The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson delivers a career-best act as the film scores impressively on Rotten Tomatoes

The Smashing Machine has already become one of the most hyped movies of 2025 and has raised the bar for sports films, as well as for what Dwayne Johnson’s fan base anticipates from him. In the first solo-directing effort by Benny Safdie (Good Time) fame, A24 plunges into the strange, anguished life of the U.F.C. legend Mark Kerr, whose triumphs in the ring were accompanied by darkness and addiction.

In the end, what makes The Smashing Machine one step ahead of the standard biopic fare (beyond all the blood-soaked victories or larger-than-life athleticism) is this unglamorous, behind-the-scenes look at the humanity. From the critical reception to the standing ovation in Venice, The Smashing Machine is not only a sports flick but also a testament to Dwayne's mindblowing performance.

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The Smashing Machine marks a turning point for Dwayne Johnson

The Smashing Machine has already had a strong Rotten Tomatoes debut with an impressive 83% as of the current count. Previously, the film topped a nearly perfect 100% after its first wave of reviews, then slipped to 94% (and now 83%) as more critics’ opinions were included. Though the figures are still moving, the reception remains overwhelmingly positive and has framed Johnson’s turn as the defining one of his career.

Variety stated that Dwayne's performance in the film was a revelation and that he was unrecognisable on screen. His Mark Kerr is simmering and mysterious, and he seemed like a totally different person, and it was one of his most extraordinary performances to date.

IndieWire singled out the film’s tonal balance, noting that it plays as both a character study and a display of the real chemistry between Johnson and Emily Blunt. Their relationship is real and raw, which helped contribute to the emotional angles provided by the story.

Screen International noted that while the film doesn't break any new ground for a sports biopic, it succeeds by exposing an honest and intimate portrait of Kerr's complex personal life and challenges, something which elevates the film beyond the traditional sports biopic.

The Independent, meanwhile, hailed Johnson’s stripped-down performance as the most raw and vulnerable of his career. As per the review:

“The most raw and vulnerable that Johnson has ever been on screen. Once you’ve seen him this exposed, you won’t watch his typical action movie stunts in quite the same way ever again.”

The Smashing Machine has been called "intimate, visceral and emotionally devastating", receiving a warm reception at the Venice Film Festival.

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The Smashing Machine marks a turning point for Dwayne Johnson

The Smashing Machine has been more than a role for Johnson. It’s a conscious career swerve away from the blockbuster personality that has for so long defined him. During a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, Johnson explained:

“This transformation was something I was really hungry to do. I had been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had over the years and to make the films that I’ve made, but there was just a voice inside of me, a little voice that said, ‘Well, what if I could do more — I want to do more and what does that look like?’”

Adding further, he stated:

“I have, for a long time, wanted this. The three of us have talked for a very long time about, when you’re in Hollywood — as we all know, it had become about box office. And you chase the box office, and the box office can be very loud and it can become very resounding and it can push you into a category and into a corner."

The film is, at its core, a nuanced portrait of love, survival, and vulnerability. Johnson’s portrayal, thanks to both prosthetics and dedicated workout scenes, was revered as a revelation and a career-defining performance.

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The Smashing Machine explores Mark Kerr’s battles in his personal and professional life

The Smashing Machine is not only a story about the wins in the life of a fighter, it is a tale of dualities: the celebrated man inside the octagon and the man tormented in his private life. The narrative follows Kerr’s ascension to become one of his generation’s greatest mixed martial artists, his catastrophic opioid habit, and his turbulent relationship with Dawn Staples.

The all-star cast also features Blunt, adding increased emotional depth to the character of Dawn, alongside guest spots from Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk. The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival to a standing ovation that lasted fifteen minutes and was attended by Johnson, Safdie, Blunt, and Kerr himself.

Through harmonising brutal physicality and emotional honesty, The Smashing Machine presents itself not merely as a sports drama, but as a meditation on weakness, strength, and rejuvenation. When it arrives in movie theaters on October 3, fans will see a side of Dwayne Johnson that they’ve never seen before.