Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt, this film follows the emotionally tumultuous journey of MMA fighter (and Phoenix local) Mark Kerr. We were given the unique opportunity to attend an advance IMAX screening of the film at AMC Desert Ridge, which was attended by Kerr and his family, as well as his ex-wife, Dawn Staples, whom Blunt portrays in the movie.

The new A24 film releases in theaters nationwide on Oct. 3, 2025, and was filmed for IMAX screens (so go see it the way it was intended).

Larisa: I’ll be the first to admit that movies centered around sports aren’t usually my go-to, so I wasn’t sure how I’d react, but The Smashing Machine fully exceeded my expectations. One of the biggest talking points surrounding the film was Safdie’s choice to change the format as the story progresses. In a recent video on A24’s Instagram, Safdie explains how the film starts off being filmed in VHS and then switches to 16 mm, before finally transitioning into 65 mm. This stylistic choice broke barriers in what was considered possible for IMAX films. Originally, Safdie was told it would be impossible for 16 mm film to be put into IMAX, but he found a way to reduce the grain and create the brilliant format that was finally used.

The shifts in the story and its tone are incredibly well-represented by the film changes, bringing the audience even closer to the action and the characters, as well as making the film feel representative of the late 90s early 2000s timeline in which it's taking place. The score aids in bringing the audience into the scenes, often with a creative use of fast-paced experimental jazz, twisting the idea of the classic ring match presentation while still keeping the high stakes nature of the scene intact.

Besides the formatting, Johnson’s performance was what truly surprised me. As someone who’s seen quite a few of his movies, I’ve never seen him in a performance quite like this one. Despite The Rock being such a recognizable figure, his presence never took me out of the movie like I expected it to. Instead, I was fully taken aback by how well he handled some of the more emotional and raw scenes, which isn’t something audiences have really seen from him before. Some of my favorite moments from the movie are when he’s sharing the screen with Blunt, who is already an emotional force in the film. While the tension they create is far from the typical levels of a traditional Safdie movie, it still carries a weight that is palpable for the audience. The camera’s perspective brings this out further, with interactions being filmed from a further-back, almost hidden vantage point, similar to how the shots in the ring are filmed, creating the same high intensity feeling.

From my perspective, the tension was even more present with both Kerr and Staples being in attendance at the screening. During multiple dramatic moments, I, admittedly, had to force myself to not glance in their direction.

While the movie hits home his incredible skill in the ring, it also does a great job representing the gentler and kinder side of Kerr. After the screening, the local celebrity took the time to stay and talk with everyone who wanted to see him, taking pictures with what may have well been almost everyone in the audience.

I had the opportunity to briefly talk with Kerr after the screening, and ask what it was like to have a movie made about such an emotional time in his life.

“I use the word surreal, but surreal’s really not it,” Kerr explained. “It’s a blessing and it puts me in a state of permanent gratitude, to have something like this portrayed by who’s doing it. Benny Safdie, Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson, a trio of amazing people. It’s a sense of gratitude.”

Overall, I can’t wait to see audiences react to this emotional rollercoaster of a film. While I don’t know if this will be the film that scores The Rock his first Oscar nomination, I can say that I’m excited for his new foray into more serious roles, as well as the beginnings of Safdie’s new solo-directing era. Be sure to see “The Smashing Machine” (in IMAX if you can!) in theaters on October 3rd.

Gib: I went into this piece having this pretty crazed idea of what the film would be. If you have ever seen a Benny Safdie film (think Uncut Gems or Good Time), you would probably have the same general vibe that I did. I expected something dark and thrilling, something that makes you feel claustrophobic with the level of tension ever present within the story.

To my surprise, while the film was tense at times and did have its share of darker themes and moments, these seemed to take a backseat in what was ultimately a story about self-preservation and regrowth after tragedy. What I was expecting to be the main focus in the film, Mark Kerr’s drug use throughout his time as a competitor, seemed to mainly happen off screen except for a few key moments. What I thought was going to be about his life during this struggle with an opioid addiction was actually a depiction of the aftermath of it all, and his resurgence back into the sport he was doing it all for in the first place.

Because this plotline is something that is mainly touched on at the beginning of the film and the rest is about said recovery, this is not the typical scene for a Safdie film. My experience watching this was not suffocating, and I was not on the edge of my seat, gripping to my extra large Dr. Pepper in anticipation.

All this goes to say though, that this subversion of expectations is not a bad thing. Was the movie super intense? No it was not. But, this seemed to better reflect the man it was about. Dwayne Johnson’s depiction of Mark Kerr was brilliant, as he did a great job of showing him as just a really good guy. While Kerr is a fighting legend, he also really cares about his friends. He is a massive muscly man that worries about “upsetting his tummy” (he actually says this I am not kidding). Mark Kerr was a man dealing with a horrible disease, and came out the other end of it.

The usual ways these Safdie films go is not usually in favor of the main character. Half the time, you don’t even want to route for them. With Johnson’s performance, you may want to get up in the theater and cheer like you were watching that UFC fight live.

