It’s always exciting to see a popular actor subvert expectations. Not only does it allow the actor to flex different creative muscles, but it also shows audiences that there is more to them than meets the eye. 2025’s The Smashing Machine attempts this feat with its leading star, Dwayne Johnson. Directed and written by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine follows Mark Kerr (Johnson) and the two very different parts of his life. The first of which is his time as a mixed-martial artist and UFC Champion. The other is his romantic relationship with Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), and his battles with addiction.
That premise promises a very typical and expected type of audience sports story. Thankfully, director Benny Safdie treats the material in a slightly different manner. Safdie wisely keeps The Smashing Machine in a low-key register. The results of which deliver something different altogether. This includes a story that focuses more on the incident and character than on the plot itself. In executing a sports story in this way, you need strong performances to anchor the film. This requires an actor who is capable of delivering serious dramatic heft and raw intensity. Such a conceit makes Dwayne Johnson’s casting an interesting acting prospect.
As an actor, Johnson has leaned heavily into being a blockbuster performer. His bravado and swagger have illuminated the screen across huge franchises. In The Smashing Machine, he’s doing something entirely different. As Mark Kerr, Johnson has to play someone incredibly subdued, and essentially a gentle giant. That is, until he enters the ring and becomes, as the title suggests, a smashing machine. To criticize this performance, one could simply call it Johnson’s attempt for an Oscar. While that’s undeniable (and now Johnson is a Golden Globe nominee), the work he’s doing is much more subdued and poignant in its way.
The film requires Johnson to play this real person in a different emotional register. Yes, like any sports story, he has to play both the emotional highs and lows. It’s a performance that calls on Johnson to strip away his celebrity persona. In that aspect, he delivers a performance that’s equally as engaging as it is heartbreaking. As written (by Benny Safdie), there’s a fascinating human undercurrent. While Mark is driven to win, the film does not make it a straightforward “point-A to point-B” sports movie. It requires Johnson to make viewers care for someone who is emotionally broken, delivering compelling results in the process. Granted, it would be hard to call this a perfect lead performance.
As a showcase to demonstrate Johnson’s range, the performance succeeds. He’s got the skills (for the most part) and makes me excited to see what he can do on other projects. The problem is that in the more subdued emotional moments, his performance falters. It’s hard to believe some of the more emotional, crying sequences (particularly surrounding his addiction). While seeing Johnson go there emotionally is impressive, he simply hasn’t perfected that skill of believability. Whereas in the more explosive scenes of anger (particularly with Emily Blunt), the film feels electric. Add those two elements together, and Dwayne Johnson has definitely proven there’s more to him than his “The Rock” persona. It’s an engaging performance that, while far from perfect, left me excited for what he’s going to do next.
This leads us to Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples, Mark Kerr’s girlfriend and eventual (albeit brief) wife. Blunt is arguably one of the best working actresses in the film industry today. From her Academy Award-nominated work in Oppenheimer to beloved supporting roles in The Devil Wears Prada, she has serious versatility as a performer. In The Smashing Machine, Blunt is reduced to the archetype of “doting, but damaged” girlfriend. It’s not even that it’s cliched, but the character is simply not given enough depth to leave an emotional impact on viewers. Blunt inarguably makes the most of the material, but the film feels as if it slights her from having real substance.
The Smashing Machine has a brutal one-two punch: its most significant strength is also its biggest weakness. That simultaneous criticism and praise has to fall to the screenplay, written by Benny Safdie. In a world of sports movies, The Smashing Machine defies conventions of the genre. If you have seen a sports movie, then the film will most definitely surprise you. Safdie wisely focuses on character over plot, delivering on the audience’s evolving emotions within their journey.
When Mark (Johnson) is in the ring, the fight sequences are savage in their brutality. They feel intimate and raw, similarly to scenes of Mark’s home life with Dawn. The same could be said of Mark’s scenes with Mark Coleman (played by real-life MMA Fighter Ryan Bader). In those moments, The Smashing Machine subverts expectations. Yet, at the same time, the screenplay doesn’t give depth to the characters who need it (like Emily Blunt’s Dawn). Whereas someone like Ryan Bader (a first-time actor), arguably delivers a scene-stealing turn. The results of which provide a frustratingly mixed bag overall with the performances. No one offers bad work, but another pass at the screenplay could have pushed it from being good to great.
The Smashing Machine is a film brimming with some creative filmmaking and strong performances. While The Rock is not quite there yet as a dramatic actor, this role shows he has those skills. Director Benny Safdie has an evident passion for period detail, and that shines through in the film’s authentic look and feeling. Which, for some, could be enough to enjoy this story. In contrast, those looking for more fully fleshed out characters (particularly supporting characters) will be disappointed. The Smashing Machine is not one of the 2025’s best films. But what’s undeniable is that, qualms and all, the gritty filmmaking delivers an effective finished product.
The Smashing Machine is now available to rent or buy.
Learn more about the film at the IMDB site for the title.
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