Does Dwayne Johnson finally smash his movie star image? Our ultimate The Smashing Machine review is here.
- Oct 4, 2025
- 3 min read
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This is the Dwayne Johnson you think you know, and yet, completely don’t. Stepping into the ring as MMA legend Mark Kerr, the action star throws off the high-gloss sheen of his usual blockbuster fare. Directed by Benny Safdie, who previously gave us Uncut Gems, and co-starring a fantastic Emily Blunt, this film aims for raw, human drama over simple spectacle. It’s a compelling swing for an actor trying to prove there’s a real thespian inside the muscle suit in this The Smashing Machine review.
The movie takes us back to the early days of the UFC, between 1997 and 2000, when Mark Kerr was an undefeated wrestling phenom. But the story isn’t really about the sport. Instead, it’s a portrait of a person trying to keep his life from collapsing under the weight of his own success and a growing dependency on painkillers. The plot quickly centers on the volatile relationship with his girlfriend, a pairing that feels less like a partnership and more like two unstable chemicals waiting to explode.
If you came for wall-to-wall MMA glory, you’ll be thrown off the scent early. The film’s greatest ambition—and its biggest flaw—is how it sidesteps the wrestling drama to focus squarely on the domestic one. The performances are undeniably strong, but you have to wonder: when the biggest argument in the film isn't a title match, but a shouting match in the kitchen, has the movie prioritised the wrong fight?
