The Smashing Machine, the electrifying 2025 biographical sports drama from A24, slams into theaters with the force of a championship takedown, chronicling the raw, unfiltered rise and fall of MMA legend Mark Kerr. Directed by the masterful Benny Safdie in his solo feature debut, this film stars Dwayne Johnson in a career-redefining performance as the indomitable fighter known as "The Smashing Machine." For fans of new movies that pack emotional punches alongside visceral action, this gritty tale of glory, addiction, and redemption emerges as one of the year's most compelling underdog stories, blending heart-wrenching drama with the thunderous intensity of the octagon.
Inspired by the acclaimed 2002 documentary of the same name, The Smashing Machine dives deep into the late 1990s world of mixed martial arts, a time when the sport was raw, unregulated, and brutally unforgiving. Mark Kerr, a towering former amateur wrestling champion, stormed into UFC and Pride Fighting Championships with a ground-and-pound style that left opponents shattered—earning him his fearsome moniker. But beneath the ripped physique and ferocious takedowns lay a man grappling with personal demons, including a devastating addiction to painkillers that threatened to dismantle everything he'd built. Safdie's adaptation doesn't glorify the fights; it humanizes them, peeling back the layers of Kerr's psyche to reveal the toll of unrelenting ambition in a world that chews up its heroes.
The story unfolds across Kerr's meteoric ascent, starting with his early days as a college wrestling standout transitioning into the nascent MMA scene. We see Mark, portrayed with startling vulnerability by Johnson, channeling his immense physical power into bone-crunching victories that captivate underground crowds. Yet, as fame swells—complete with sold-out arenas in Tokyo and grueling international tours—the cracks begin to show. A cauliflower ear from endless grapples becomes a badge of honor and a harbinger of pain, leading to a spiraling dependency on opioids to numb both body and soul. Interwoven is his turbulent romance with Dawn Staples, a steadfast anchor who becomes both his salvation and casualty in the chaos of his double life.
What truly elevates The Smashing Machine is its unflinching honesty, eschewing Hollywood gloss for a documentary-like intimacy that echoes Safdie's roots in indie grit. The screenplay, penned by the director himself, captures the liminal spaces between triumph and despair: quiet moments in dingy gyms where Kerr whispers confessions to his reflection, or heated arguments with Dawn that erupt like suppressed haymakers. This isn't a montage-heavy sports flick; it's a meditation on masculinity, vulnerability, and the blurred line between warrior and wounded soul. Fans seeking movies free from predictable arcs will appreciate how the film sidesteps clichés, opting instead for a narrative that feels as unpredictable as a cage match.
Dwayne Johnson, long typecast as the unbreakable action hero, shatters expectations in a role that demands he confront his own indestructibility mythos. To embody Kerr, Johnson shed over 40 pounds, sporting a prosthetic mangled ear and a gaunt, haunted gaze that strips away his trademark charisma. His performance is a revelation—raw, restrained, and profoundly moving—alternating between explosive rage in the ring and quiet devastation off it. In one gut-wrenching scene, Kerr's opioid haze leads to a relapse that unravels his home life, and Johnson's subtle tremors convey a fragility that's as powerful as any suplex. It's the kind of transformative turn that has critics buzzing about Oscar contention, proving The Rock can carry dramatic weight with the same ease he hoists opponents.
- Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr: The unstoppable MMA champion battling inner turmoil.
- Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples: Kerr's resilient wife, offering fierce love amid the storm.
- Ryan Bader as a fellow fighter: Bringing authentic cage camaraderie to the screen.
- Bas Rutten as a veteran MMA icon: Adding gravitas with his real-life expertise.
- Oleksandr Usyk as a boxing heavyweight cameo: Infusing global fight flair.
- Lyndsey Gavin and Zoe Kosovic in supporting roles: Grounding the ensemble with emotional depth.
Emily Blunt delivers a powerhouse counterpart as Dawn, infusing the role with a blend of tenderness and tenacity that makes her the film's emotional core. Their on-screen chemistry crackles with authenticity—passionate reconciliations laced with the undercurrent of codependency, drawing from the real couple's documented volatility. Blunt's Dawn isn't a sidelined damsel; she's a force who confronts Kerr's addictions head-on, her scenes of quiet despair hitting harder than any knockout blow. The supporting cast, including MMA veterans like Ryan Bader and Bas Rutten, lends credibility to the fight sequences, their presence blurring the line between actor and athlete for an immersive authenticity.
