Dwayne Johnson, known worldwide as The Rock, demonstrated extraordinary dedication while filming The Smashing Machine, a biographical sports film where he plays MMA fighter Mark Kerr. During a pivotal fight scene, Johnson was punched so forcefully that he nearly lost consciousness, an experience he described as genuinely hitting his bell and feeling disoriented on set.
Johnson, 53, explained that this realistic portrayal was intentional since he insisted on performing his own stunts to make the audience feel the raw intensity of the fights depicted in the film.
Method Acting and Real Reactions in the Ring
Johnson recounted during a combat sports media roundtable on September 22 that a moment captured in the trailer, where he appears dazed on his knees, was an authentic reaction after receiving a hard punch. He said,
“It felt like when you get rocked by a real fighter multiple times,” Dwayne Johnson, Actor
“There’s a moment in the trailer where I’m on my knees in the ring and I look up dazed. That’s real. I got my bell rung. Benny said, ‘Hold on! Stay right there!’ I was seeing three heads of Benny Safdie and 15 heads of Mark Kerr.”
The director Benny Safdie, 39, chose to keep the camera focused closely in the ring, capturing Johnson’s genuine response rather than cutting away from the action. This approach meant Johnson’s scene partner had to strike with full force despite initial reluctance.
The Fight for Authenticity: Encouraging Full-Force Punches
Johnson described how he instructed his scene partner to hit him without holding back, emphasizing the importance of realism because the film’s ending depended on this raw truth.
He explained,
“I said, ‘Hey brother, you’re pulling the punches. You need to lay it in and hit me,'”
“He said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘Benny isn’t cutting away. This is the end of the movie. You know this really happened to Mark. You have to lay it in.’ I said, ‘Look, just don’t hit me here, you’ll break my jaw. Don’t hit me in the temple, you’ll kill me. But if you can hit me in my cheekbone.’”
Despite the partner’s hesitation, Johnson continued negotiating support from Benny Safdie, who insisted on no camera cuts. With his encouragement, the partner began striking him full force.
Johnson admitted,
“He hit me so hard! That’s what you see in the movie. Not only is he hitting me, but I realized watching back that he’s coming down. That was a punch! Dude!”
Physical Transformation for Portraying Mark Kerr
To accurately embody Kerr, Johnson underwent a significant physical makeover, which included spending three to four hours daily in hair and makeup. His lean frame was prominently displayed at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, where the film premiered.
He reflected on this transformation in early September, saying,
“This transformation was something I was really hungry to do,” Dwayne Johnson, Actor
“I had been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had over the years and to make the films that I’ve made, but there was just a voice inside of me, a little voice that said, ‘Well, what if I could do more — I want to do more and what does that look like?’”
Exploring Deeper Emotional Themes Beyond Fighting
Beyond the physical demands and fight scenes, Johnson emphasized that the movie focuses on more than just combat. He shared that the story deeply explores Mark Kerr’s personal life, especially his relationship with Dawn Staples, highlighting moments of struggle, addiction, and recovery.
Johnson explained,
“Mark was the greatest fighter in the world at one point, but this film is not even really about fighting — it’s a love story,”
“It’s a love story about Mark and Dawn in this relationship, and it’s a love story about Mark and the love that he had for the thing that he did — his struggle with trying to deliver [in the ring], his challenges and his overcoming. As you know, Mark OD’d twice, and he’s lucky to be alive — and that’s part of why this story is so special.”
The Film’s Impact and Anticipation
The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie, aims to present an unfiltered look at Kerr’s life, mixing fierce combat with raw emotional depth. Johnson’s intense preparation and commitment to realism highlight the dedication behind the project, which is expected to resonate with both fight fans and viewers interested in stories of human resilience.
By choosing to embrace the painful physicality and vulnerabilities of Kerr’s journey, Johnson has created a gripping portrayal that challenges the typical sports biopic, promising a powerful cinematic experience when the film becomes widely available.
