There was pain before “The Rock,” before the fame, the tequila empire, and the billion-dollar franchises. Pain that is real. And The Smashing Machine isn’t about a hero who wins. It’s about someone who falls but always gets back up.
Dwayne Johnson, who is best known for playing tough action heroes and being charming, is taking on the role of Mark Kerr, a legendary MMA fighter whose real-life fights were more brutal outside the cage than inside it.
The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), is shaping up to be Johnson’s most vulnerable role yet, one that will change the course of his career. But when will people finally get to see this change?
The Smashing Machine Release Date: It’s Official
After months of rumors and changes to studio schedules, A24 has finally set the release date for The Smashing Machine as October 3, 2025.
It will open in theaters on a very busy weekend, going up against Channing Tatum’s Roofman (from Paramount) and Neon’s creepy horror movie The Keeper. It’s a battle of directors, with gritty dramas, haunted houses, and heists all fighting for your ticket.
But Johnson isn’t afraid to fight.
The Man Behind the Machine: Who Was Mark Kerr?
Who was Mark Kerr, the man behind the machine?
Mark Kerr was more than just a fighter. He was a powerful person.
Kerr was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and an ADCC submission legend. He was known as “The Smashing Machine” because he was so good at MMA in the early days when there were no rules. But behind the title belts and highlight reels was a man who was quietly fighting addiction, a breakdown of his emotions, and a loss of his sense of self.
The Smashing Machine, a documentary on HBO from 2003, showed the world the real Kerr: broken, brilliant, and fighting his demons in front of everyone. This movie goes deeper.
Johnson isn’t just acting like a fighter; he’s actually being one.
The Smashing Machine Trailer: Watch the Pain Unfold
The trailer doesn’t promise victory — it promises truth. Dwayne Johnson disappears into Mark Kerr’s broken world, and Benny Safdie’s gritty style pulls no punches. It’s bruising, breathless, and brutally human.
Watch now:
Emily Blunt, Benny Safdie, and a Role That Might Break Him
Emily Blunt plays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s partner and emotional anchor, next to Johnson. The last time they were in a movie together was Jungle Cruise, but this isn’t a fun movie. This is intimacy, anger, and codependency, all of which are bubbling up under the surface.
Then there’s Benny Safdie, whose style of making movies is basically cinematic anxiety. He didn’t just direct The Smashing Machine; he also wrote and produced it.
There are rumors in the industry that the movie has some of Johnson’s most emotionally raw scenes ever filmed. Long shots. Very few cuts. Grappling for real. And there were no stunt doubles when the cameras were on.
People who work at A24 are said to have called it “a pressure cooker disguised as a sports movie.”
Fan Buzz: The Cage Is Already Rattling
Even before its release, The Smashing Machine is stirring serious emotion among fans — not just of cinema, but of old-school MMA. The trailer’s tone, the raw intensity, the attention to Kerr’s era? It hit a nerve.
Damn this looks REALLY good. A lot of cool little easter eggs for fans of old MMA in here, too.
— DeviantPigg (@DefectivePigg) April 29, 2025
Looking for a hit box office AND Oscar running.
So nice to see cinema returning.
— GP Muro (@gp_muro) April 29, 2025
What to Expect: Brutality, Beauty, and No TKO
This isn’t a story about an underdog in Hollywood who makes a great comeback. This is a biographical gut-punch full of contradictions: love and violence, fame and emptiness, power and collapse.
In interviews, Safdie has said that he “doesn’t do victory laps.” Get ready to sweat. Get ready for bruises. Expect silence that lasts after the punches hit.
It’s not just about who wins in The Smashing Machine.
It’s about what you lose in the fight.
FAQ: The Smashing Machine Release Date and More
Is the story behind The Smashing Machine real?
Yes. It is based on the life of real MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who was first featured in a 2003 HBO documentary.
When will The Smashing Machine be released?
A24 will release the movie in theaters on October 3, 2025.
Who was in charge of making the movie?
Benny Safdie, who is known for Uncut Gems and Good Time, wrote and directed the movie.
Is Emily Blunt in the movie?
Yes, she plays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s partner.
Is this the first time Dwayne Johnson has played a serious role?
People say that The Smashing Machine is his most emotional and award-winning performance to date, even though he has done dramatic work before.
Final Bell: Is Dwayne About to Smash Expectations?
With so many flashy blockbusters and tired IPs this year, The Smashing Machine stands out like a busted lip—raw, real, and impossible to ignore.
If you’ve only known Johnson as “The Rock,” get ready to meet the real person. Hurt. Worn out from battle. And last but not least, brutally honest.
Will this be the performance that knocks him out, or will it crush him too? Leave a comment below.
