Dwayne Johnson is one of the hardest working guys in Hollywood, but that work ethic doesn't just come from nowhere. The man needs motivation and while The Rock says he finds that motivation in his family, like his two daughters, and the third that's on the way, right now he's apparently finding motivation in Black Panther. While many people have been inspired by the movie because of the way it portrays African culture and spotlights many black actors, that's actually not the part that The Rock is using for inspiration. He's being driven by the fact that Black Panther's box office has beaten the crap out of his recent film, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. In Johnson's words...
But then I think about Black Panther kicking the shit out of Jumanji at the box office. That's all the motivation I need. Okay, that's it. So Wakanda forever. Alright, I know, I said that with a little too much mustard. I'm very proud of Ryan Coogler and the cast of Black Panther. Congratulations, so proud. Wakanda forever. That's all I need. Motivation enough. Shit.
To be fair to Dwayne Johnson, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has actually been a massive movie. It's won the box office five different weekends during 2018 and has amassed an impressive $387 million in domestic box office since its release in December. However, following this weekend, Black Panther has broken the $400 million mark in only two weekends, which is likely what Johnson is thinking about as he's pumping through leg day. In two weeks, Black Panther has unseated Jumanji as the highest grossing movie during 2018, something which took Johnson's movie a month to build.
Of course, Dwayne Johnson's Instagram video is all done with a smile on his face, so it's clear he's taking it all in stride. He probably is a little bummed that his movie is no longer number one, but he knew that was going to happen sooner or later and there are worse movies to get your ass kicked by than Black Panther. But as Johnson says, getting your ass kicked is always good motivation.
Still, The Rock shouldn't feel too bad, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle exceeded pretty much everybody's expectations for success and has likely spawned a franchise that will keep the actor busy for the next several years. Assuming he can find the time in his busy schedule of course. He's got both the video game adaptation Rampage and the summer action movie Skyscraper coming later this year. Perhaps one of them will take the fight to Black Panther. Regardless, Dwayne Johnson is ready to bring it, so the box office better look out.
