At a Directors Guild of America screening in Los Angeles on October 5, acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan expressed remarkable admiration for Dwayne Johnson’s performance in The Smashing Machine, defying early skepticism surrounding the film. During an interview with director Benny Safdie, Nolan described Johnson’s portrayal of MMA fighter Mark Kerr as “an incredible performance,” calling it “heartbreaking.” He further emphasized,
“I don’t think you’ll see a better performance this year or most other years.”
Despite opening weekend ticket sales of just $6 million across 3,300 theaters, Nolan’s enthusiastic endorsement gained rapid attention and took industry observers by surprise.
Dwayne Johnson’s Reaction to the Acclaim
Johnson, seated among the audience that night, found Nolan’s praise deeply invigorating. The actor shared,
“It was the most inspiring thing anyone has ever said about me.”
Reflecting on the moment in a later interview on October 31, Johnson revealed how Nolan’s words struck him more profoundly because of the setting and timing, during the film’s challenging debut. He added that other respected colleagues, like Matt Damon, had also acknowledged the enduring nature of the film, with Damon telling him,
“In what we do, we’re lucky enough, sometimes, to make a film that endures.”
Describing his physical and emotional response, Johnson recounted,
“Once it started to sink in, I was having an out-of-body experience. I was sitting next to my wife and I grabbed her hand so hard, and she squeezed my hand back.”
Backstage, encouraged by his wife Lauren Hashian, the singer, Johnson approached Nolan to express his gratitude.
He said,
“I just gave him the biggest hug and the biggest kiss on the cheek. All I could say was ‘Thank you.’ And he said, ‘I meant what I said. You were heartbreaking, and the best performance of the year.’ I gave him another hug. That was all I could muster.”
Johnson’s Career Shift with The Smashing Machine
Before undertaking this complex character portrait in The Smashing Machine, Johnson was known for playing confident, larger-than-life roles, many of which drew on his background as a professional wrestler and blockbuster star. He referred to his previous work as a “comfort zone,” with audiences reliably knowing what to expect whenever he appeared on screen. His notable franchises include Jumanji and The Fast and the Furious, while family audiences recognize him as the charismatic and humorous character in Moana.
However, in The Smashing Machine, Johnson navigated uncharted territory by portraying a troubled MMA fighter facing addiction, personal setbacks, and professional disappointment. This role challenged him to embrace deeper emotional vulnerability than he had previously allowed himself. Johnson admitted,
“I was in a comfort zone for quite some time, making these big films — they’re hard to do, but they are comfortable. What I was scared of was exposing myself and exploring the deepest, darkest traumas.”
Johnson’s physical transformation was as significant as his psychological one, gaining 30 pounds of muscle and enduring daily prosthetic applications to convincingly portray Kerr’s athletic build and worn appearance. The film’s character-driven narrative revealed layers of pain and hope, crafting an ending that, like the original Rocky, showed its hero defeated but looking toward the future with quiet optimism.
The Smashing Machine’s Industry Reception and Box Office Context
The film’s release came at a challenging moment for independent adult dramas, with many mid-budget projects failing to meet box office expectations in 2025. Costing approximately $50 million, The Smashing Machine was unlikely to turn a profit for distributor A24 amid a shifting theatrical landscape. Despite the film’s subdued commercial performance, its artistic merit and emotional depth distinguished it in a season crowded with underperforming star vehicles. As audiences increasingly transition to streaming and other formats, theatrical success may no longer predict Oscar consideration as strongly as before.
Emily Blunt, Johnson’s co-star, expressed optimism about the film’s potential to reach viewers despite these obstacles:
“A film like this that defies the curation system makes me so proud. I know it is getting rarer and rarer. You can’t persuade people to go see a movie anymore without a great story. I think word of mouth will be really exciting, and I hope that it can stretch out and many people can experience it.”
Filming Process and Behind-the-Scenes Dynamics
Director Benny Safdie, known for his precise attention to authenticity, chose a real MMA gym in Vancouver to shoot key scenes, capturing the gritty environment where Mark Kerr lived and fought. With the cast and crew working in an intensely hot and stifling gym space, Blunt reminisced on the sensory details:
“Smell of glove, smell of crotch,”
she said, highlighting the evocative realism they brought to the production.
