Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson took real punches to the face to keep ‘The Smashing Machine’ authentic

In the spirit of maintaining authenticity, director Benny Safdie and The Rock made a pact that is virtually unheard of for a ...

Dwayne Johnson has never been better in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ but the movie dodges

The Smashing Machine,” starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA pioneer Mark Kerr, is something simpler and less curious.
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The Smashing Machine: How closely does Dwayne Johnson’s movie mirror the real-life journey of Mark Kerr?

The Smashing Machine was released on October 3, 2025, by A24. Prior to that, it bagged the Silver Lion award at the 82nd ...

‘Smashing Machine’ Subject Mark Kerr on “Gut-Wrenching” Ending and Cussing About Dwayne Johnson’s Prosthetics

Benny Safdie wrote and directed the A24 feature that also stars Emily Blunt in the story of Kerr's path as a UFC Hall of ...

He made his name as part of a sibling tag team. Now Benny Safdie enters the ring alone

In his first feature as a solo director, Benny Safdie leads Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt through the real-life story of ...

Dwayne Johnson on Losing Weight to Play an Old Man in ‘Lizard Music’: ‘Think Clint Eastwood at 75 — Sinewy Muscles, He’s Lean’

In “Smashing Machine,” written and directed by Safdie, Johnson stars as Mark Kerr, a champion in the early days of MMA ...

Benny Safdie on Directing His First Movie Without Brother Josh: “It’s Been a Process of ‘What Do I Want to Explore?'”

For the new film The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie is breaking out on his own, directing his first movie without brother ...