Benny Safdie's direction marks a bold evolution from his frenetic collaborations with brother Josh on Uncut Gems and Good Time. Here, he tempers the chaos with deliberate pacing, using long takes to capture the exhaustion of training montages and the claustrophobia of withdrawal. Principal photography, spanning New Mexico's stark deserts, Tokyo's neon underbelly, and Vancouver's rainy intimacy, mirrors Kerr's peripatetic life. Cinematographer Pascal Marti's handheld style puts viewers ringside, sweat and blood flying in visceral 35mm glory. The score by Nala Sinephro weaves ethereal strings with pounding percussion, amplifying the film's rhythmic pulse—like a heartbeat quickening toward collapse.
Thematically, The Smashing Machine grapples with the human cost of combat sports, echoing Raging Bull and The Wrestler in its portrait of a man defined by destruction yet yearning for connection. Kerr's journey isn't linear triumph; it's a cycle of highs—UFC titles, Pride dominance—and crushing lows, including overdose scares and fractured relationships. Safdie explores addiction not as a plot device but as a thief of agency, with Kerr's "smashing" facade masking profound isolation. Yet, woven throughout is a thread of radical empathy, as Safdie intended, inviting audiences to feel the weight of choices made in the shadows of glory. For those delving into online movies that provoke as much as they entertain, this one lingers like a bruise—tender, insistent, transformative.
The film's world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025, earned a thunderous 15-minute standing ovation and the Silver Lion for Best Director, cementing its status as a festival darling. Critics have hailed it with a 79% Rotten Tomatoes score, praising its "dramatic body blows" and Johnson's "vulnerable" depth, though some note its deliberate ambiguity skips certain narrative beats for emotional resonance. With a runtime of 123 minutes, it balances octagon brutality with domestic tenderness, clocking in as a taut, two-hour gut check. As October 3, 2025, approaches, box office projections position it as A24's fall heavyweight, drawing crowds eager for new movies that honor the fighters behind the legends.
Production insights reveal a labor of love: Johnson, a producer via Seven Bucks, immersed in Kerr's story after discovering the documentary, viewing it as a chance to honor overlooked icons. Emily Blunt joined to explore the "nerve-wracking" intimacy of codependent love, her preparation involving extensive talks with Dawn Staples. Filming wrapped in August 2024, with real MMA pros choreographing bouts for bone-crunching realism—no CGI shortcuts here. The trailer's April 2025 drop, featuring Johnson's guttural roars and Blunt's tear-streaked pleas set to a brooding score, amassed millions of views overnight. Watch the official trailer here for a pulse-pounding preview that teases the film's emotional octagon.
Beyond the ring, The Smashing Machine resonates as a meta-commentary on Johnson's career pivot from blockbuster behemoth to indie introspective. His Kerr embodies the struggle to redefine strength—not through muscles, but through surrender. Scenes of relapse, like a harrowing hospital vigil or a rain-soaked plea for forgiveness, humanize the star, revealing cracks in the granite facade we've long admired. Blunt's Dawn counters with unyielding grace, her character's arc a testament to the quiet heroism of holding space for another's chaos. Together, they craft a duet of devastation and devotion, making the personal stakes feel as urgent as any title fight.
For fight fans, the movie's authenticity shines in recreated bouts from Kerr's 1997-1999 prime, including his UFC 14 and Pride 5 triumphs. Choreographed with input from Oleksandr Usyk and Bas Rutten, these sequences pulse with tactical ferocity—ground control, vicious elbows, the crowd's roar fading into Kerr's labored breaths. Yet, Safdie intercuts with quieter violence: the slow poison of pills swallowed in solitude, or Dawn's solitary tears as she packs another bag. This duality underscores the film's core truth: the greatest battles are fought alone, against the self.
As streaming speculation swirls—likely hitting HBO Max post-theatrical run—viewers hunting movies free through VOD previews or online movies platforms will find The Smashing Machine a worthwhile investment. It's the rare sports biopic that doesn't end in redemption's tidy bow; Kerr's story arcs toward fragile hope, a relapse-forged vow to rebuild. This ambiguity, paired with stellar craft, ensures replay value, sparking debates on resilience's true face.
Reflecting A24's penchant for bold visions—from Hereditary's haunts to Everything Everywhere's multiverse madness—The Smashing Machine fits as their most muscular entry yet. Safdie's solo helm proves his command of tension, trading Uncut Gems' frenzy for a bruising restraint that amplifies every impact. With producers like Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia anchoring the vision, the film emerges as a family affair in spirit, honoring Kerr's legacy while challenging genre norms.
In a landscape of formulaic franchises, The Smashing Machine stands tall as essential viewing. It reminds us that champions aren't born unbreakable; they're forged in fire, scarred by falls, and lifted by love's unyielding grip. Whether you're a UFC devotee revisiting Kerr's era or a newcomer discovering movies123 gems, this biopic delivers body blows to the heart. As October 3 dawns, brace for a cinematic cage match that leaves you standing—shaken, stirred, supremely satisfied.