We can probably all agree that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is not your average human being, let alone actor. In an age where big Hollywood names are no longer enough to sell a movie (that responsibility now falls to franchises), the wrestling star-turned-action hero has pulled off the impossible right off the bat. He’s stepped into the role previously filled by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone during the 1980s and 1990s in becoming the main attraction in big, often dumb popcorn flicks that exist predominantly to provide adrenaline-fuelled fun. And earn big bucks too, of course.
In doing so, however, Johnson’s taste for action spectacle has required him to defy the laws of physics more than a couple times. Most recently, the poster for his latest film, Skyscraper, had the internet discussing the scientifically implausible leap he appears to take from a crane towards a busted window in the eponymous tall building. Johnson is set to ascend legitimately to superhero stardom soon in DC’s planned Black Adam, but until then, we thought we’d look back at some of his most memorable feats of big-screen superheroism.
The Scorpion King – One Perfect Shot
It’s now hard to imagine a time when Dwayne Johnson was just a young pup on the Hollywood scene, but following a brief appearance in 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns, the star won his first leading role as the titular Scorpion King just one year later. It’s a more than serviceable swords ‘n’ sandals genre flick, but perhaps the most memorable scene is when the film’s villain meets his untimely demise.
After rescuing the princess and chasing down the infamous skilled swordsman Memnon, Johnson’s Mathayus has a choice: let him escape or make a seemingly impossible bow shot. Attempting the latter would be heroic enough, yet it’s even more valiant given that the only arrow available is the one PULLED FROM HIS OWN SHOULDER — ouch! “Catch,” quips Johnson before finally releasing the fatal shot, past the swords of a foe who just isn’t quite fast enough to deflect.
Furious 7 – The Helicopter Takedown
Johnson’s character in the Fast & Furious series is hard-boiled, witty, and a badass when he needs to be. This particular action-movie moment perfectly embodies all three of these traits, as Luke Hobbs goes toe-to-toe with a helicopter on the darkly lit New York streets. With A HEAVY-DUTY MINIGUN IN HAND. No ordinary man should even be able to lift the thing, but it’s the perfect way to reintroduce his character after being bed-ridden in a hospital for most of the movie.
With it, he saves fan-favourite family man Dominic Toretto from the clutches of Furious 7’s big bad, cementing the bromance established in previous films between the two.
Hercules – “I Am Hercules”
Some people won’t remember Dwayne Johnson’s brief stint as Hercules, largely due to there being two movies centering on the legendary Greek god released a few months apart. The simply titled Hercules is the more interesting take. You have Johnson’s natural charisma to rely on after all, and the movie’s ability to constantly keep you guessing as to whether Hercules’ godly identity is true or just a con to keep his ragtag band of mercenaries fed is something new.
Any uncertainty is squashed roughly two-thirds of the way into the film’s running time, however, when Hercules finds himself hurled up, and chained to two rocks. John Hurt is monologuing, The Rock has a beard, Rebecca Ferguson is at risk of having her head chopped off — it’s all very epic and compelling. Then, by sheer will alone, the titular god screams: “I am Hercules”, before breaking free and fending off three — yes, three — wolves.
San Andreas – Outrunning a Tsunami
Let’s get one thing straight, a lot of crazy stuff happens in earth-shattering disaster epic San Andreas. We could have picked any number of moments to demonstrate how Dwayne Johnson saves the day in true testosterone-fuelled fashion. But one of the most notable is when he leads the charge in guiding civilians to safety by outrunning a humongous tsunami.
The scene follows an already cataclysmic sequence of events that has seen skyscrapers crumble, highways split in half, and choppers spin out of control. Escaping the tsunami means moving under San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge, making it over one of the largest waves ever seen on screen, and dodging the propeller of an oncoming ocean liner.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – Smouldering Intensity
The writers of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle hit the jackpot when they decided to send up one of The Rock’s trademark gestures by including it as a special skill of his character. Aptly named Dr Smolder Bravestone, his character — who is part of the movie’s video game aspect — allows us to see Johnson at his most superhero yet. With Johnson’s Bravestone and the game’s other avatars ascending great heights, pulling off super moves, and avoiding deadly maze traps. But it’s his ‘smouldering intensity’ that really resonates.
It works like this: The Rock delivers a rousing speech to rally his cohorts, finishing on an epic line like “we have to do this together”, before intensely gazing either into their souls or out into the distance. And boom, they’re putty in his hands.
Fast Five – Vin Diesel Hits Rock Bottom, Literally!
The Fast series’ Luke Hobbs has already featured on this list, but with eight movies in total and a spin-off rapidly approaching, it’s a hard character to ignore. 2011’s Fast Five is considered a turning point for the franchise when races were swapped for heists, and Johnson’s debut as the determined Luke Hobbs certainly helped.
It could be argued that ushering Fast & Furious into a new era is the most superhuman Dwayne Johnson feat of all, but we’ve settled on the cosmic clash between Hobbs and Vin Diesel’s beloved Dominic Toretto. Seeing these two hulking masses duke it out on the big screen is certainly a thrill, and quite an accomplishment considering that no cars feature at all. The two temporarily resolve their differences in the end, but this head-to-head is definitely a match-up for the annals of cinema.
Skyscraper hits screens in the UK and Australia on July 12, and in the US on July 13.
