience. When you sit down for a movie from the list of movies of the Rock, you know what you’re getting. You're getting charisma. You're getting a hero who wins. You're getting two hours of escapism.
In an era of cynical reboots and depressing dramas, that "Rock" formula is incredibly valuable. He understands his audience better than almost anyone in the business. He uses his social media—all 390+ million followers—as a direct-to-consumer marketing machine.
Moving Forward: What to Watch Next
If you are looking to dive into his work, don't just go for the biggest explosions. To see the full range of what he can do, follow this sequence:
- Watch The Rundown: It's his best pure action-comedy. The chemistry with Seann William Scott is lightning in a bottle.
- Watch Moana: Even if you don't like "cartoons." His vocal performance is genuinely great.
- Watch Fast Five: This is the peak of his physical action era.
- Watch Be Cool: Just to see him play against type. It’ll make you realize he’s a much better actor than the Transformers-style movies let him be.
The legacy of Dwayne Johnson isn't about winning Oscars. It’s about the fact that for two decades, he has been the most reliable "sure thing" in an industry that is notoriously unpredictable. Whether he’s saving his family from a crumbling skyscraper or voicing a tattooed demi-god, he’s doing it with a level of earnestness that is rare in Hollywood.
Check out his latest projects on streaming platforms to see how he continues to evolve his brand, especially as he moves into more producer-heavy roles and returns to his roots in the upcoming live-action Disney projects. Keep an eye on the box office tallies for his 2026 releases; the data usually tells a clearer story than the reviews ever could.