The Smashing Machine Review: Wonderfully Humbled, And Better For It

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has faced some challenges recently. Once considered a box office guarantee, his films haven’t performed as well over the last ten years. Projects that were expected to be hits, like DC’s Black Adam, League of Super-Pets, or Disney’s Jungle Cruise, didn’t quite succeed. Attempts to launch new franchises, such as Netflix’s Red Notice, Warner Bros. and Amazon’s Red One, or Sony’s Rampage , also didn’t achieve major success. This series of setbacks-along with some public issues-has led many critics and fans to question whether Johnson can make a comeback. Now, he may have one last opportunity with Benny Safdie’s sports-drama biopic The Smashing Machine, and Johnson himself seems aware of the stakes. Much like a wrestling match, The Rock is once again proving his ability to shine, even when it seems like he’s at his lowest point.

The Smashing Machine tells the story of Mark Kerr (Johnson), a wrestler who transitions to mixed martial arts. The film follows his journey from competing in overseas MMA events to becoming a prominent figure and spokesperson for the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Initially, Kerr thrives in the UFC, particularly with the support of his friend and mentor, Mark Coleman (played by real-life fighter Ryan Bader). But as the sport evolves with more diverse techniques and regulations, Mark struggles with personal issues – a troubled relationship with his girlfriend, Dawn (Emily Blunt), and his ongoing battle with addiction. These challenges quickly push him towards a crisis, and ultimately, “The Smashing Machine” finds himself overwhelmed by his own drive and determination.

Benny Safdie is known for creating realistic and intense dramas centered on characters with flaws, who are often charming despite their imperfections. He frequently uses these stories to showcase the range of a gifted actor. This approach proved successful with Robert Pattinson in Good Time (2017), and even more so with Adam Sandler, who delivered a career-defining performance in Uncut Gems (2019). Now, it’s working for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in The Smashing Machine, potentially making him a strong contender during awards season.

What makes Safdie’s directing so effective is how immediately he establishes the story’s complex mood. It begins with a voiceover of Johnson, playing Mark Kerr, in an interview. He talks about the pleasure of fighting, defeating opponents, and the thrill of winning before a crowd. However, Johnson’s gentle, calm, and almost innocent way of speaking as Kerr sharply contrasts with Safdie’s raw and close-up filming of the MMA fights. Johnson appears as a terrifying, massive figure, towering over and violently injuring his opponents (and later, being injured himself). Each punch, kick, elbow, and knee strike lands with a disturbingly heavy impact, accompanied by visible cuts and blood, leaving no room to glamorize the physical damage fighting inflicts – particularly during the early, less regulated days of the UFC.

The contrast between Kerr’s violent outbursts and his usually calm and controlled behavior creates a noticeable, Hitchcockian suspense that quietly builds throughout the film, beginning immediately. As the story moves to focus on Mark’s personal life and his relationship with Dawn, this tension becomes increasingly evident in even the most ordinary scenes between them. Something as simple as Dawn clumsily attempting to make Mark’s protein shake (cigarette in mouth) or trying to accommodate his peculiar habits feels incredibly precarious, like a dangerous balancing act without any protection. Blunt matches Johnson in her ability to present a straightforward image of her character, but also delivers a compelling performance through subtle cues in her facial expressions and restrained responses. Mark is like a pit bull becoming increasingly unstable, and Dawn is the inexperienced trainer clinging to the hope that she can still maintain control.

It’s impossible for any movie based on a real life to fully show everything about a person or explain all the complicated events that shaped their life. However, Benny Safdie’s script for this film cleverly concentrates on the unavoidable failure of Mark and Dawn’s relationship, and fairly shows how both of them contributed to its decline. This isn’t simply a standard biographical film (though it follows that structure closely): it’s a heartbreaking story about a damaging romance, and that’s what truly makes the film compelling.

As the story predictably heads toward its climax, both Johnson and Blunt deliver truly exceptional performances-some of the finest work of their careers. Safdie also skillfully accomplishes a challenging feat for any biopic: bringing everything together to a meaningful conclusion. Despite its unconventional final act and somewhat sudden ending, The Smashing Machine successfully conveys a powerful message about how combat sports reflect our internal struggles, and it even includes a heartfelt postscript about the impact of this experience on Mark Kerr himself.

Similar to its topic, The Smashing Machine is the movie that seems to bring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson back to the pleasure he finds in the modesty of fully immersing himself in a challenging acting role – much like he did early in his career, when he still felt driven to prove himself. It’s a welcome reminder for audiences that beneath the larger-than-life persona of “The Rock,” Dwayne Johnson is a truly skilled actor. And for Benny Safdie, it’s another demonstration of his talent as a filmmaker.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Smashing Machine is currently showing in cinemas. The film has a runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes and is rated R due to strong language and some depictions of drug use.

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2025-10-03 14:14