Let’s be real. If you see a movie poster with a massive, muscular guy looming over a much smaller, panicked-looking guy, you already know what time it is. You don't even need to read the names. It's the Kevin Hart and the Rock show.
This pairing shouldn't work as well as it does. It feels like a gimmick from a 90s buddy-cop flick that stayed past its welcome. But here we are in 2026, and people are still lining up. Why? Because the chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart is one of the few things in Hollywood that feels like it’s not being faked for the cameras.
The accidental origins of Kevin Hart and the Rock movies
It all started back in 2016 with Central Intelligence. Before that, they were just two huge stars moving in different orbits. Dwayne was the action hero trying to prove he could do more than just flex, and Kevin was the stand-up king taking over the big screen.
The premise of that first movie was a total flip. You had The Rock playing Bob Stone, a former bullied kid who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent but still wears fanny packs and loves unicorns. Then you had Kevin Hart as Calvin Joyner, the high school "Golden Jet" who peaked at 18 and became a bored accountant.
That dynamic—the big guy being the sensitive weirdo and the small guy being the "straight man"—was the secret sauce. It grossed over $216 million worldwide. More importantly, it birthed a "bromance" that has basically become its own marketing department.
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The Jumanji era: When things got weird
If Central Intelligence was the spark, the Jumanji reboot was the explosion.
Honestly, people were skeptical. You don't just touch a Robin Williams classic. But Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) worked because it didn't try to be the original. It leaned into the absurdity of the "avatars." Seeing a 6'5" slab of muscle like Johnson pretend to be a neurotic teenager (Spencer) while Hart played a tough football player trapped in a "short" body (Mouse Finbar) was comedy gold.
- Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017): $962 million worldwide.
- Jumanji: The Next Level (2019): $801 million worldwide.
These aren't just "funny" numbers. These are "buy a private island" numbers. The sequel, The Next Level, pushed it even further by having them impersonate Danny DeVito and Danny Glover. It was ridiculous. It was over the top. And audiences ate it up.
More than just Jumanji: The cameos and voice work
They’ve found ways to stay in each other's pockets even when they aren't the primary leads.
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Remember Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw? Kevin Hart shows up for an uncredited cameo as Air Marshal Dinkley. It’s a brief scene on a plane, but the banter is peak Hart/Johnson. It felt like they just showed up on set, started making fun of each other, and the director kept the cameras rolling.
Then there’s the animation side. In 2022, they voiced the lead roles in DC League of Super-Pets. Johnson was Krypto the Superdog, and Hart was Ace the Bat-Hound. Even without their physical presence on screen, that bickering energy translated perfectly to a couple of cartoon dogs.
What’s coming in 2026?
If you’re waiting for the next hit, the big news is the Untitled Jumanji Sequel (often called Jumanji 3 or 4, depending on how you count the original). Sony has officially pegged December 11, 2026, for the release.
The core four—Johnson, Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan—are all expected back. Rumors from the set suggest they might be messing with the "real world" versus "game world" mechanics even more this time. Director Jake Kasdan has hinted that this might be the finale for this specific cast, so expect them to go all out.
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Why people keep coming back (The E-E-A-T factor)
Critics often dismiss these movies as "low-brow" or repetitive. But there’s a level of craft here that’s hard to ignore.
- Authentic Rivalry: Their "feud" on Instagram is legendary. They spend 90% of their time making fun of each other's workout videos or height. This makes the movies feel like an extension of their real lives.
- Physical Comedy: They understand the visual gag of their height difference. They use it without making it the only joke.
- Broad Appeal: These movies are safe for families but have enough edge to keep adults from falling asleep.
It’s rare to see two A-list stars who aren't afraid to look stupid for a laugh. The Rock, in particular, is willing to let Kevin Hart verbally dismantle him for two hours, which is a level of ego-check you don't often see from someone with his box office clout.
How to watch the Kevin Hart and the Rock collection
If you want to catch up, here is the essential list:
- Central Intelligence (2016): The one that started the madness.
- Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017): The massive blockbuster.
- Jumanji: The Next Level (2019): More body-swapping chaos.
- DC League of Super-Pets (2022): The animated team-up.
- Hobbs & Shaw (2019): For that specific Dinkley/Hobbs interaction.
To get the most out of the "lore," start with their press tour interviews on YouTube. Honestly, some of those are funnier than the movies themselves. The "Playground Insults" segment they did for BBC Radio 1 is a masterclass in two friends absolutely roasting each other.
To really appreciate the evolution of their partnership, watch Central Intelligence first and pay attention to how they play against their types. Then, dive into the Jumanji series to see how they've refined that "odd couple" dynamic into a billion-dollar formula. Keep an eye out for ticket pre-sales for the new Jumanji in late 2026—it’s likely to be the biggest holiday movie of that year.