THE SMASHING MACHINE is a 2025 biographical sports drama film written, directed, co-produced, and co-edited by Benny Safdie (Good Time, Uncut Gems). Cinematographer Maceo Bishop, who worked with Safdie on The Curse (2023–2024), shot the film on 16mm film. Belgian musician Nala Sinephro composed the score for the film.
MMA fighter Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson) reaches the peak of his career but faces personal hardships.
The cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk.
THE SMASHING MACHINE made its debut in theaters October 3rd, courtesy of A24.
If you consider yourself to be a true lover of cinema, Benny Safdie is quite simply one of those dudes that gets you pumped up when one of his movies hits theaters, and I was extra excited for THE SMASHING MACHINE because of the subject matter and the involvement of Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Initial trailers for the film were very well received with most people pointing to the fact that it seemed that this could be a real breakout role for Johnson, and boy was it ever.
THE SMASHING MACHINE was fantastic and honestly everything I hoped it could be as it told a meaningful and fascinating story, while also allowing viewers the opportunity to once again appreciate the talent of Benny Safdie. In many ways the film feels likem you just stepped out of a time machine because of how every single detail is just a blast from the past. I was completely immersed for the just over 2-hour runtime, and I honestly couldn’t believe how great Dwayne Johnson was in this.
MMA fighter Mark Kerr is known as a true pioneer and one of the earliest athletes to help pave the way for what the UFC has become today. Kerr dedicated his life to the sport, and spent significant time in Japan fighting for the Pride organization. There was a ton of controversy surrounding the sport in the early days because of how brutally violent it was, but athletes like Kerr proved that the sport deserved its rightful place. Mark Kerr was a phenomenal athlete, but he was a unique and caring human being that put a great deal of pressure on himself to be successful.
Winning was all Kerr knew, and when his personal life began to jeopardize the career he worked so hard for, everything began to spiral out of control. Kerr dealt with drug dependency issues as well as issues with his longtime girlfriend Dawn (Emily Blunt), but who he was as a person and as a fighter was never questioned. He built meaningful relationships because of his commitment to give the sport everything he had, and the friends he made along the way cared for him deeply.
Dwayne Johnson is nothing short of incredible in this role. From the opening scene you could tell that Johnson put in the work to adapt everything that made Kerr such a unique human being, right down to his mannerisms and how he talked to people. I could tell right away that he was the type of person that had a really big heart, and he just had a certain energy that people gravitated towards. Even though he was involved in an incredibly violent sport, Kerr came across as a gentle but admittedly flawed man outside of the ring.
Benny Safdie is known for having dialogue-heavy films and that is for sure the case here as well, but I found myself absolutely transfixed by Johnson’s portrayal of Kerr even during the most simple interactions. Johnson made sure viewers got to know the man that Mark Kerr was, and his ability to make you truly care for him in such a meaningful way was quite an achievement. Emily Blunt is an amazing actress, and she was incredible as Dawn Staples. The chemistry Blunt had with Johnson was absolutely undeniable, and I could not imagine a better duo taking on these roles. MMA fighter Ryan Bader was really good as Kerr’s close friend Mark Coleman who also helped Kerr bring the sport to the forefront.
I genuinely enjoyed Mark Kerr’s story, and more than anything I am glad he finally got the acknowledgement he rightfully deserves. This man gave the sport everything he had, and hardcore fans of what the UFC has become should absolutely know his name and what he meant to the sport. The film closes with a present-day tribute to Mark Kerr, and it put an ear-to-ear smile on my face. I’m so glad Benny Safdie made the decision to make this film, and it is yet another impressive addition to his resume.
THE VERDICT
A powerful biographical sports drama featuring writer/director Benny Safdie’s unique cinematic style, THE SMASHING MACHINE is a transformative experience featuring a career-best performance from actor Dwayne Johnson. I was absolutely immersed from start to finish, and I just found myself so intrigued by how Johnson was able to truly become this character as he embodied the passion and pain Kerr carried throughout his career. THE SMASHING MACHINE is a top-tier film that deserves to be seen in theaters.
TED TAKES RATING - 8.7/10
THE SMASHING MACHINE is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.