The Smashing Machine (2025 film) Last updated September 06, 2025 Upcoming film directed by Benny Safdie
The Smashing Machine Teaser poster
Directed by Benny Safdie Written by Benny Safdie Produced by Starring Narrated by Stevie Richards Cinematography Maceo Bishop Edited by Benny Safdie Music by Nala Sinephro Production companies
Distributed by A24 Release dates
September 1, 2025 (2025-09-01 ) (Venice ) October 3, 2025 (2025-10-03 ) (United States) Running time
123 minutes [ 1] Country Language English
The Smashing Machine is a 2025 American biographical sports drama film written, directed, co-produced, and edited by Benny Safdie . It stars Dwayne Johnson as former amateur wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr , alongside Emily Blunt as Kerr's then-wife Dawn Staples, with Ryan Bader , Bas Rutten and Oleksandr Usyk in supporting roles.
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion . [ 2] It is set to be released in the United States by A24 on October 3, 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics.
Production In December 2023, it was announced that a biographical sports drama film based on the life and career of Mark Kerr was in development at A24 , with Benny Safdie writing and directing and Dwayne Johnson starring. [ 3] During the 2024 Academy Awards , Johnson confirmed that Emily Blunt would star in the film as Kerr's wife Dawn Staples. [ 4] Lyndsey Gavin, Oleksandr Usyk , Ryan Bader , Bas Rutten , and Zoe Kosovic joined the cast in May 2024. [ 5] [ 6]
Principal photography ran from May 21 to August 7, 2024, [ 7] spanning locations such as New Mexico , Tokyo , and Vancouver . Later that year, Johnson tweeted that Belgian musician Nala Sinephro would compose the score. [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11]
References ↑ "The Smashing Machine (2025)" . Irish Film Classification Office . September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025 . ↑ "Biennale Cinema 2025 | The Smashing Machine" . La Biennale di Venezia . July 14, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025 . ↑ Gallupo, Mia (December 13, 2023). "Dwayne Johnson to Play MMA Fighter Mark Kerr in A24 Movie from Benny Safdie" . The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023 . ↑ Ramos Bechara, Diego (March 10, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson Talks Reuniting With Emily Blunt for New MMA Drama, 'Possibly' Reteaming for 'Jungle Cruise 2' " . Variety . Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024 . ↑ Brown, Emily (May 21, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson is completely unrecognizable in new movie role leaving fans shocked" . UNILAD . Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024 . ↑ Russell, Skylar (May 22, 2024). "Report: A24's 'The Smashing Machine' Targeting A December 2024 Release" . Fightful . Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024 . ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie; Wiseman, Andreas (August 7, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson MMA Fighter Pic 'The Smashing Machine' Scores Deals For A24 As Shooting Wraps" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024 . ↑ "Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) on X" . X (formerly Twitter) . Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024 . ↑ Prasad, Sumith (March 2, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson's The Smashing Machine Starts Multi-Country Filming in May" . The Cinemaholic . Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024 . ↑ Sharf, Zack (May 21, 2024). " 'The Smashing Machine' First Look: Dwayne Johnson Transforms into MMA Icon Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's A24 Drama" . Variety . Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024 . ↑ Monroe, Jazz (July 22, 2025). "New Jim Jarmusch, Yorgos Lanthimos, Noah Baumbach, and Luca Guadagnino Films to Premiere at Venice Film Festival" . Pitchfork . Retrieved July 22, 2025 . ↑ "Venice Film Festival Screening Date" . Objectif Festival . July 27, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025 . ↑ "The Smashing Machine" . Toronto International Film Festival . Retrieved August 12, 2025 . ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 21, 2025). "TIFF Galas & Presentations: World Premieres 'Good Fortune', 'Nuremberg', Sydney Sweeney Pic 'Christy', Angelina Jolie 'Couture'; North American Debuts Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein', Dwayne Johnson 'Smashing Machine' " . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 21, 2025 . ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 2, 2025). "Dwayne Johnson & Benny Safdie's Mark Kerr MMA Biopic 'The Smashing Machine' From A24 Busts Its Way Into Fall" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 2, 2025 . ↑ Lee, Benjamin (April 29, 2025). "The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson fights for an Oscar in first trailer" . The Guardian . ↑ "The Smashing Machine " . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved September 2, 2025 . ↑ "The Smashing Machine " . Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 2, 2025 . ↑ Shafer, Nick Vivarelli,Ellise (July 22, 2025). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein,' Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Bugonia' With Emma Stone, Benny Safdie's 'Smashing Machine,' Luca Guadagnino's 'After the Hunt' and More" . Variety . Retrieved July 22, 2025 . {{cite web }}
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