The Smashing Machine ★★★

Released: 3 October 2025

Director: Benny Safdie

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, Oleksandr Usyk

Anyone who watched the World Wrestling Federation (now known as World Wrestling Entertainment) during its arguably peak popularity in the 90s and early 00s will undoubtedly remember a certain wrestler called Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock. With his charisma, awe-inspiring athleticism, memorable catchphrases, and distinct finishing moves, it would be hard to argue against the opinion that he was the face of the sport during those years and a key reason for its phenomenal success. Since making the switch from the wrestling ring to the silver screen, he has enjoyed continued success to the point where he has earned the title of world’s highest-paid actor in recent years. While you could make the case that he has, by and large, played essentially the same character across his career, enter The Smashing Machine to put that argument in a chokehold until it taps out in submission.

Set between 1997 and 2000, the film follows Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Mark Kerr during a challenging period in his career. Kerr travels to Japan to compete in the lucrative Pride Fighting Championships. Although he wins several fights, his journey is hardly straightforward as he becomes increasingly addicted to painkillers, which causes tensions in his relationship with his girlfriend, Dawn (Blunt). Kerr must confront his personal demons if he is to get his career back on track and to be in with a fighting chance of being crowned as the best in the world.

If ever there was an actor who felt tailor-made to bring Kerr’s story to the big screen, it would be someone who spent the best part of a decade as a professional wrestler. Through the work of legendary make-up artist Kazu Hiro, Johnson truly transforms into the character, delivering what is, without a doubt, the best performance of his career. He embodies the charisma and impressive physique of a typical professional fighter, but beneath that eye-popping, muscular, and chiselled exterior lies a warmth and gentleness you would not expect from someone who makes his living beating up opponents with his bare fists. The screenplay highlights that even the toughest fighters have vulnerabilities. Such are the physical demands of the profession, when they are pushed to their breaking point, be it due to the physical exertions when stepping into the ring or other extenuating circumstances, they can and sometimes will crack under extreme pressure.

Alongside Johnson, real-life mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Ryan Bader impresses as Kerr’s friend and mentor Mark Coleman, while the ever-reliable Emily Blunt delivers an equally impressive and wounded performance in what is a more thankless role as Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn. The chemistry between Blunt and Johnson leapt off the screen in 2021’s Jungle Cruise, but this is a vastly different beast, no jolly cruise down the Amazon River to be found here. With a few exceptions when she is being supportive to Kerr, the majority of her screentime is spent with the couple engaged in fierce and unpleasant arguments, which lead to several objects around their house being broken in anger. Given that the film is based on the 2002 documentary of the same name, this is probably true to life. However, she comes off as considerably more abrasive and unlikable, even when you consider the fact that she too, battled with substance abuse and struggled with efforts to remain sober. The film disappointingly shies away from this and represents a missed opportunity, as it would have lent her more sympathy with the audience.

Marking his first solo venture in the director’s chair without his brother Josh, the film does not have the frenetic and stress-inducing energy that Good Time and Uncut Gems had in abundance (a relief for heart rates everywhere). Nevertheless, Benny Safdie’s direction brings a fierce intensity and physicality to the fight scenes, while smartly always keeping his camera outside the ring as the crowds in the arenas would see the action. Boosted by some excellent sound work and sharp editing, you feel the power and force of each and every punch, blow and kick being thrown. It is unflinching, uncompromising, and brutal in every sense. Who would be an MMA fighter?

Even though Safdie can’t resist throwing in a typical training montage, with an extremely effective Elvis Presley needle drop, this is a sports biopic that looks to do something different amid a rising wave in the popularity of biopics featuring famous professional boxers/wrestlers/fighters. For that, it is to be commended. However, in doing so, it somewhat pulls its punches and doesn’t leave the audience floored as some of the other films in this space have done lately, such as last year’s emotionally devastating The Iron Claw. Despite the best efforts of its star, who could have a fighting chance to be in contention for awards in the coming months, this is one sports biopic that will not be smashing its way to claim the title.