The Smashing Machine

TIFF REVIEW: BY KURT MORRISON

September 25, 2025

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

The ‘fighter on film’ has a specific formula that we’ve all become familiar with over the years. The Rocky franchise or more recently the Creed franchise come to mind and have been built in a way that captivate audiences and of course get butts in seats at the cineplex. They’re entertaining nevertheless, but lack a particular substance to them that I as a viewer have been clamouring for. Mixed Martial Arts on the other hand has had only one real foray onto the movie screen that worked successfully, 2011’s Warrior, a fictional tale of two brothers that had every grown man I know weeping by the end of it. So MMA seems ripe for the storytelling picking because there can be emotional stakes and gravitas to the stories being told even though MMA is still frowned upon by many.

Enter writer and director Benny Safdie and studio A24, who back in December of 2023 announced pre-production on a biographical sports drama film based on the life and career of Mark Kerr, a former two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, World Vale Judo Championship winner, a PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion, 1992 NCAA National Wrestling Champion to name a few highlights on his impressive fighting resume. It seemed like a jaw-dropping moment for Hollywood, and myself included, because when the casting of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Emily Blunt was announced, this didn’t just seem like it was going to be an ordinary biopic. And therein lies the strength of Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, an exploration of not only Mark Kerr’s career inside the ring, but a deep dive into the chaos that was occurring outside of the octagon.

Equal parts MMA to exploration of addiction and recovery, The Smashing Machine threw me for a curveball within its first act because I had no idea of the addiction issues Mark Kerr suffered from. It poses an interesting insight into Kerr’s ability to dominate the sport early on in his career, simply because he was so high on opiates that pain wasn’t an option. He seemingly couldn’t feel anything physically before, during or after his fights because of such heavy drug use - so it’s easy to understand and see how this mountain of a man was capable of such strong performances against opponents. The exploration of his addiction becomes the shadow surrounding not only his fighting career but the rock that is dragging down his relationship with his girlfriend Dawn, played magnificently by Emily Blunt.

It would be an easy out to make him seem like a junkie or unlikable because of his drug use, but that’s simply not the case because Mark was beloved by everyone who knew him thanks to his soft and kind demeanor; something showcased brilliantly by Johnson himself. I truly think this is the best aspect of the entire film, as Johnson is able to demonstrate a softer, more empathetic side to not only Mark but in his own acting ability when not training or fighting. It’s a test for Johnson because he is regularly the loudest and largest guy on screen. Here we find that he has bulked up immensely for the role but toned down the ‘Rock Bravado’ we have come to know for nearly 30 years that started all the way back in the WWF/World Wrestling Federation.

Johnson’s choice to play Mark Kerr feels like a similar playbook call from Matthew McConaughey over a decade ago, who had been typecast for several years then decided to take on something far more dramatic than he had done, with Dallas Buyer’s Club. Of course this led to an eventual Oscar win and although I don’t believe this performance from Johnson is Oscar worthy or even nomination worthy, it’s a damn solid showing from one of my favourite big men in Hollywood and should open more doors for him in the future for these kinds of dramatic roles. If this is the beginning of the end for The Rock, and a very necessary transition simply to Dwayne Johnson, then I am happy to say goodbye to some of my core adolescent memories and hello to a more mature and mellow version of Johnson. Time will tell.

Benny Safie (Uncut Gems, Good Time) continues to make a name for himself and it came as no surprise to me that he won Best Director at Cannes for Smashing Machine because it truly ebbs and flows flawlessly. He capitalizes on the incredible chemistry his two leads share, all the while examining the inner workings of Mark’s training, his recovery and the disastrous downfall of Mark and Dawn’s relationship - which may I add features the most white-knuckling 10 minutes sequence I have had during any film this year. Safdie cuts through what generic genre cliches and bullshit and actually makes a film that hurts at times to watch. Being the editor on the film as well, I would love to see what was left on the cutting room floor by Safdie because this film could have been 20 minutes longer and I would still be just as in love with it.

The Smashing Machine is a quietly devastating blow that doesn’t pack much sentiment, which makes it unique from its genre predecessors. This key element is why it stands out.

You’ll hear critics calling this ‘an evolution’ or a ‘reinvention’ for Dwayne, and all those things are true, but it's rare for a film to feel both technically fleshed out along with its actors nailing every scene they are in.