The Smashing Machine isn’t just another sports biopic. Directed by Benny Safdie and starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA pioneer Mark Kerr, this film rejects traditional Oscar-bait melodrama and instead offers an intimate, painful, and inspiring character study. For Johnson, who has built his career on charisma and larger-than-life blockbuster roles, this is a rare opportunity to shed the Hollywood gloss and prove his mettle as a serious actor.

Plot & Themes

The film chronicles the rise and struggles of Mark Kerr, one of MMA’s earliest icons. Safdie avoids glorifying the violence of the sport, focusing instead on the physical toll, addiction battles, and the personal cost of pursuing greatness. Themes of masculinity, vulnerability, and redemption form the emotional core, making the movie more than just a sports highlight reel.

Dwayne Johnson’s Performance

This is arguably the most transformative role of Dwayne Johnson’s career. Known worldwide for his action-hero persona, Johnson disappears into the role of Kerr, embracing fragility and self-doubt alongside raw physical intensity. His delivery is stripped down, with quiet moments that linger more than the fight sequences themselves. It’s a reminder that Johnson’s range extends far beyond charm and catchphrases — here, he taps into pain and humanity.

Fans may be surprised at how unglamorous he allows himself to appear: sweaty, bruised, broken, and searching. Rather than a triumphalist underdog story, Johnson’s Kerr is a man wrestling with his own inner demons as much as his opponents in the ring.

Benny Safdie’s Direction

Benny Safdie brings his signature intensity to the project, blending vérité-style realism with suffocating close-ups that make every wince, gasp, and bruise feel visceral. Much like his previous work, Safdie avoids polish in favor of authenticity, ensuring that The Smashing Machine feels lived-in rather than staged. His decision to resist sentimental sports clichés allows the narrative to stand apart as an anti-awards-bait biopic — honest, messy, and deeply human.

Final Verdict

The Smashing Machine may not appeal to those expecting a conventional feel-good sports drama, but it delivers something far more rewarding: a meditation on identity, failure, and the fragile line between strength and vulnerability. Dwayne Johnson finally gets his do-over — a chance to prove that beyond the muscles and star power lies an actor willing to take risks. For Safdie, it’s another bold addition to his uncompromising body of work.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)