Dwayne Johnson is saving the world, film by film
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
A desert warrior rises up against the evil army that is destroying his homeland. He captures the enemy’s key sorcerer, takes her deep into the desert and prepares for a final showdown in “The Scorpion King” (2002).
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Space Marines are sent to investigate strange events at a research facility on Mars but find themselves at the mercy of genetically enhanced killing machines in “Doom” (2005).
PARAMOUNT PICTURES / MGM / SKYDANCE PRODUCTIONS
The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence in “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” (2013).
PARAMOUNT PICTURES / METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES
Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord in “Hercules” (2014).
NEW LINE CINEMA
In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey with his ex-wife across the state in order to rescue his daughter in “San Andreas” (2015).
NEW LINE CINEMA / UNIVERSAL PICTURES
After he reconnects with an awkward pal from high school through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage in “Central Intelligence” (2016).
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
When three different animals become infected with a dangerous pathogen, a primatologist and a geneticist team up to stop them from destroying Chicago in “Rampage” (2018).
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Lawman Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and outcast Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity in “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” (2019).
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
A former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran now assesses security for skyscrapers in “Skyscraper” (2018).
In a trailer for “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” due Aug. 2, Dwayne Johnson says, “I’m trying to save the world, which, for the record, will be my fourth time. ‘Cause I’m really good at it.” Well, yes. The foundation, or rock, if you will, of Johnson’s film career is the confidence he brings to being humanity’s savior on repeat. Four times? That was just yesterday. By plane, by train, by automobile and even sinking boat, this action star — who lived on Oahu for several years during his youth — has made the fate of the world his business. Here’s a look at the many ways Johnson’s characters have helped keep civilization intact.
‘FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW’
In this first spinoff film from the 18-years-running “Fast & Furious” franchise, Johnson is back as the lawman he began playing in 2011 with “Fast Five.” In that one, he helped take down a drug lord. The world saving began in “Fast & Furious 6,” in which Hobbs gets the street-racing, butt-kicking team together to take down an international terrorist stealing components to make a highly destructive device.
In “The Fate of the Furious,” Hobbs and the team help to stop a cyberterrorist hellbent on nuclear destruction. “Hobbs & Shaw” pairs him with an old adversary, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) to help stop a cyber-genetically enhanced terrorist (Idris Elba), also hellbent on destruction.
Where to watch: Rent or buy “Fast & Furious 6” and “The Fate of the Furious” on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube, among other sites.
‘SKYSCRAPER’
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
In this high (like, really high) concept thriller, Johnson plays a super-everyman, leaping onto a tall building in a single bound. His character may not be saving the whole world here, but he’s saving his family, who mean the world to him.
As Will Sawyer, a security analyst for a record-setting Hong Kong skyscraper, he finds himself battling thugs who, in a quest to get what they want, don’t mind burning down the tower with Sawyer’s wife and kids inside. Pulse-pounding action has him hanging by a thread and, at one point, by his own prosthetic foot.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon, HBO Now, Vudu and YouTube, among other sites.
‘RAMPAGE’
If a gorilla, a gray wolf and a crocodile are all exposed to a pathogen that turns them into mutated, oversized, havoc-wreaking killing machines, you might want to get somebody on that. Enter Johnson’s primatologist with a few ideas. “Let’s go save the world,” he says in that film before firing up a helicopter to head into a half-destroyed Chicago hellscape. All in a day’s work.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon, HBO Now, Vudu and YouTube, among other sites.
‘CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE’
This espionage buddy comedy with Kevin Hart came with the tagline “Saving the world takes a little Hart and a big Johnson.” See what they did there?
Johnson plays a CIA agent who elicits help from an old high school acquaintance, Calvin (Hart), for a tiny task: thwarting an enemy of the state who stole encryption keys to the American spy satellite program with the intent to sell them. Action, jokes and world-saving ensue.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube, among other sites.
‘SAN ANDREAS’
It’s pretty difficult to save the world from an earthquake, but the helicopter rescue pilot Johnson plays here does his best. He and his wife, Emma (Carla Gugino), put aside their relationship struggles in the midst of disaster in Los Angeles and travel by broken road, smoky sky and raging sea to rescue their daughter in San Francisco. California’s landmarks, and much of its population, are decimated in creative ways, but a family is brought back together in the process.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube, among other sites.
‘Hercules’
Johnson goes B.C. here to play the demigod son of Zeus in a way that the Nutty Professor’s family would love. “Before he was a legend, he was a man,” the trailer says. But don’t worry, the film provides plenty of opportunities for that man to be mighty and majestic. Wielding a spear, donning a lion head as a helmet, defeating armies and killing a wolf with his bare hands — it’s all part of his repertoire.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube, among other sites.
‘G.I. JOE: RETALIATION’
Johnson’s character here isn’t called Roadblock for nothing. He and his team discover that the American government has been infiltrated by the baddie Zartan. He gets several countries to disarm their nuclear programs and has fashioned Project Zeus, a series of weapons of mass destruction that could obliterate several cities. Not on Roadblock’s watch. He won’t stop until Project Zeus is deactivated. A real American hero.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube, among other sites.
‘DOOM’
This time, Johnson is saving Mars. In 2046, a research facility has been set up on that planet, and attacked by mutants. How did they come to be? Through science that got a little weird. A team of Marines, with Johnson’s Sarge at the helm, goes in to take care of business. Life lessons, and genetic engineering lessons, are learned in the process.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon, iTunes, Netflix, Vudu and YouTube, among other sites.
‘THE SCORPION KING’
In one of his first major action film leads, Johnson is solid as, well, you know. This gives him the opportunity to save the prehistoric world. As Mathayus, he plans to take down the tyrannical ruler Memnon for the Scorpion King crown. That happens through sandstorm battles, bow-and-arrow artistry and fights with flaming swords.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube, among other sites.
© 2019 The New York Times Company
