The Smashing Machine

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2:30

The Smashing Machine

R

Oct 2025

2h 3m

Biography

Drama

Action

Sports

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

299 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Verified Ratings

The true story of mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, whose obsession with greatness made him a legend -- and nearly cost him everything.

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Audience Says

While The Smashing Machine may not break any records as a sports classic, Dwayne Johnson’s knockout performance transforms a familiar story into an unexpectedly memorable experience.

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Peter Travers

The Travers Take

Oct 31

3/4

It'll be a hardsell for audiences to accept Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a genuine actor ready to emerge from the exhibitionist surface of his wrestler’s body and indestructible movie-star appeal. But he does that here and passes with flying colors.

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Sergio Burstein

Los Angeles Times

Oct 14

This is a machine not worth opposing. [Full review in Spanish]

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Dwight Brown

DwightBrownInk.com

Oct 13

3/4

Surprisingly, Johnson excels most in the dramatic scenes. The emotional tug-of-wars with Blunt and him are scorching.

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Paul Salfen

AMFM Magazine

1d

7/10

With the hair and makeup and change in voice cadence, you forget it’s The Rock for the most part, which really serves the film and Emily Blunt is fantastic as the troubled girlfriend but the story itself is surprisingly not that strong.

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David Griffiths

Subculture Entertainment

2d

4/5

This could be an award winner for Dwayne Johnson. This well-written film turns out to be the perfect vehicle to show that there is more to Johnson’s acting career than he has ever showed us before.

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Jeanine T. Abraham

VisAbleBlackwoman (Medium)

Dec 1

3/5

Dropping into this film is mesmerizing. I loved the documentary film style of this work, and the costumes, set, hair, and makeup really transport you back to the late 90s, early 2000s.

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Hassan Haroon

3h

A classic sports movie showing how to overcome adversity against all odds! One of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s best roles!

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Jhett TXSLMPT Quintanilla

Nov 23

Loved it, very well directed with a very unique aesthetic to the film grain giving it that retro vibe and very great acting by Dwayne Johnson, definitely Oscar worthy and giving him the credit he deserves as an actor

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Lori Lori

Nov 22

Good actors, great story

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Jesse

Nov 19

I thought it was great movie great acting wish the fighting was more in depth but overall underrated movie

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Jacob

Nov 15

well the rock strikes again. he did good playing a UFC fighter mark kerr . good movie

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Kelly

Nov 13

The rock was great, movie was def slow, kinda boring at times

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Benny Safdie

Director

Dwayne Johnson

Mark Kerr

Emily Blunt

Dawn Staples

Ryan Bader

Mark Coleman

Bas Rutten

Self

Oleksandr Usyk

Igor Vovchanchyn

The Smashing Machine: Exclusive Movie Clip - First Real Test

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The Smashing Machine: Movie Clip - Made This For You

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Dwayne & Emily's On-Screen Relationship

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The Smashing Machine: Featurette - Playing 2000s Trivia

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The Rock on Transforming Into Mark Kerr

1:41

'The Smashing Machine' Cast Share the Hardest Part of Their Character Transformations

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The Smashing Machine: Featurette - First Look

1:46

The Smashing Machine: Trailer 2

2:30

The Smashing Machine: Trailer 1

2:30

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Synopsis

The true story of mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, whose obsession with greatness made him a legend -- and nearly cost him everything.

Director: Benny Safdie
Producer: Benny Safdie, Dwayne Johnson, Eli Bush, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia, David Koplan
Screenwriter: Benny Safdie
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Out for the Count, Seven Bucks Productions, A24
Rating: R (Language and Some Drug Abuse)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Action, Sports
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2025, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2025
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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