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The Smashing Machine 2025

The biographical sports drama film The Smashing Machine (2025) is written, directed, and co-produced by Benny Safdie in his solo feature debut, and is based on the 2002 HBO documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr. The film stars Dwayne Johnson in a transformative role as the real-life mixed martial arts (MMA) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pioneer, Mark Kerr, often nicknamed "The Smashing Machine" for his aggressive fighting style. The story focuses on Kerr's tumultuous career and personal life during the late 1990s and early 2000s, tracing his peak success in the nascent, brutal world of MMA—including his back-to-back UFC wins and participation in Japan's lucrative Pride Fighting Championships—and the profound personal struggles that accompanied his fame. The central conflict explores Kerr's battle with opioid addiction, which he develops to manage the relentless physical pain and injuries sustained in the ring. The film also delves into his complex and often volatile relationship with his then-girlfriend and eventual wife, Dawn Staples, played by Emily Blunt. Dawn is portrayed as a complicated figure whose interactions with Kerr frequently exacerbate his personal turmoil. The supporting cast includes real-life MMA figures like Ryan Bader as Kerr's friend and fellow fighter Mark Coleman, and Bas Rutten as his coach, lending a docu-drama realism to the fight sequences. Safdie avoids the typical sports biopic clichés, instead offering a raw, character-focused study of a gentle, soft-spoken man who transforms into a brutal force in the ring, exploring the fragility, emotional complexity, and self-destructive behavior of a fighter who struggles to find balance between his competitive drive and his personal well-being. The film was released on October 3, 2025, distributed by A24. Read More

• 2025
• 2 h : 3 min
• 1.5k views
• 6.545
• R