The Smashing Machine

The Smashing Machine(2025)

R
10/01/2025 (US)History, Drama2h 3m
6.6

"The unforgettable true story of a UFC legend."

Overview

In the late 1990s, up-and-coming mixed martial artist Mark Kerr aspires to become the greatest fighter in the world. However, he must also battle his opioid dependence and a volatile relationship with his girlfriend Dawn.

Benny Safdie

Director

Benny Safdie

Screenplay

Where to Watch

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Media

Trailer #2

Trailer #2

Trailer

Trailer

Trailer

Trailer

The Rock Got a Concussion Shooting This Scene!

The Rock Got a Concussion Shooting This Scene!

Featurette

The Fight Scene That Left Emily Blunt on the Floor Drinking Tequila

The Fight Scene That Left Emily Blunt on the Floor Drinking Tequila

Featurette

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt Reunite for Benny Safdie's New Film 'The Smashing Machine'

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt Reunite for Benny Safdie's New Film 'The Smashing Machine'

Featurette

Interview with Benny Safdie

Interview with Benny Safdie

Featurette

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt Play 2000s Trivia

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt Play 2000s Trivia

Featurette

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt talk The Smashing Machine

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt talk The Smashing Machine

Featurette

In Cinemas Everywhere October 3rd

In Cinemas Everywhere October 3rd

Teaser

Oleksandr Usyk, Mark Kerr, Ryan Bader and Bas Rutten Try Origami

Oleksandr Usyk, Mark Kerr, Ryan Bader and Bas Rutten Try Origami

Featurette

The Smashing Machine 2000 Arcade - Official Promo

The Smashing Machine 2000 Arcade - Official Promo

Featurette

Official First Look

Official First Look

Behind the Scenes

Q&A | TIFF 2025

Q&A | TIFF 2025

Featurette

In Cinemas Everywhere October 3

In Cinemas Everywhere October 3

Teaser

In Cinemas Everywhere October 3

In Cinemas Everywhere October 3

Teaser

Social

C
A review by CinemaSerf
6.0

Written on October 9, 2025

Mickey O’Rourke had a go in 2008 and Orlando Bloom earlier this year in “The Cut”, so now it’s the turn of Dwayne Johnson to bulk up and out to deliver a biopic of UFC pioneer Mark Kerr. This is all set at a time when he can make a living for himself and girlfriend Dawn (Emily Blunt) but there are no Ferraris and swimming pools for them. For that he has to win the Grand Prix in Japan and that involves his embarking on the ultimate in fitness and endurance regimes, aided by his own chemical romances that frequently seem to render him little better than catatonic. Domestic dysfunction ensues as he has to face up to his responsibilities and settle his priorities before what he has comes crumbling down. It’s a true story, but it just didn’t engage me at all. Johnson comes across well as the amiable and dedicated athlete, but a film about any sport that requires a rule change to ban eye gouging was probably never really going to work for me. The fight scene are sparing, occasionally graphic, and they do convey just how brutal this mixed martial arts combat can be, but the characterisations here are just all too sterile to engage. Whilst Kerr comes across as a decent human being, Blunt’s performance doesn’t really make anything like enough impact as it trundles along without much from the dialogue to make me care. Tangentially, it does quite enjoyably poke some fun at the inanity and banality of sport’s broadcasting punditry and I didn’t hate it, but I’ll probably never watch it again.