The Smashing Machine (2025)

Dwayne Johnson delivers a searing, deeply personal performance as Mark Kerr—legendary MMA pioneer wrestling with addiction, fame, and identity. Directed by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine transcends typical sports biopics, offering an unflinching look at the man behind the myth during MMA's brutal early era.

Emily Blunt co-stars as Kerr's tumultuous partner, Dawn Staples, in a story saturated with raw intimacy, documentary-style realism, and psychological depth. Filmed on grainy 16mm and featuring intimate prosthetics and emotional weight, the film is a haunting meditation on addiction, masculinity, and redemption—marking a seasoned actor's metamorphosis and a director's bold solo leap.