Blunt was instrumental in connecting Johnson with Safdie, encouraging the adaptation of the 2002 documentary into a narrative feature. Having acted with Safdie in Oppenheimer, she described herself as “the matchmaker for them dating,” although she hesitated to impose herself on the project. Eventually cast as Dawn Staples, Kerr’s girlfriend, Blunt portrayed a character who breaks free from typical clichés, emphasizing complex emotions and a fuller dimension:
“The ‘girlfriend’ role — I don’t feel we straitjacketed her to that, because of Benny’s interest in seeing the full spectrum of every human being in the movie.”
Blunt spent time with the real Dawn Staples, who was initially wary of the film due to its raw depiction of a difficult chapter in her life, and the couple’s troubled relationship. Blunt explained,
“The gloves were up at first — because the documentary was made under a male gaze.”
Still, Staples sought to safeguard the tenderness in the story, wanting the film to reveal moments of love and devotion amid chaos:
“Yes, the devotion was mixed with destruction, but it still existed.”
Portraying Realistic Relationship Struggles
Safdie’s filmmaking style helped deliver powerful authenticity to Mark and Dawn’s turbulent relationship by using hidden cameras in their shared living space, encouraging the actors to stay fully present and reactive rather than perform for the camera. He explained,
“I always want to stay out of the way. I want them to just be present.”
This approach created scenes that felt intimate and, at times, voyeuristic, which deeply affected Blunt:
“When I saw the film, I felt like its arms came out and pulled me inside of it. It was so visceral.”
Despite the film’s weighty themes, the creators aimed for an ending that offered some hope. The real Mark Kerr appears in a brief but poignant cameo near the close, reinforcing his survival and resilience. Blunt noted,
“People can’t relate to the guy with his fist in the air at the end. But they can relate to the peace of being OK with yourself despite this brutal life. None of us relate to being the heavyweight champ of the world, but we all relate to struggle, and we all relate to pressure.”
Success at Venice Film Festival and Emotional Validation
The Smashing Machine premiered internationally at the Venice Film Festival, earning the Best Director award from a jury led by Alexander Payne, accompanied by a 15-minute standing ovation. Johnson recounted his emotional response:
“It was just validation of this seemingly once-in-a-lifetime journey. Not only for us, but also for the man who actually lived it.”
Kerr sat beside Johnson in the audience as the film unfolded, visibly moved throughout and especially during the final moments. Johnson reflected,
“He was shaking throughout the film — and that final 15 minutes of the film, the emotional excavation, he’s really crying.”
Unlike today’s much-hyped fighters, Kerr did not enjoy widespread fame or fortune during his career, making this recognition especially meaningful. Johnson said,
“I was so happy for Mark, that audience telling him, You lived a life. And we all see ourselves in your life.”
Physical Transformation and Prosthetic Makeup Details
To convincingly embody Kerr’s unique physique, Johnson underwent extensive physical training focused on developing the specific qualities of a grappler’s musculature, describing Kerr’s body as a “unicorn body” shaped by wrestling’s fast-twitch demands. Safdie remarked on the difficulty of this transformation, quipping,
“That tight waist is so hard when you’re gaining weight!”
While Johnson’s muscle gain was obvious, his prosthetic makeover was more subtle. Safdie chose a middle path to preserve Dwayne Johnson’s essence while suggesting the real fighter’s facial features.
“I want you to come through. Because I know that you’re exploring a lot of yourself in this movie. And I don’t want that to be missed,”
the director told Johnson. Safdie himself added a personal touch, referencing his own eyebrows as inspiration for the makeup artist’s work on Kerr, injecting humor into the process.
Johnson’s iconic “People’s Eyebrow,” a hallmark of his WWE career, was deliberately toned down, signaling his determination to fully vanish into the role rather than rely on familiar trademarks. This courageous departure marks a turning point for the actor, emphasizing his commitment to fully inhabiting complex, demanding characters.
Career Impacts on Johnson, Blunt, and Safdie
For Emily Blunt, 42, the project reaffirms her pursuit of bold, auteur-driven film roles before her upcoming high-profile projects, including an untitled Steven Spielberg action picture and The Devil Wears Prada 2. For Benny Safdie, 39, The Smashing Machine represents his first solo directorial feature after collaborating with his brother Josh for years. The film’s release coincided with the unexpected screening of Marty Supreme, a sports drama directed by Josh Safdie at the New York Film Festival, igniting rumors of a rift between the brothers. Benny stated,
“In that moment, I was thinking about this movie.”
When prompted about the gossip, he described it as “shocking,” while Blunt added,
“You are allowed to be a single entity.”
