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Studio: A24
Release Date: 1/6/2026
Rating: R
Film Grade: B
The Story: Pioneering UFC fighter, Mark Kerr doesn’t know what losing feels like. His wrestling background paired with pure drive and determination have earned him the nickname of The Smashing Machine. A gentle giant out of the ring, his appearance changes once inside, revealing a relentlessly ruthless fighter. But those matches come with a cost, one that will impact him and those closest to him.
My Take: I don’t follow UFC fighting so knew very little about the sport or the participants, but the title drew my attention as did my curiosity about Dwayne Johnson trying to pull off a dramatic role. So, the big question was whether or not The Rock could fit within a serious story.
The answer is yes, he can, and credibly. Give him some hair and facial appliances, and discard the flashing smiles and trademark quips and he becomes a convincing Mark Kerr. He’s aided by director and writer Benny Safdi (Uncut Gems) who put together a script that keeps those unfamiliar with Kerr’s story wondering how it will turn out. Unlike the short timeline in Uncut Gems, this movie takes place over three years so there are large, uncovered gaps which lessens some of the uneasy tension that the earlier effort emphasized so well.
Instead, this movie is more focused on personal battles, both internal and external. Yes, there are fight scenes, but they take a back seat to the out-of-ring conflicts which are really the core of the film. Brutal fights have Kerr turning to opioids for relief, which have a profound impact on both his fighting career and character. This is one of the early themes of the movie, but it’s not just about that, as there are other elements about competition and the drive for success that add additional layers.
Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn, is played by Emily Blunt, and their relationship has plenty of ups and downs. At times it’s hard to see what brought, and holds, the two together. We get a glimpse of the physical aspect during an early gym training scene, but in their private moments there’s more contention than stability, keeping the audience guessing how things will eventually end up.
The other main relationship is between Kerr and his friend/fellow fighter, Mark Coleman, played by UFC fighter Ryan Bader. Bader adds additional authenticity to the relationship between the two fighters as competitors and close friends. The three form an intertwined, non-romantic triangle, with Kerr bouncing between the two for support. Much of this tension is displayed non-verbally every time the three are together, which is a credit to Safdi’s direction. He also used real MMA fighters in smaller roles, such as Bas Rutten playing himself.
The one drawback of the story is that it spans such a long timeline that some sections are left unexplored. The emphasis on immediacy of specific events and conversations leave some narrative gaps that makes the movie feel slightly disjointed. I often feel that most movies are too long, but another 15 to 20 minutes could have added some additional depth to the story without exhausting the audience’s attention.
Visuals: Most of the production was filmed with two 16mm cameras, with the footage digitally degrained, but not so extensively to be completely removed. The result is a picture with lots of color saturation combined with good contrast and deep blacks. The digital scrubbing wasn’t heavily used and I didn’t see any evidence of smeary details or waxy faces.
The movie opens with footage that was shot on film and transferred multiple times to digital, then back again, and finally made to look like VHS footage transferred to YouTube. The transition is effective, leaving the audience to feel like they’ve been transferred via time machine to that time and place.
There are a few shots filmed in IMAX (talk about going to extremes) but the change wasn’t evident enough for me to notice. That could be credited to how involving the story was. Much of the camera work was hand held, giving the movie an almost documentary feel, aiding the realism of the story.
Audio: The Blu-ray carries the Atmos mix (thanks, A24!) that concentrates on envelopment and clarity. While I couldn’t find any scenes that passed my bird test, tops are used extensively. Early in the movie they’re used for the arena’s PA system and they’re used almost constantly for the score.
And what a score it is. Rather than go for a heavy, driving rock or orchestral sound, Nala Sinephro turned to a jazz-themed style that emphasizes sax and drums that works surprisingly well, if coming across a bit odd at first. The kick drums hit hard, and the saxophone adds an eerie element that creates a feeling of disconnect from the action on screen. One might liken it to the feel of an athlete in the moment, where the world around him ceases to exist, deeply focused on executing precise actions. Unconventional, but effective. Sinephro also makes an appearance in the film as a harpist playing the National Anthem.
Special Features: The making of featurette has lots of information in it, including details about the film equipment, set construction, and makeup (no, Johnson didn’t grow out his hair, that’s a wig). The last part was particularly fascinating in that there’s a time lapse showing the extensive makeup process that transformed him into Kerr without sacrificing any subtle details in his facial expressions. I only had enough time to sample part of Safdie’s commentary, but found it insightful, interesting, and well worth listening to.
- Director Commentary with Benny Safdie
- “What It Means to be a Fighter: Making the Smashing Machine" Featurette
- 16mm Camera Test
- Deleted Scenes
- Set of Six Collectible Postcards
Final Verdict: This is a fine, character-driven film that should appeal to an audience beyond sports or UFC fanatics. In tone, I found it similar to The Wrestler, but dealing with a man still in his fighting prime rather than one who is adjusting to post-ring life. While there are violent fighting scenes, the movie places a stronger emphasis on emotional and mental conflicts versus the physical battles one would expect. UFC fans may find exception to some of the events portrayed, but they didn’t affect my outsider view of the film.
Recommended for anyone looking for a good story based on real events or for those curious about The Rock’s acting ability, my wife and I both found it worth watching, even if it didn’t turn us into UFC fans. It’s often wondered what will happen with cinema as the old guard retires or passes away. Movies like this make it clear that the craft will continue with talent like Benny Safdie, who has proven for a second time that he can get believable dramatic performances from unlikely candidates.
Absurd, but Revealing, Quote: “But we're having a party.”
https://youtu.be/a23Y8akHdFM
This review was written by a human without the use of AI.
My Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup