The Smashing Machine
Directed by Benny SafdieThe true story of mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson), whose obsession with greatness made him a legend — and nearly cost him everything. An epic about the courage to fight for something greater than victory.
The Smashing Machine Ratings & Reviews
- RipLinesManNovember 2, 2025The Smashing Machine channels Event Horizon (1997)’s descent into the inferno, trading a starship for the octagon while preserving the architecture of damnation. Under Benny Safdie the cage reads like a kiln, and Dwayne Johnson’s Mark Kerr moves like a titan whose armor is already scorched, with Emily Blunt’s Dawn Staples providing moral ballast and Ryan Bader’s Mark Coleman a granite rival who guards the next circle down. In Paul W. S. Anderson’s film, Laurence Fishburne’s Captain Miller embodies protocol and restraint while Sam Neill’s Dr. Weir curdles into zeal, and that same duel between discipline and seduction animates Kerr’s journey. Event Horizon externalizes terror through baroque corridors, ritual sound, and a crew of secular pilgrims, while Safdie internalizes it as weight cuts, pills, and the cultic routines of training. Johnson modulates majesty and corrosion, Blunt cuts through with lucid, unsentimental care, and Bader lends textured authenticity, just as Fishburne anchors with steel and Neill burns with heretical curiosity. Anderson composes cathedrals of steel and blood, Safdie frames bruised rituals with documentary electricity, and together these modes rhyme as portraits of men negotiating a door that should probably stay shut. The result is a serious, sinewed tragedy about what competition asks of a soul.
- RickOctober 2, 2025My favorite part was when he cut his hair and turned into the The Rock.
- EdmondZippo2d agoSingularly bothered by the look of this film, until it sort of clicked together when Mark and Dawn fight towards the end, and I just saw The Curse. But all along it was as if the camera and the score were conspiring to put distance between me and the story. I don't know how to say this. It's involving but at the same time it pushes you away. Anyway. I like that the Rock took this job because I didn't have much consideration for his career so far. Maybe he saw that his blockbuster career was stalling and wanted to show that he could also be serious and more than one-note. He really committed, which is characteristic of him. Not much else to say about this. Good night.
- eyeofthetornado2d agoWhat is the motivation behind this movie?
- George BananzaOctober 5, 2025Hulk smash.
- Austin BurkeOctober 24, 2025Johnson electrifies, nailing every subtle beat as a soft-spoken fighter teetering on the edge of desperation. His layered performance features a surprising amount nuance, yet the script’s unconventional approach often keeps it at arm’s length.
- cferaco5d ago2.5/5. I certify this movie a shitter of epic proportions. “The Smashing Machine” has no real point, no real direction, and throwing The Rock into the mix just makes it worse. The guy has absolutely no range, and the whole thing ends up feeling like a confused mess. Honestly, I’m still not sure why this movie exists.
- Luke EricksonNovember 30, 2025Guys!? What the heck did I just watch? This Biopic was pretty weird and I guess was supposed to highlight the abuse of these real people and how they struggled to start this sport. This movie is great if you want to hear The Rock say Tummy a lot. I'd take a pass on this one but your call. I blame myself if you end up watching it for the Tummy commentary. I'm sorry in advance for leading you astray. Go watch Scorpion King for a good Rock Movie or Jumanji 1 & 2.
- LenNovember 9, 2025It was “OK”…. It just wasn’t that good. Maybe the story itself was not worth making into a movie.
- Thomas NanceNovember 26, 2025Great movie! Gives credit to the pioneers UFC as we know it
- Jeff MyersNovember 5, 2025As a huge UFC fan, I was excited for this one and a little disappointed. It’s worth a watch, but there’s nothing fantastic here. I guess I just expected more. Originally when I saw the low box office numbers I just assumed it was because most people don’t care as much about the sport or Mark Kerrs story.. but they were right. It just doesn’t deserve great numbers.
- Timeless CinemaOctober 6, 2025Despite a nearly flawless production, poor stylistic choices diminish what it has going. The ingredients are great, but the recipe is poorly cooked. Scenes are overextended, repetition makes it predictable, & story mundane. Great acting though.
- clay457November 25, 2025Average movie. Couldn’t figure out what the target audience was. Dwayne and Emily were fine but the movie can weird congruency and it was a bit boring.
- Nick AdamsOctober 4, 2025Somewhere under the sweat, tears, and morphine, Dwayne Johnson gives his best performance since Moana.
- HakihikoNovember 25, 2025Gritty, Engaging, but Not Quite Knockout Material "The Smashing Machine" is a solid, grounded sports drama that offers an unvarnished look at the physical and emotional toll of fighting. It's earnest, occasionally gripping, and built on a strong central performance - enough to keep it interesting throughout - but it never quite hits the emotional or narrative heights it aims for. The film's strengths lie in its realism. It avoids glamorizing the world it portrays, focusing instead on the wear-and-tear of a career centered around violence, discipline, and personal sacrifice. The direction embraces a gritty, lived-in aesthetic that fits the subject matter well, giving the movie an authentic edge even when the storytelling feels familiar. The lead performance is easily the highlight. There's a rawness and vulnerability that keeps the character compelling, especially during the quieter moments that explore self-doubt, ambition, and physical decline. The supporting cast does its job competently, though few characters truly stand out beyond their narrative function. Where the film falls short is in its structure and emotional impact. The script leans heavily on genre conventions without pushing them into more complex territory. Some arcs feel underdeveloped, and certain dramatic beats lack the weight they clearly aim for. It's engaging enough to follow, but it rarely surprises or moves beyond the expected. "The Smashing Machine" ultimately works as a straightforward, well-acted sports drama - rough around the edges, earnest in its intentions, and occasionally absorbing. It's far from a failure, but equally far from exceptional, settling comfortably into the middle ground.
The Smashing Machine Trivia
The Smashing Machine was released on October 1, 2025.
The Smashing Machine was directed by Benny Safdie.
The Smashing Machine has a runtime of 2 hr 3 min.
The Smashing Machine was produced by Dany Garcia, David Koplan, Dwayne Johnson, Eli Bush, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia.
The key characters in The Smashing Machine are Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson), Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader).
The Smashing Machine is rated R.
The Smashing Machine is an Action, Biography, Drama film.
The Smashing Machine has an audience rating of 7.4 out of 10.