In the gritty world of early UFC, where fighters like Mark Kerr battled not just opponents but their own demons, Benny Safdie's new film The Smashing Machine steps into the ring with unyielding force. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2025, the biopic snagged the Silver Lion award, signaling a bold entry from Safdie, who's venturing solo for the first time after years of collaborations with his brother Josh. Dwayne Johnson, shedding his blockbuster sheen, embodies Kerr—a two-time UFC champion whose life spiraled amid addiction and personal turmoil. It's a transformation that's already buzzing in Hollywood circles.
Safdie, known for the frenetic energy of films like Uncut Gems, draws from a 2002 documentary to paint Kerr's story as something raw and human, less about glory and more about the bruises that linger. Emily Blunt co-stars as Kerr's wife, Dawn Staples, bringing a quiet intensity to the domestic chaos that unfolds. Reviews pouring in praise Johnson's restraint; Variety calls it a "revelation," highlighting how he captures the fighter's vulnerability without overplaying the drama. Indeed, the film clocks in at a taut runtime, focusing on Kerr's peak in the late '90s and early 2000s, when MMA was still finding its footing—think brutal matches against the likes of Dan Severn and Bas Rutten, both echoed in the cast.
But it's not all knockouts. Some critics note the pacing stumbles in quieter moments, mirroring perhaps the haze of Kerr's heroin struggles, which the movie doesn't shy from depicting. A24, the indie powerhouse behind it all, plans a theatrical rollout on October 3, 2025, positioning this as a counterpoint to summer spectacles. Johnson, bulking up and slimming down for authenticity, has spoken in interviews about the role's emotional toll, a far cry from his Fast & Furious escapades. Moreover, Safdie's direction infuses empathy into the violence, turning what could be a standard sports tale into a meditation on resilience—or its absence.
With Rotten Tomatoes scores hovering around 90% fresh, anticipation builds for how audiences will receive this unflinching look at a pioneer's fall. Yet, as Kerr's real-life legacy reminds us, the fight never truly ends.