{"id":1384,"date":"2025-09-08T21:45:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T01:45:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.electronicearth.ca\/syoung\/?p=1384"},"modified":"2026-03-07T01:45:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T06:45:05","slug":"the-smashing-machine-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.electronicearth.ca\/syoung\/the-smashing-machine-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SMASHING MACHINE (2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Smashing Machine (2025)\u00a0<\/em>follows the career of legendary MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) & UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter Mark Kerr during the years 1997-2000 and the personal struggles he fought just as brutally as his opponents in the ring.<\/p>\n

Portrayed by professional wrestler and actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’<\/em> Johnson<\/a>, Mark Kerr, flanked by his girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt)<\/a>, experienced a meteoritic rise to the top as an undefeated fighter during a period when the UFC was experiencing promotional problems in the United States – taking his fight career to Japan’s Pride FC (Fighting Championships).<\/p>\n

During this period, Kerr struggled with fight-related pain medication substance-abuse problems that were amplified by stress and complications within the tumultuous relationship he had with Staples. Mixed with having never experienced failure within the ring, Kerr’s life collapses under the weight of it all when he experiences his first lost fight (which would ultimately be challenged and be ruled ‘no contest’) and becomes hospitalized from substance abuse overdose – igniting the real fight of Kerr’s life, the one within himself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The real heart of The Smashing Machine (2025)<\/em> is shown in the relationships that lie outside the ring. Not only romantically between Staples and Kerr, but also the tight bonds that are shown between Kerr and his fighting colleagues\/coaches with Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader), who flies across the country to convince his friend and training partner that he needs to make changes in his life, and Bas (Bas Rutten), who prepares Kerr for his return to fighting and in a climactic scene becomes more of a caring father figure through support and guidance for what would be catastrophic upset and turmoil for Kerr – demonstrating that while blood, sweat and tears are all apart of the fighting industry – so is love and compassion.<\/p>\n

The Smashing Machine (2025)\u00a0<\/em>is beautifully acted, Johnson’s<\/a> portrayal of Kerr as the gentle-giant outside of the ring (in contrast to brutal destroyer in it) and Blunt<\/a> embodying the object of his affections who wants equalized recognition and attention as his primary provider of support. The pair’s chemistry can’t be manufactured onscreen but is knowingly played upon by the film’s director, Benny Safdie<\/a>, as Johnson<\/a> and Blunt<\/a> are true to life best friends and one of the reasons that made the casting choices so perfect.<\/p>\n

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Not just for fight or sports enthusiasts,\u00a0The Smashing Machine (2025) <\/em>is an entertaining true life story that compels viewers to question what they’re willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of their own goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u2605 \u2605 \u2605 \u00bd \u2606 \u2606<\/p>\n

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Note:
\nThe Smashing Machine (2025) <\/em>celebrated its North American premiere during TIFF 2025 (September 4th \u2013 14th, 2025). The film releases theatrically October 3rd, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"Actor Dwayne Johnson<\/a>\u00a0(Mark Kerr)\u00a0<\/em>and director Benny Safdie<\/a> on set during production of the film The Smashing Machine (2026).
\n<\/em>Photo courtesy of VVS Films<\/em><\/p>\n

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\nActors Dwayne Johnson<\/a> (Mark Kerr)<\/em> and Emily Blunt<\/a> (Dawn Staples)<\/em> during an audience engagement opportunity for The Smashing Machine (2025)<\/em> at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Canada (September 4th \u2013 14th, 2025).
\nPhoto courtesy of VVS Films<\/em><\/p>\n

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\nActors Dwayne Johnson<\/a> (Mark Kerr)<\/em> and Emily Blunt<\/a> (Dawn Staples)<\/em> with director Benny Safdie<\/a> alongside film subject MMA fighter Mark Kerr and MMA fighter Ryan Bader (Mark Coleman) <\/em>at the North American premiere of The Smashing Machine (2025) <\/em>during the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Canada (September 4th \u2013 14th, 2025).
\nPhoto courtesy of VVS Films<\/em><\/p>\n

Header Image:
\nActors Dwayne Johnson<\/a> as Mark Kerr<\/em> and Emily Blunt<\/a> as Dawn Staples <\/em>on set during filming of The Smashing Machine (2025).
\n<\/em>Photo courtesy of VVS Films
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The Smashing Machine (2025)\u00a0follows the career of legendary MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) & UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter Mark Kerr during the years 1997-2000 and the personal struggles he fought just as brutally as his opponents in the ring. Portrayed by professional wrestler and actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Mark Kerr, flanked by his girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), experienced … <\/p>\n

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