- Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Whitney Moore
- October 3rd 2025
- 123
- Benny Safdie
Dwayne Johnson plays MMA fighter Mark Kerr in his first major dramatic role.
After making a name for himself in comedies and action blockbusters, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson finally shows off his dramatic chops in The Smashing Machine.
Based on the 2002 documentary of the same name, Benny Safdie’s biographical sports drama tells the story of wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr (Johnson).
It focuses on a specific slice of his life, particularly honing in on his tumultuous relationship with Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), his addiction to painkillers, and his friendship with fellow fighter Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader).
If you’re expecting a crowd-pleasing biopic that hits the typical sports movie beats, you will be disappointed. Writer/director Safdie is more interested in Kerr’s life outside of the ring, and he takes a subtle, understated approach with his highs and lows instead of playing them up for dramatic purposes.
You have to respect Safdie for deliberately avoiding the cliches and conventions of the genre and making something grittier and more unusual, but there’s no denying that the narrative is rather unsatisfying as a result.
He presents us with a random mix of scenes that don’t really flow together or click into place. He also offers up no context for Mark and Dawn’s relationship or how Mark’s addiction began, so it’s hard to connect with characters you aren’t given a chance to understand.
This is Johnson’s first major dramatic role and he rises to the occasion, finally showing audiences his vulnerable side. It’s the best performance of his career, without a doubt, and he deserves a lot of acclaim for venturing into new territory, but the Oscars buzz is not warranted.
Blunt, reuniting with Johnson after 2021’s Jungle Cruise, provides top support as his glam girlfriend. While her character could have been fleshed out more, their volatile dynamic is one of the most compelling elements of the film.
The Smashing Machine is a brilliant showcase for the talents of Johnson and Blunt. However, the story, and the way Safdie tells it, leaves a lot to be desired.
In cinemas from Friday 3rd October.
By Hannah Wales.
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