The Smashing Machine (2025)
from The MadHouse Hosted by Max Rios
This biopic was written and directed by Benny Safdie & based on the real life story of MMA fighter, “The Smashing Machine” Mark Kerr. The film stars Dwayne Johnson as Kerr alongside Emily Blunt. Current MMA Fighter Ryan Bader plays UFC legend, Mark Coleman and Bas Rutten plays himself. In this film, Mark Kerr is slowly working up the ranks of a new combat sport known as mixed martial arts, or MMA and its newly formed organization, the UFC but his career and personal life take an unexpected turn as his star begins to grow. With fame & fortune comes the dark side of sports which includes drugs and alcohol. In 2019, Dwayne Johnson had announced that he would portray Kerr in a major film but things didn’t take off until 2023 when A24 join the project. The film hit premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on September 1st, 2025 where it won the Silver Lion and hit theaters nationwide on October 3rd. Despite an underwhelming box office return, Dwayne Johnson & Emily Blunt were both nominated for Golden Globes. The film landed the streaming service, HBO Max in February 2026.
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