The emotion portrayed within this film was really where it shined. My favorite scene is one that takes place while Kerr is hospitalized and has a visit from his friend Mark Coleman, played by Ryan Bader. Kerr is emotionally distraught and begins to sob. To see someone who is categorized as the “ideal man” and the ultimate fighter, break down was an incredibly powerful moment. This moment was the catalyst to the rest of the film which was honestly sometimes heartwarming. This was something that I don’t think could have been properly translated if it was the usual Safdie style.

The most intense moments actually came from Kerr’s ex wife, Dawn Staples, who is played by Emily Blunt. The way Blunt and Johnson play off of each other is a sight to see, and you can see this chemistry between the two.

 I have this issue with both actors actually, where I am constantly aware of who they are at all times. I watched the “Jungle Cruise”, also starring them, and the entire time I kept thinking “Oh wow, The Rock and Emily Blunt are in a jungle.” Thankfully, both actors were absolutely transformative in these roles. What works about their relationship so well is that the viewer cannot choose one person who is in “the right” for all of their fights, which is a very realistic point to be making.

Overall, the real charm here was the character work. Not to say I didn’t care about the actual UFC fighting, but I found what interested me the most was the emotional depth of Kerr and everyone else in his life. I would have honestly liked some more scenes of people just talking or interacting with each other rather than the multiple fighting montages, but I am a sucker for character exploration.

Overall, a pretty great film with a career best performance from Johnson. Mark Kerr is a very kind man, I hope he and his Ford F-150 they show at the end of the movie have a joyous life together.

Spencer: When I heard of the Safdie brothers' breakup, I fell to my knees and curled up into a ball. After all, they were one of the greatest director duos in film history. Months later, “The Smashing Machine” was announced, Benny Safdie’s first solo run as director. I was cautiously optimistic when I clicked on the trailer, but any fears were quickly alleviated after witnessing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in his most transformative role yet, alongside the always-great Emily Blunt. The movie looked intense, powerful, and most of all, Safdie.

The film doesn’t wait to get into the action. We first see Mark Kerr in his first official MMA fight, and is already a dominant force. The movie moves quickly from 1997 to 1999, where Kerr has continued to be a threat in the MMA World. For someone so dominant, so forceful, Kerr turns out to be a pretty calm, caring person. Johnson portrays him as a soft spoken guy, someone who’s happy to take the time out of his day to talk to a fan, or just a curious passerby. This was later proven when the real-life Kerr stood outside the theater for 30 minutes, taking photos with every single fan until late at night.

This is what makes Kerr such a layered, likeable character. Even during his worst times, like his severe drug addiction and subsequent recovery, the audience understands and sympathizes with him. He’s clearly hurting and using hard drugs to manage his pain. But he still manages to be a character the audience likes during those times. He has a sensitive tummy and loves to watch the sunset; he’s compassionate in his everyday life. He’s obviously flawed and leaves his wife, Dawn Staples, out of the loop. But we understand his motivation and drive, and want him to succeed.

Blunt is similarly great, portraying Staples as a loving, caring wife who also switches her emotions on a dime. She and Johnson play off each other so well; they have genuine chemistry and seem to care for each other, but there’s clearly a toxic element in their relationship. Another performance to mention is Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman. Bader is a UFC fighter, but he acted well, though perhaps was a little stiff in his line delivery. Despite that, his moments with Kerr were genuine, and the friendship portrayed on screen was convincing.

Two elements of the film really stood out to me: the score and the visual style. As Larisa mentioned, the film goes from VHS to 16 mm to 65 mm, which creates a distinct style that helps to differentiate the acts in the movie. The graininess gave a wonderfully authentic feel and just added to the grittiness of the film.  It almost gives an amateurish feel, especially during scenes where the camera physically moves like someone is walking around. But that amateur look just makes the era even more authentic and adds a sense of intimacy between the characters and the audience.

The music was the element of the film that left me in awe. Nala Sinephro created the atmospheric, collage-like soundtrack for the movie. It gives such a different feel to the fighting scenes. Where fighting biopics would typically play more fast-paced, heroic music, “The Smashing Machine” uses dreamy, eclectic, and uncomfortable songs. It vilifies the violence, making each punch, each knee to the face, each elbow to the back of the head, a truly painful experience. It was uncomfortable to see someone get brutally injured for entertainment and money, and the music helps to make you slow down and actually realize what you’re seeing. It does the opposite of so many sports movies, which is to glorify the violence. “The Smashing Machine” takes a page from “Raging Bull” and forces the audience to witness the brutality and just sit with it.

Overall, Benny Safdie proved that he was a more than capable writer/director on his own. He created a singular piece of cinema, reminiscent of his past work but delightfully unique. It’s a film that works within the sports biopic genre, while breaking so many of the rules that define it. It’s a great addition to Benny Sadfie’s filmography and will be a big hit with both general audiences and indie filmgoers alike. Oh, and I’m excited to see what Josh Safdie does with “Marty Supreme” this winter! Safdie brother supremacy!