Benny credited the split to wanting to explore different creative paths, saying,
“We did great things together, and we learned in that process, and it just came to a place where it’s like, What do you want to explore, and what do I want to explore? And you just do that.”
Johnson’s New Approach to Filmmaking
Johnson is charting a fresh course away from the safe franchises that made him a worldwide star, embracing projects that challenge him artistically and personally. He acknowledged the unusual experience of not prioritizing box office concerns during the film’s debut week:
“I have not thought about box office once. Not once.”
Blunt observed the emotional exposure such choices entail:
“You also know that if the movie doesn’t work, they’re coming for you, and it is personal — and it hurts that it’s personal. But there’s a myriad of other reasons why a movie might not work, but they would come swinging for you. Exposure to that is not really for the faint of heart.”
Johnson recognized the beauty in vulnerability and endurance, drawing a parallel to the resilience embodied by Mark Kerr:
“Like Mark Kerr — we’re OK.”
He affirmed that the process of making The Smashing Machine has fundamentally transformed his perspective on storytelling:
“In ways that I could expect, perhaps in ways that I was hoping. But it completely changed the way I look at stories.”
No longer content to be a supporting player to commercial imperatives, Johnson declared,
“From ‘Smashing Machine’ forward, I will make movies for me. Because they’re my dream. Not anyone else’s.”
Upcoming Projects and Personal Connections
Johnson’s collaboration with Benny Safdie continues with the upcoming adaptation of Daniel Pinkwater’s 1976 young-adult novel Lizard Music. The story centers on a child, Victor, who hears mysterious music from another realm and teams up with the eccentric “Chicken Man,” played by Johnson, to investigate. Safdie explained the book’s appeal:
“There’s something about what that book does to kids. It gives them a license to feel independent.”
The actor resonated with the tale’s themes, remarking,
“I am that little kid. To watch my parents go through these things and to clearly see that things weren’t great.”
Blunt lightened the mood with a joke, asking, “Can I be a lizard?” to which Johnson enthusiastically replied,
“I’ll be any lizard you want!”
Channeling Personal Experience into Performance
Johnson’s ability to access personal trauma lent his portrayal an unmistakable authenticity, something Nolan recognized during the screening. The director singled out Johnson’s scene in a hospital bed where his character hides tears beneath the sheets after a confrontation with a close friend. Johnson said,
“If I say to you, ‘I understand,’ what I’m saying is I’ve lived it. I’ve reached this point in my life, my fifth level, where if I say I understand, that’s because I’ve lived it. I lived that moment.”
Johnson drew inspiration from a deeply personal moment with his mother, recently diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer, recalling,
“When you’re diagnosed with that, you have to start planning things you don’t want to plan. The doctor comes in and says, ‘We’re going to do our best to take care of you.’ In that moment, she pulled her sheets over her face and just starts bawling.”
The vulnerability he witnessed in her transformed his approach to the role.
“It’s almost like she got reduced to being a little girl, just wanting to hide away,”
he said. Johnson embraced this painful openness, stating,
“I took that moment and applied it.”
Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity in His Craft
For years, Johnson built his career on stalwart confidence and assured charisma, but The Smashing Machine demanded a new depth of commitment. He explained,
“What this has allowed me to do — and perhaps I didn’t realize this in the past — is, when I find something, whatever it is, I can give my complete heart and soul. And I want and need them to be different from each other. I’m not looking to deliver more of the same. For decades, it was audience first. But the thing that sets my soul first is an idea of audience first as my full self. My complete self.”
This candid reflection reveals a pivotal moment for Johnson, who now prioritizes authenticity and personal connection over formulaic success. His willingness to expose hidden parts of himself represents significant artistic growth, challenging his long-held perceptions of celebrity and storytelling.
A New Chapter in Johnson’s Career
In the course of several conversations, Johnson’s intensity and emotional honesty surprised even seasoned observers familiar with his extensive body of work. His commanding presence remains — the shiny bald head, broad shoulders, and easy charisma — but now it carries a new sense of purpose shaped by experience and courage. His shirt during one interview bore a single word, Vanquish, symbolizing a spirit of resilience and reinvention that defines this phase of his career.
The Smashing Machine stands as a testament to Johnson’s willingness to redefine himself beyond blockbuster expectations and commercial certainty. As he moves forward, audiences can expect him to pursue projects that reflect his authentic dreams and complex humanity, marking a profound evolution for a figure once firmly rooted in mainstream action and franchise filmmaking.
