The real star of the newest wrestling biopic may just be its supporting lady.
While Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson does step out of his comfort zone into a more serious role, not enough might have been developed to give him his chance. Emily Blunt, on the other hand, had a character that feels written for her and her talents.
Written by Hailey Passmore
The Smashing Machine, when this title first graced the eyes and ears of the world, it seemed like it was going to be a film about the story of THE ROCK. Yet somehow, instead, it’s a biopic about UFC fighter Mark Kerr. It is interesting to see how a film can change the thoughts and discussions surrounding an actor, as lots of male actors recently have gone from a career as professional boxers to actors - Jason Momoa, John Cena, Dwayne Johnson, to name a few. No,w Johnson comes back to his roots to portray former heavyweight star Mark Kerr, there had to have been something relatable for him to be able to portray such a role.
In 2002, two years after the events of The Smashing Machine (2025) take place, director John Hyams shared the life and times of Kerr, known as an “extreme cage fighter”, in his documentary of the same title, The Smashing Machine (2002). Not having seen this film, it cannot be compared to Safdie’s 2025 biopic; however, one has to wonder what differences can be seen between the two and how fictionalized the accounts of Kerr’s life became in this newest adaptation. As the film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2025, the cast and crew took to the Sala Casino to discuss their film in advance for their panel. The panel in which Johnson discussed how easy it is to be typecast in Hollywood and boxed in by Blockbusters and money-grabbing films. Perhaps his choice to play a role of a profession he used to be part of was his hopeful way of changing pace into a more serious form of acting, moving away from the comedies he’s been a part of since joining the industry back in the early 2000s.
Set in the years of 1997-2000, The Smashing Machine feels like a fever dream. It is made to feel like a film with the grit and grain of any wrestling film, like The Wrestler (Aronofsky, 2008) or The Iron Claw (Durkin, 2023) for example. It is the story of real-life UFC and mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr (Johnson), but with a fictionalized or softer tone (though softer might be the wrong word once you’ve seen these years of his life). From the beginning of his career, his wins brought him up in the world of UFC. He trains with one of his good friends and former wrestlers, Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader), and they create a superstar out of him. Though he is continuously the victor, a toll is taken on his physical and mental health. An addiction to painkillers and opioids begins, as they become the only way he can cope. His girlfriend, Dawn (Emily Blunt), is there for him as much as she can be. But one can only put up with so much abuse for so long. With back-to-back victories at the start of his career, one brutal takedown sends him on the worst path. Kerr becomes addicted to painkillers and opioids and is not the easiest to be around. As he struggles with the ups and downs of addiction, he is also addicted to winning. When he loses his first fight to Igor Vovchanchyn (Oleksandr Usyk), this sets him on a downward spiral leading to an overdose.
For those unknown to Kerr, director Benny Safdie makes a smart and safe decision by beginning his film with a television broadcast-style introduction. We are introduced to Kerr through this broadcast of his first fight. Referees are there through voiceover explaining to the crowd who this newcomer is and how, once he wins, he just may become. A long sequence of matches, of interviewers talking to Kerr about how it feels to be in the fight, until he finally wins, and the film truly begins. Safdie also places date and time stamps throughout the film, carefully guiding his audience, keeping them informed of where and when they are in the story. As both director and writer of The Smashing Machine, Safdie makes many safe decisions that hinder the film. In terms of the content of the script and directorial choices, there are long moments of silence or sequences where not much occurs. The script provides little detail, and it is more about what is seen and not heard involving Kerr (Johnson) himself as to how the audience learns about the protagonist.
One may wonder who else would have been cast as Mark Kerr should Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson not have changed career paths from wrestling to acting. However, he does fit into the role quite nicely and in a cautious way as well. His lines are barely there, and it feels like his high points are when the muscle is used. In terms of cast, the highlight would have to be Emily Blunt. Working together in the Disney comedy, Jungle Cruise (Collet-Serra, 2021), Blunt and Johnson definitely grew a close-knit bond, one that bodes well in The Smashing Machine. Had it not been for their friendship and previously discovered chemistry, the onscreen relationship of Kerr and his girlfriend Dawn might not have come across as developed and personal as it did. Oddly enough, Blunt’s lines felt more developed and warranted than those of Johnson, and her character truly has that feminine power you would hope for. As rough as the dialogue felt at times, the lines written for Blunt felt as if they were created with her and her talent in mind. While both actors definitely stepped out of their typical roles into the more serious and dramatic Smashing Machine, Blunt’s portrayal truly shows how hidden her talents have been.
The Smashing Machine tries to portray Kerr’s life in terms of the high he feels when fighting, but it perhaps feels more like the high he feels when actually high. Kerr feels more like the villain of the story, as, even after he enters and exits rehab, there is no friendliness kept between him and Dawn, and their relationship feels abusive. Not that this is a documentary portraying the accuracy of his life and their relationship, it does feel as though it paints a negative light on him until the end. The early part of the film aggressively focuses on how addicted he is to painkillers and opioids right from the start; bottles and needles are constantly shown for periods of time on camera. Then, after rehab, Kerr is continuously ranting about how unfair it is for him to be the one having just finished rehab and Dawn out partying with friends. It is not until close to the final act that things change, and his hidden drug pack helps save a friend. His strength here, to be able to administer medication to a friend after having been an addict, and come away from the situation calm, allows the audience to see how he has changed and perhaps is on the way to a healthier start.
After all the hype surrounding The Smashing Machine (2025), it potentially does not live up to it. Elements are missing that could have allowed for the story to have a better pace, and the dialogue to be a bit less empty. Thankfully, the companionship between Blunt and Johnson, as well as Blunt’s pure talent, allowed for empathy to be felt in the viewer.
After the Venice Film Festival, The Smashing Machine heads to Toronto for the 50th edition of their International Film Festival on September 8, 2025, and it is set to release in cinemas worldwide beginning October 2. For wrestling fans out there, fans of Mark Kerr, the film might provide you with some insight. However, for those who are not entirely knowledgeable on the subject, you might want to give it a miss.
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