The Smashing Machine (2025)

What is The Smashing Machine About?

Mark Kerr is an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) legend, a mixed martial arts professional looking to advance in his career. After he has an interview with the press regarding his UFC career, he feels partially ready for his next bout. 

But as he prepares for a fight and meets with officials to discuss his pay, his drug use is noticeable. What remains unknown at this stage is whether he will fight to continue his winning streak and maintain his glowing career. The Smashing Machine tells the story of this MMA fighter Mark Kerr, and his complex relationship with his girlfriend, with drugs, and with his own vices.

Our Honest The Smashing Machine Review

A film that makes us grimace and hopeful, makes us root for a potential champion and empathise with his struggles at the same time – that’s what The Smashing Machine gives us. As we watch this Ultimate Fighting Championship contender face his demons, we can’t really look away.

The Smashing Machine evokes the themes seen in epic movies like Rocky, in which Balboa comes face-to-face with a world heavyweight champion. We grimaced then, feeling uncomfortable yet ready to root for the underdog, and we grimace in the same way when watching Mark Kerr aim to be triumphant despite his challenges.

Watch The Smashing Machine today to see how riveting the action is.

What Do the Critics Think of The Smashing Machine?

The Smashing Machine is a captivating movie based on real events, striking a chord with documentary lovers and those who love action. The critics have made the following comments about it:

• “Ultimately, as a vehicle to showcase Johnson’s dramatic range—and his extraordinary physical presence—the movie excels. The strong performances and authentic fighting sequences make The Smashing Machine well worth watching.” – Sandie Angelo Chen

• “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.” – Yasmine Kandil

• “The film itself is directed with just the right amount of grainy imperfections to feel like a refined version of its time. Safdie also creates enough room to breathe, even in the midst of the narrative’s more intense moments.” – Wilson Kwong

What Awards and Nominations did The Smashing Machine Receive?

The Smashing Machine has received critical acclaim across a range of film review aggregator websites, with Cinema Score awarding the film a “B-” on their A+ to F ranking scale.

But what really reflects this movie’s appeal and success is the awards its director earned for creating it. Benny Safdie was not only nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival, but came away with the following awards:

• The Venice International Film Festival Silver Lion award
• The Savannah Film Festival Maverick Director award.

Stream The Smashing Machine to see how these accolades reflect the quality of the movie.

Cast & Crew of The Smashing Machine

Talented actors and actresses are part of the cast of The Smashing Machine. Find out more about them below.

Fun Facts About The Smashing Machine

• In one scene, Dwayne Johnson, who plays Mark Kerr, insisted on being punched for real. While Yoko Hamamura initially didn’t agree, director Safdie convinced him. The result was a concussion and a genuinely dazed appearance in the scene.

• The movie is Benny Safdie’s first solo project apart from his creative partner and brother Josh Safdie, as they aimed to pursue solo careers after the 2019 film Uncut Gems.

• Emily Blunt, who plays Dawn Staples, was completely stunned when Dwayne Johnson performed the role of Mark Kerr. She thought the acting was an incredible transformation.

• Before he assumed the role of Mark Kerr, Johnson attended a 12-week WrestleMania 40 camp, which helped him get into the character and really ‘become’ Mark Kerr.

• After seeing the 2019 movie Uncut Gems, Dwayne Johnson approached Safdie about the project. Safdie sent him a letter and an iconic jumper that belonged to Mark Kerr, which Johnson did not receive, but they reconnected through Emily Blunt while filming Oppenheimer and revived the project.

Themes of The Smashing Machine

Struggles with addiction and the emotional toll of extreme sports – these are just a couple of the themes presented in The Smashing Machine. We see these in scenes where Mark Kerr asks a member of a medical team, “Do you have any stronger pain medication?”

But there are slightly more subtle themes too. Obsession with winning and a profound vulnerability that clash, against the need to achieve it all alone are noticeable in scenes where Mark’s girlfriend states “I just need you to let me in.” Stream The Smashing Machine to find out how these themes are portrayed throughout the movie.

How Does The Smashing Machine Compare to Benny Safdie’s Other Work?

The Smashing Machine is a departure from many of the projects Benny Safdie has worked on since it is more like a docudrama and less of a high-octane, frenetic movie.

The camera work reflects a more patient filming process, with long shots capturing scenes such as slow interviews that dig deeper into Mark Kerr’s character. This makes the movie unique in many ways, and although it carries forward some of the realistic, grittiness of films such as Uncut Gems, there are far fewer chaotic camera cuts and the film is slower paced.

Iconic Scenes from The Smashing Machine

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

After watching The Smashing Machine through a streaming platform, we looked into the behind-the-scenes stories and facts that made the movie exciting to watch and true to life:

• To take on the appearance of Mark Kerr, Dwayne Johnson wore several subtle prosthetics that Kazu Hiro, Oscar-winning makeup artist, created. Makeup processes like these took up to four hours each day to complete.

• To prepare for the role, Johnson aimed to know Kerr as well as he could. He wanted to understand everything that happened in Kerr’s mind and observed that the MMA fighter has a particular way of walking and talking with confidence. It was a confidence that Johnson aimed to replicate on screen.

• As stated by Emily Blunt, the darker moments that took place between her character and Johnson’s were difficult to deal with on set. Blunt explained that tequila was available on set for the actors to drink, helping them handle these intense types of scenes.

Best Quotes from The Smashing Machine

• “Winning is the best feeling there is. It’s 40,000 people in there cheering you on. There’s no other high like it in the world.” – Mark Kerr explaining to Dawn that winning feels great after a successful career so far.

• “Am I going to hurt him before he hurts me?” – Mark Kerr responding to a journalist who asks him to explain what happens next during a fight.

• “Please welcome in his Octagon debut. Mark Kerr!” – The announcer introducing Mark to the stage before his first fight in the Octagon.

• “I just need you to let me in.” Dawn Staples appealing to Mark and trying to get him to share more about his struggles.

• “Hello. And thank you to everyone for allowing me to be here today. You have been extremely understanding to me dealing with my personal struggles.” – Mark Kerr facing the journalists again and explaining that he has experienced personal ups and downs.

• “You think so? Come on, Mark. Yes or no answer. Come on. Are you ready?” – Mark’s trainer asking whether he’s ready for the upcoming fight.

• “That’s the bloody thing they’re trying to ban.” – A patient in the waiting room talking with Mark and emphasising that the Ultimate Fighting Championship is well-known and dangerous.

• “Do you hate each other when you fight?” – A patient curiously asking Mark for more information about the UFC.

• “Do you have any stronger pain medication?” – Mark Kerr asking for stronger drugs, reflecting his dependency on painkillers.

• “Do you want some? They’re handing them out like candy.” – Mark Kerr telling Dawn that she could get some drugs since they’re easily available.

What People Are Asking About The Smashing Machine