US EditionThe Rock Admits Jon Jones Would Beat Him Up Badly In An MMA Fight
Dwayne Johnson gained 30 pounds and used 22 prosthetics to authentically portray MMA legend Mark Kerr in the film The Smashing Machine, highlighting Kerr’s life and struggles.
- On Friday, Oct. 3, The Smashing Machine opens in theaters, starring Dwayne Johnson as mixed martial artist and former UFC fighter Mark Kerr.
- Benny Safdie's film examines Kerr's rise and struggles, exploring opioid dependency and career challenges of UFC fighter Mark Kerr, with Safdie as writer‑director‑co‑producer‑editor.
- Johnson gained 30 pounds, used 22 prosthetics and a wig to embody Kerr, and said `No one can really relate to what it's like to be the greatest fighter on the planet. At one time, Mark Kerr was the greatest fighter on the planet and undefeated, dominant, and feared. But we can all relate to pressure, what that's like, and having to deliver day in and day out in relationships and jobs,` said Johnson.
- At its Venice premiere the film received a 15-minute standing ovation and Johnson teared up, while Emily Blunt called Johnson's work `astonishing`.
- The original documentary is currently unavailable on major streamers, but John Hyams says he is shopping the project and hopes to secure a deal next year.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Dwayne Johnson, Benny Safdie, and Emily Blunt reveal the awkward moment that led to 'The Smashing Machine'
At a glance, it makes sense why Dwayne Johnson would want to make The Smashing Machine. A biographical drama about UFC fighter Mark Kerr, the new film from writer/director Benny Safdie explores the highs and lows in the ring and beyond it. But it wasn't Safdie, the celebrated co-helmer of Uncut Gems, that came to Johnson. It was the other way around. And yet the movie almost didn't happen, except for an awkward moment Safdie shared with his Oppe…
Fans cringe at Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's super-long standing...
“The Smashing Machine” is getting early Oscar buzz for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. At first, fans were shocked by the 53-year-old actor’s slimmed-down physique. But now, from “Fallon” to “GMA,” all anyone wants to talk about is the 15-minute standing ovation the biopic received at the Venice Film Festival. Meanwhile on A24’s TikTok page, fans...
The Best Quotes From 'The Smashing Machine,' Ranked By Fans
Directed by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine takes audiencesinto the intense world of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, brought to life by Dwayne Johnson. Emily Blunt plays his wife, Dawn Staples, adding depth to the personal struggles faced by the couple, as the film explores the life and career of Kerr. The film also features Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman and a cameo by Bas Rutten, offering a robust look at the MMA scene.The movie follows Kerr's journey t…
The Rock Admits Jon Jones Would Beat Him Up Badly In An MMA Fight
Dwayne Johnson has no illusions about his MMA skills. For the past two years, The Rock has been training intensively in MMA for his role as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. ‘Combat sports and MMA is new to me,’ Johnson admitted in May 2024. ‘I have a base in wrestling, from pro wrestling and a little bit of amateur wrestling, but this is a whole new world and I approach this with a boundless amount of respect for the fighters. I’ve been workin…
Mark Kerr Didn’t Want the Darkest Parts of His Life Sanitized for ‘The Smashing Machine’
Writer/director Benny Safdie‘s “The Smashing Machine” is a true story that exalts its subject — mixed martial arts pioneer Mark Kerr (played by Dwayne Johnson) — without shying away from the dark parts of his life. The film honors Kerr’s achievements in the ring while also presenting his drug addiction, depression, and dysfunctional relationship with Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt) in a series of uncomfortably raw scenes where Safdie turns the audien…
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