The Smashing Machine (2025 film)

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The Smashing Machine
The Smashing Machine (2025 film).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Benny Safdie
Written byBenny Safdie
Based on The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr
by John Hyams
Produced by
Starring
Narrated byJames Romero
CinematographyMaceo Bishop
Edited byBenny Safdie
Music by Nala Sinephro
Production
companies
Distributed byA24
Release dates
  • September 1, 2025 (2025-09-01)(Venice)
  • October 3, 2025 (2025-10-03)(United States)
Running time
123 minutes [1]
Country
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

The Smashing Machine is a 2025 American biographical sports drama film written, directed, co-produced, and edited by Benny Safdie. Based on the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, 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.

Contents

The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025, where it won the Silver 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, with Johnson’s performance being acclaimed as one of the best of his career.

Cast

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] On the red carpet for 96th 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]

Release

The first trailer for The Smashing Machine was released on April 29, 2025. [12] The film had its world premiere in competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025. [13] It also screened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2025. [14] [15] It is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States and Canada on October 3, 2025. [16]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 78% of 82 critics' reviews are positive.The website's consensus reads: "Dwayne Johnson goes the distance with his transformative turn as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, a gritty biopic that sidesteps cliché even at the expense of narrative satisfaction while still landing the dramatic body blows that count." [17] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [18]

Safdie was awarded the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival following its world premiere. [19]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Venice International Film Festival September 6, 2025 Golden Lion Benny SafdieNominated [20]
Silver Lion Won

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Smashing Machine (2025)". Irish Film Classification Office . September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Biennale Cinema 2025 | The Smashing Machine". La Biennale di Venezia. July 14, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ Lee, Benjamin (April 29, 2025). "The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson fights for an Oscar in first trailer". The Guardian .
  13. ↑ "Venice Film Festival Screening Date". Objectif Festival. July 27, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  14. ↑ "The Smashing Machine". Toronto International Film Festival . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "The Smashing Machine". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  18. ↑ "The Smashing Machine". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  19. ↑ Seth, Radhika (September 6, 2025). "All the Winners at the 2025 Venice Film Festival". Vogue . Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  20. ↑ 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}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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