The Smashing Machine is a story about pain, purpose, and the battle within. Based on the true story of MMA legend Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson), the film follows the rise and unraveling of one of the most dominant fighters in the early days of the sport. At the height of his fame, Kerr is a powerhouse in the ring: disciplined, unstoppable, and seemingly invincible. Outside of it, though, he’s haunted by addiction, self-doubt, and the suffocating pressure to maintain his image as “The Smashing Machine.” As the walls close in and those closest to him either enable or exploit his weaknesses, Kerr must decide whether he’s fighting for victory or for survival.
What works in The Smashing Machine is Dwayne Johnson’s astonishingly raw performance, paired with exceptional choreography and a refreshingly human approach to storytelling. Johnson sheds his superstar persona entirely, giving a stripped-down, deeply emotional portrayal that’s both powerful and heartbreaking. The fight sequences are brutal but purposeful. They’re not about spectacle but about exposing the fragility beneath the muscle. Director Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems) refuses to play by the conventional rules of the sports biopic. Instead of building toward a single “big fight,” he crafts a mosaic of a man constantly grappling with control, identity, and worth. The result is one of Johnson’s most vulnerable roles to date, and a film that feels more like a confession than a victory lap.
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People sensitive to depictions of addiction and emotional manipulation may find The Smashing Machine difficult to watch. Safdie captures the chaos of dependency with unflinching realism. The film shows not just Kerr’s spiral, but the ways those around him perpetuate it. The fighting, too, is intense and at times unsettling, filmed in close quarters that emphasize pain over glory. And while the film’s craftsmanship is undeniable, some may wish it reached further to contextualize why Kerr’s story matters. The narrative explores the man but doesn’t fully connect his legacy to the evolution of MMA. This gap that slightly mutes the movie’s broader impact.
The Smashing Machine is a gripping and deeply human portrait of a man broken by the very thing that made him a legend. It’s less about triumph than truth. The Smashing Machine refuses to flinch from the darkness that comes with greatness. Thanks to Johnson’s career-best performance and Safdie’s uncompromising direction, it hits hard in every sense of the word. Recommended.
Recommended if you enjoyed: The Wrestler, Warrior, The Fighter
The Smashing Machine is now available on most digital platforms.
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