In the bruising world of mixed martial arts, few stories hit as hard as that of Mark Kerr, the UFC pioneer whose life now fuels Benny Safdie's directorial debut, The Smashing Machine. Starring Dwayne Johnson as Kerr and Emily Blunt as his steadfast wife Dawn Staples, the film pulls no punches in depicting the fighter's rise to glory and his brutal descent into addiction. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2025, it snagged the Silver Lion award, a nod to its unflinching authenticity that critics have hailed as a game-changer for the genre.
Safdie, stepping out solo after years of collaborating with brother Josh, crafts a narrative that's less about ring-side spectacle and more about the quiet carnage outside it. Johnson, often typecast in blockbusters, sheds his larger-than-life persona here, embodying Kerr's vulnerability with a rawness that's both startling and compelling. Blunt, meanwhile, anchors the emotional core, portraying Staples as the one constant in Kerr's chaotic orbit, her performance drawing praise for its subtle intensity amid the film's opioid-laced haze.
Indeed, the movie doesn't shy from Kerr's real-life struggles—his dominance in the octagon during the late 1990s, followed by a spiraling dependency on painkillers that nearly derailed everything. Supporting turns from actual fighters like Ryan Bader and Bas Rutten add gritty realism, making the 123-minute runtime feel like a relentless sparring session. Reviews from outlets like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter buzz with admiration for Safdie's vérité style, though some note the pacing occasionally stumbles under its own weight.
However, it's the off-screen chemistry that steals recent headlines. In interviews this week, Johnson recounted demolishing two doors on set in a fit of method-acting fury, while Blunt shared laughs about navigating the awkward intimacy of their scenes. Safdie, reflecting on going it alone, admitted the pressure but praised the cast's commitment. As The Smashing Machine gears up for its October 3 U.S. release via A24, one wonders if this could signal a new era for Johnson, trading quips for quiet devastation.
Moreover, with Venice's acclaim still echoing, the film invites audiences to grapple with the unseen toll of combat sports—what lingers after the final bell?