Dwayne Johnson’s dramatic turn in “The Smashing Machine” is generating serious Oscar buzz after its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2025. Critics are calling his performance as UFC fighter Mark Kerr “a revelation” in this gritty sports drama directed by Benny Safdie.
The film, which received a remarkable 15-minute standing ovation at Venice, shows Johnson in a completely different light from his typical action-hero roles. Playing the legendary mixed martial arts fighter who battled painkiller addiction, Johnson underwent a stunning physical transformation, spending three to four hours daily in the makeup chair having prosthetics applied.
“I’ve been scared to go deep and intense and raw until now,” Johnson told journalists at Venice, explaining his motivation to break free from being “pigeonholed” in Hollywood. This dramatic departure from his blockbuster image shows a vulnerable side rarely seen in his previous work.
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Set between 1997 and 2000, the film follows Kerr’s career from his debut at the World Vale Tudo Championship through his first loss at PRIDE 15 in Japan. Rather than focusing solely on fighting, Safdie crafts what critics describe as a “humane” portrait of addiction, control, and redemption.
The film’s authenticity extends to its casting of real MMA fighters, including Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman and Bas Rutten as himself. Cinematographer Maceo Bishop employs a documentary-like style, while composer Nala Sinephro provides an ambient, free-jazz score that works against the on-screen toughness.
“A day without pain is like a day without sunshine,” Johnson’s Kerr says in one pivotal scene, capturing the fighter’s complex relationship with suffering. The film avoids typical biopic tropes, drawing inspiration from the 2002 HBO documentary of the same name while forging its own path.
With its October 3 theatrical release through A24 approaching, “The Smashing Machine” positions Johnson as a serious contender in this year’s competitive awards race. As Variety critic Owen Gleiberman noted, Johnson delivers “an extraordinary performance” that makes him “seem like a new actor” – one who might soon add “Oscar nominee” to his impressive resume.
