The Smashing Machine

About The Smashing Machine

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 opioid dependence and a volatile relationship with his girlfriend Dawn.

The Smashing Machine (2025) is a history film directed by Benny Safdie. It runs 123 minutes and was released in October 2025.

Its themes are drug addiction, biographical drama, mixed martial arts (MMA), and depressed. The story is adapted from real events.

Dwayne Johnson stars as Mark Kerr, Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples, Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman, and Bas Rutten as Bas Rutten. The screenplay is by Benny Safdie. Production companies include A24, Magnetic Fields Entertainment, and Out for the Count. In the United States it streams on HBO Max and HBO Max Amazon Channel.

Better Man, I, Tonya, and Blow make useful companions to The Smashing Machine, all filed under 1990s and biography. TMDB voters put it at 6.4 out of 10 across 741 votes and it carries a R rating.