The Smashing Machine - Lou Diamond Phillips at the NY Special Screening
Lou Diamond Phillips at the NY Special Screening of Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine. Photo Credit: Kristina Bumphrey, courtesy of A24.
The Smashing Machine Review
Dwayne Johnson Reaches For Oscar Gold With ‘The Smashing Machine’. ‘The Smashing Machine’ is Dwayne Johnson’s attempt at Oscar-level respect as an actor, with director Benny Safdie doing his best to get the Rock there. Not nearly as pleasurably anxiety-inducing as his previous films with brother Josh, Benny Safdie’s solo directing debut finds the filmmaker enabling star Dwayne Johnson’s push into the realm of ‘serious actor’ – and on that level, ‘The Smashing Machine’ is a success.
The Rock rises to the occasion here with his measured, compelling, and complex portrayal of real-life UFC fighter Mark Kerr, showing vulnerability and humanity that he has largely not explored in his action-heavy resume to date.
Movie Details
Theatrical Release:October 3rd, 2025
On Digital & Streaming:November 4th, 2025
- Watch Now
Movie Budget:$50,000,000
Movie Box Office Gross:$21,133,481 (Worldwide)
Original Language:English
Executive Producers:Tracey Landon
Production Companies:A24, Seven Bucks Productions, Out for the Count, Magnetic Fields Entertainment
Photos
1 / 9
The Smashing Machine - Giancarlo Esposito at the NY Special Screening
Giancarlo Esposito at the NY Special Screening of Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine. Photo Credit: Kristina Bumphrey, courtesy of A24.
The Smashing Machine - Matt Damon and Luciana Damon at the NY Special Screening
Matt Damon and Luciana Damon at the NY Special Screening of Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine. Photo Credit: Kristina Bumphrey, courtesy of A24.
The Smashing Machine - Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson at UFC Hall of Fame
Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson at UFC Hall of Fame. Copyright: 2025 Mike Kirschbaum.
The Smashing Machine - Dwayne Johnson and Mark Kerr at UFC Hall of Fame
Dwayne Johnson and Mark Kerr at UFC Hall of Fame. Copyright: 2025 Mike Kirschbaum.
The Smashing Machine - Dwayne Johnson at UFC Hall of Fame
Dwayne Johnson at UFC Hall of Fame. Copyright: 2025 Mike Kirschbaum.
The Smashing Machine - Mark Kerr at UFC Hall of Fame
Mark Kerr at UFC Hall of Fame. Copyright: 2025 Mike Kirschbaum.
The Smashing Machine - Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson and Mark Kerr at UFC Hall of Fame
Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson and Mark Kerr at UFC Hall of Fame. Copyright: 2025 Mike Kirschbaum.
The Smashing Machine - Official Poster
Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine.
Cast & Crew
L
Lyndsey Gavin
as Elizabeth Coleman
