'The Smashing Machine' is now streaming: How to watch it at home
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson takes a new direction in his career with a more dramatic role as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. Known for his charisma and action-comedy hits, Johnson reveals a different side in this film.
The film premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival and later screened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where Mashable's film editor Kristy Puchko shared her review. The project received mainly positive feedback, with particular acclaim for Johnson's performance.
Cast and Storyline
- Emily Blunt as Kerr’s partner, Dawn Staples
- Ryan Bader as UFC champion Mark Coleman
- Oleksandr Usyk as MMA fighter Igor Vovchanchyn
Written and directed by Benny Safdie, known for Uncut Gems, the movie explores the true story of Mark Kerr during the early UFC years of the 1990s. It spans several years, leading viewers from the U.S. to Japan and back, capturing his fight career and personal struggles with fame, addiction, and love.
“The Smashing Machine may not have been a knockout at the box office, but Johnson's transformation into Mark Kerr and his performance alone make it worth watching.”
How to Watch
If you missed it in theaters, The Smashing Machine is now available for streaming at home.
Author’s Summary: Johnson’s portrayal of Mark Kerr brings unexpected emotional depth to a gritty true story about ambition, identity, and redemption in the UFC’s early years.