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When is a disaster movie not a disaster? When it has THE ROCK in it, for a start. This May hes laying the smackdown on San Andreas the epic seat trembler that lands Dwayne Johnson in the middle of a devastating Californian earthquake. Read all about the movie in the next issue of Total Film, hitting shelves on Friday (and boasting the big man himself on the front cover).
Before he starts beating up earthquakes, hes back beating up cars in Fast & Furious 7 and thats before he gears up for his DC-verse debut in Shazam!. To celebrate another summer of Rock action, we count down the 20 best Dwayne Johnson moments
Getting the nod
The Rundown (2003)
Still new to the business, Johnsons first modern action role caused more than a few (single) eyebrows to raise in Hollywood not least when Arnold Schwarzenegger passed him the baton. The message was clear Arnie might have dominated the dumbbells in the 80s and 90s, but there was a new Rock on the Block. Have fun, murmurs Arnie as he shoulders past Johnsons bounty hunter. Oh, he will
ROCK vs ARNIE. ROCK WINS.
Bringing It On
Be Cool (2005)
What does an aspiring action legend really have to do to prove his chops? How about performing an all-female monologue from teen cheerleading comedy Bring It On, whilst staying in character as a gay Samoan mob bodyguard? The fact that Johnson makes it sound better than the original only proves that he should have started acting a few years earlier. (And he should have been a girl.)
ROCK vs KIRSTEN DUNST. ROCK WINS
Getting heavy
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
Theres a good reason Johnson played a guy named Roadblock in G.I. Joe: Retaliation: not just because hed probably flip a dump-truck if it drove into him, but because he can chase down a supervillain in a hovercraft, rip the mounted 130lbs M2 machine gun off the top with his bare hands and level everything in sight.
ROCK vs GUNS. ROCK WINS.
Emotional Terrorism
You Again (2010)
Facing off against a feisty Kristen Bell as an uncredited air marshal in Disney romcom You Again, Dwayne shows his soft side offering up some sage boyfriend advice (and a few pretzels) and basically livening up the whole film in a few seconds of screen time.
ROCK vs ROMCOMS. ROCK WINS.
Aiming for the bushes
The Other Guys (2010)
Making even more of an impact with another 2010 cameo, Dwayne partners up with Samuel L Jackson to play one half of a super cool cop duo one that we all assume is going to have a pretty big part in The Other Guys. 10 minutes in, he does a spectacular slow-mo leap off a tall building and lands in a puddle on the floor.
ROCK vs CLICHS. ROCK WINS.
Getting inspirational
Gridiron Gang (2006)
Anyone whos ever seen Johnsons Twitter account (or heard how many eggs he eats every day) knows that hes probably the most inspirational man on the planet. If you need further proof, check out his motivational Willie Weathers speech in American Football classic Gridiron Gang uplifting the spirits of a tough street kid headed for a life behind bars.
ROCK vs FAILURE. ROCK WINS.
Faster and furiouser
Fast And Furious 6 (2013)
Somehow looking bigger (and more sweaty) than he did in Fast Five, Johnsons entrance in the 2013 sequel is a thing to behold. Stalking down the corridors of a police station, finding a cocky stooge in an empty interrogation room and throwing him through the ceiling tiles like a ragdoll when he doesnt start talking.
ROCK vs ETHICS. ROCK WINS.
THE BFG
Doom (2005)
Even Johnson himself has admitted that Doom wasnt a brilliant film, but it still gave him one of his best badass moments. Nope, not the bit where he leans into the camera and says Semper Fi motherfucker, the bit where he wields the biggest gun ever, and writes his own page in the gaming geek history books.
ROCK vs VIDEOGAME MOVIES. ROCK WINS.
The face off
Snitch (2013)
Sqauring off against Susan Sarandon in Ric Roman Waughs heavyweight thriller Snitch, Johnson played a father desperately trying to get his son out of prison. Forget the actiony bits in the last 15 minutes, Johnsons plea to Sarandons steely DA proves that hes more than capable of handling proper drama.
ROCK vs ACTING. ROCK WINS.
