In one of the year’s most surprising pairings, Dwayne Johnson and filmmaker Benny Safdie team up in The Smashing Machine, a gripping biographical drama about pioneering MMA/UFC fighter Mark Kerr.

Kerr who was instrumental in the sport’s early rise, but the brutal physical toll of fighting led him into a battle with painkiller addiction. Constant travel, particularly for the lucrative matches in Japan, only intensified the strain. While Johnson is celebrated for his action-packed, comedic roles, he brings a depth to the quiet, introspective side of Kerr, whose towering presence in the ring belied a surprisingly soft-spoken nature. Johnson’s performance is nothing short of revelatory, enhanced by Emily Blunt’s heartbreaking portrayal of Dawn, Kerr’s devoted yet devastated partner, who watches him spiral under the weight of his decisions.

The film adopts a quasi-documentary style, echoing the Safdie brothers’ hyperrealism in Good Time and Uncut Gems. The documentary vibe is further reinforced by a cast of MMA legends like Bas Rutten and Ryan Bader, along with a cameo from Kerr himself. Yet, it is the film’s ability to defy typical sports movie conventions that truly sets it apart. With its raw, unflinching honesty, The Smashing Machine offers a sports drama unlike any other, one that blends gritty realism and emotional complexity in ways that feel both fresh and authentic.