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The Smashing Machine

Original title: The Smashing Machine

Released: 2025-10-01

imdb rating

6.7/10

0.034K

In the late 1990s, up-and-coming mixed martial artist Mark Kerr aspires to become the greatest fighter in the world. However, he must also battle his opiod dependence and a volatile relationship with his girlfriend Dawn.

More Videos

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Interview with Benny Safdie

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Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt Play 2000s Trivia

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Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt talk The Smashing Machine

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In Cinemas Everywhere October 3rd

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Oleksandr Usyk, Mark Kerr, Ryan Bader and Bas Rutten Try Origami

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The Smashing Machine 2000 Arcade - Official Promo

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Official First Look

Behind the Scenes

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Trailer #2

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Q&A | TIFF 2025

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In Cinemas Everywhere October 3

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In Cinemas Everywhere October 3

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Trailer

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Reviews

author

CinemaSerf rating: 6

created at: 10/09/2025edited at: 10/09/2025

Mickey O’Rourke had a go in 2008 and Orlando Bloom earlier this year in “The Cut”, so now it’s the turn of Dwayne Johnson to bulk up and out to deliver a biopic of UFC pioneer Mark Kerr. This is all set at a time when he can make a living for himself and girlfriend Dawn (Emily Blunt) but there are no Ferraris and swimming pools for them. For that he has to win the Grand Prix in Japan and that involves his embarking on the ultimate in fitness and endurance regimes, aided by his own chemical romances that frequently seem to render him little better than catatonic. Domestic dysfunction ensues as he has to face up to his responsibilities and settle his priorities before what he has comes crumbling down. It’s a true story, but it just didn’t engage me at all. Johnson comes across well as the amiable and dedicated athlete, but a film about any sport that requires a rule change to ban eye gouging was probably never really going to work for me. The fight scene are sparing, occasionally graphic, and they do convey just how brutal this mixed martial arts combat can be, but the characterisations here are just all too sterile to engage. Whilst Kerr comes across as a decent human being, Blunt’s performance doesn’t really make anything like enough impact as it trundles along without much from the dialogue to make me care. Tangentially, it does quite enjoyably poke some fun at the inanity and banality of sport’s broadcasting punditry and I didn’t hate it, but I’ll probably never watch it again.