The music video
Be Cool (2005)
Surely there must be something Johnson cant do? How about starring in a country music video where he dances in a bright red suit and sings You Aint Woman Enough To Be My Man (again, whilst staying in character as a gay Samoan mob bodyguard)? Nope. Nailed it.
ROCK vs DOLLY PARTON. ROCK WINS.
The 2x4
Walking Tall (2004)
A proud sheriff whos desperate to stamp out the drug trade in his home town, Johnsons best turn in Walking Tall comes when he confronts the local kingpin and his flashy sports car. Taking a verbal beating from the crook, Johnson calmly walks to the back of the car, picks up a handy 2x4 and smashes out the taillights.
ROCK vs RED TAPE. ROCK WINS.
The slow dance
Southland Tales (2007)
Another curio for the CV, and another film rescued by the Rock. Richard Kellys bizarre sci-fi comedy drama existential thriller peaks with a choreographed dance routine between Johnsons amnesiac action star and Sarah Michelle Gellars porn queen. He can sing, he can act and he can dance.
ROCK vs BUFFY. ROCK WINS.
The transformation
Tooth Fairy (2010)
Forced to serve as the new Tooth Fairy, Johnsons bad dad ice-hockey star finds himself called into action in the middle of a game rushing to the toilet just as his glittery wings and silk PJs start magically appearing. Its a classic comedy moment made all the funnier by Johnsons eyebrow rolling exasperation. Tinkerbell herself couldnt have done it better.
ROCK vs FAIRY DUST. ROCK WINS.
The stapler
Get Smart (2008)
Office politics (and health and safety) goes out the window as Johnsons secret agent deals with an arrogant loud mouth the way we all sometimes wish we could slapping him on the forehead with a stapler, staple side down
ROCK VS STATIONERY. ROCK WINS.
The thunder cookie
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
Once upon a time there was a rumour that Johnson was set to star in the new Jurassic Park movie and if he did, you can bet it would have looked something like this: The Rock facing off against a giant lizard, staring it down and then punching it square in the face with his thunder cookie.
THE ROCK vs NATURE. ROCK WINS.
The toe
Pain & Gain (2013)
Possibly his maddest role to date, Johnsons turn in Michael Bays bonkers crime comedy Pain & Gain saw him play a coked-up born-again Christian who gets dragged into a blackmail ring. Maddest of the mad is the moment he gets covered in anti-theft paint, jumps into a river to escape the police, gets his toe shot off, swims down to pick it up and then gate-crashes Mark Walhbergs party asking for it to be stuck back on.
THE ROCK vs SANITY. ROCK WINS.
The fire ants
The Scorpion King (2002)
Most normal people buried in the sand facing an army of giant fire ants would just scream and die a painful death. Not the Rock. Waiting for them surround him, he crushes them all with his chin and even chews one up in his mouth. Thats how a real man deals with danger.
THE ROCK vs ANTS. ROCK WINS.
The pec pop of love
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
CGI can only cope with so much, and when it comes to twerking his man-boobs, the Rock does all his own stunts. Supposedly used to charm the ladies, Johnsons fabled pec pop of love makes a pretty lasting impact on Peeta from The Hunger Games in Jounrey 2 who bounces berries off Johnsons chest in glorious 3D.
THE ROCK vs MEDICAL SCIENCE. ROCK WINS.
Rock Bottom
Fast 5 (2011)
Cinemas two baddest, baldest bruisers go head to head in Fast 5s epic mid-point showdown with Dwayne pummelling Vin Diesel through tables, windows and solid concrete walls before hitting him with his signature WWE finishing move. Annoyingly, the script said that Diesel had to win the bout, but as we all know:
ROCK vs VIN DIESEL. ROCK WINS.
The pillars of Hercules
Hercules (2014)
Forced to break the chains between two pillars, Johnson got into character so much during the filming of Hercules he almost killed himself. I asked the prop department to lock me in with real steel chains that I couldn't break, so the performance would be real, he said later. We shot the scene 8 times. I blacked out every time
A dancing cowboy, a dinosaur punching fairy, a stapler wielding supersoldier and a pec-poppin' method actor. Truly, there is only one Dwayne Johnson.
ROCK vs MYTHOLOGY. ROCK WINS.
