What are the emotional and physical tolls of blurring the line between a professional and personal existence? As they push their bodies and minds to the very limit, it seems as if pro athletes don’t get the same luxury of clocking out from work that others do. Whether it’s injuries they carry with them or strict routines that dominate their day-to-day routine, where does one turn a new leaf when it all starts to eat away at the soul? That’s what Benny Safdie, best known for co-directing Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019) with his brother Josh Safdie, beautifully tackles in The Smashing Machine (2025).
In his solo directing debut, which he also wrote and edited, Benny Safdie turns to the true story of two-time UFC champion Mark Kerr, constructing a sports biopic that thrives on the erratic yet endearing nature of the underdog. In the late ’90s, the Ultimate Fighting Championship began to blossom as a professional sport, garnering equal amounts of controversy and fanfare. Athletes from a diverse range of mixed martial arts disciplines were flocking to a platform where the opportunity to reign supreme presented itself. As an already acclaimed freestyle wrestler, Mark Kerr (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) finds himself transitioning from a four-sided ring to the high-stakes brawls of The Octagon.
No Pain, No Gain
Kerr’s private circle is small, composed primarily of his girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), his trainer Bas Rutten (played by himself), and his closest friend and fellow MMA fighter, Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader). In an introductory encounter, Mark’s confidence is indisputable, a barometer of a man who has never experienced a professional loss. But as his first UFC fight in Japan inches closer, the notion of possible defeat only deepens a rift from within. Grasped by addiction and in the midst of a raging war between his body and mind, the entirety of Kerr’s self-worth hangs on being triumphant.
When his dependency on pain medication stifles his sweat-lathered muscles, Mark retreats into his own head rather than leaning on those around him, taking those in close proximity down with him. Of course, The Smashing Machine rests on the bulging shoulders of Dwayne Johnson. While the movie star is accustomed to carrying entire blockbuster productions on his name alone, he has never tackled a sensational biographical drama such as this. To no surprise, Johnson’s skills as a real-life professional wrestler in the WWE mesh well with his passion for this project (which he played a large role in getting off the ground alongside beloved indie distributor A24).
Real UFC Fighters Come to Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt’s Support
At times, Johnson is unrecognizable as Mark Kerr, not just in vanity but in demeanor, as Kerr’s highs and devastating lows fully absorb him. Likewise, Emily Blunt (The Fall Guy, A Quiet Place) exudes a warm, radiating quality that holds a mirror up to her co-star. As the couple traverses through thick and thin, Dawn offers reflections on Mark’s career and its impact on their relationship. Blunt and Johnson’s unified ability to play into each other’s performances in a manner that complements rather than overshadows is pitch-perfect. This is likely owed to their pre-established working relationship (the two having previously shared the screen in 2021’s Jungle Cruise), as their chemistry is incredibly palpable.
The bulk of the remaining ensemble comes from the real-life world of the UFC. In theory, this is a huge gamble, considering The Smashing Machine marks many of their feature film acting debuts. Fortunately, this decision pays off in a major way. Not only does the presence of these seasoned MMA fighters elevate the authenticity of these professional environments, but they are also confident performers by trade. The inclusion of real mixed martial artists in the cast seamlessly translates for the purposes of this story. Former Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader, who does the most heavy lifting as Kerr’s co-pioneer and confidant Mark Coleman, is right on the money, feeling more like a long-serving actor rather than a newcomer.
Director Benny Safdie Crafts an Unfiltered, Documentary-Like Approach
Benny Safdie’s vision for The Smashing Machine is executed with a meticulously steady hand. He achieves the conventional highs of a successful sports biopic, but without ever slipping into indulgence or over-contextualization that others have been guilty of in the past. Fashioned in a near-documentarian manner, with a handheld quality and steady long-lens zooms, the film’s perspective conveys the feeling of being a fly on the wall — perhaps inspired by the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr. In terms of plot and pacing, this deviates from the usual anxiety-inducing atmosphere of a Safdie Brothers project. However, Kerr’s narrative requires Benny’s more introspective approach for the audience to feel genuine empathy.
Courtesy of A24
Without a prior understanding of Mark Kerr’s life story, the film’s title alone is enough to generate an expectation of conceivable brutality. This promise is fulfilled, although not in the way viewers expect. Derived not from the quintessential roughness of the full-contact sport, but the rawness of Kerr’s dissociation and troubling struggles outside of the arena. Yet, even while wrestling with his demons (in the physical and spiritual sense), moments of pure tenderness and emotional vulnerability emerge. One wouldn’t typically associate this kind of compassion or sentimentality with a sport that is often regarded as the epitome of masculinity. However, that’s what makes Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine so great.
The Smashing Machine is More Than Just Another Sports Biopic
Compact fragments of Mark Kerr’s psyche reveal themselves one by one throughout the movie, slowly painting an honorable, cinematic mural of the former MMA champion on the big screen — inclusive of his human imperfections and perseverance. The Smashing Machine holds all of the blood, sweat, and tears shed to equal value. In doing so, this biopic amounts to something much bigger than just the sport at hand. It values wins and losses fairly, but excels when pondering how we, as humans, find harmony between the pillars that tend to make or break us.
The Smashing Machine premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival! The movie will be released in theaters on October 3.
Release Date: October 3, 2025.
Directed by Benny Safdie.
Written by Benny Safdie.
Produced by Benny Safdie, Dwayne Johnson, Eli Bush, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia, & David Koplan.
Executive Producer: Tracey Landon.
Main Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, Oleksandr Usyk, Lyndsey Gavin, Satoshi Ishii, James Moontasri, Yoko Hamamura, Stephen Quadros, Paul Cheng, Cyborg Abreu, Andre Tricoteux, Marcus Aurélio, Whitney Moore, Paul Lazenby, Olga Dzyurak, Eric Odbaatar, & Zoe Kosovic.
Cinematographer: Maceo Bishop.
Composer: Nala Sinephro.
Production Companies: A24, Out for the Count, Seven Bucks Productions, & Magnetic Fields Entertainment.
Distributor: A24.
Runtime: 123 minutes.
Rated R.
