The Smashing Machine

Benny Safdie is the writer, director, co-producer, and editor of the upcoming American biographical sports drama film The Smashing Machine. Emily Blunt plays Kerr's ex-wife Dawn Staples, while Dwayne Johnson plays former wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr. Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk play supporting parts.

Directed by

Benny Safdie

Written by

Benny Safdie

Produced by

Benny Safdie
Dwayne Johnson
Eli Bush
Hiram Garcia
Dany Garcia
David Koplan

Starring

Cinematography

Maceo Bishop

Edited by

Benny Safdie

Music by

Nala Sinephro

Production

companies

A24
Out for the Count
Seven Bucks Productions
Magnetic Fields Entertainment

Distributed by

A24

Release date

October 3, 2025

Country

United States

Language

English

Budget

$40 million

The film is slated to be released by A24 on October 3, 2025.

1 Cast

Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr
Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples
Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman
Bas Rutten as himself
Oleksandr Usyk as Igor Vovchanchyn
Lyndsey Gavin as Elizabeth Coleman
Satoshi Ishii as Enson Inoue
James Moontasri as Akira Shoji
Yoko Hamamura as Kazuyuki Fujita
Stephen Quadros as himself
Paul Cheng as Masaaki Satake
Cyborg Abreu as Fábio Gurgel
Andre Tricoteux as Paul Varelans
Marcus Aurélio as Mestre Hulk
Whitney Moore as Jacqueline
Paul Lazenby as Hans Nijman
Olga Dzyurak as Igor's Translator
Ryan Ventura as Pride FC Ring Announcer
Zoe Kosovic as McKenzie Coleman

2 Production

A24 stated in December 2023 that it was developing a biographical sports drama film about Mark Kerr's life and career, with Dwayne Johnson starring and Benny Safdie writing and directing. [1] Johnson revealed at the 2024 Academy Awards that Blunt would play Kerr's wife Dawn Staples in the movie. [2] In May 2024, Zoe Kosovic, Bas Rutten, Ryan Bader, Oleksandr Usyk, and Lyndsey Gavin joined the cast. [3] [4]

Principal photography was place in places like New Mexico, Tokyo, and Vancouver between May 21 and August 7, 2024 [5]. The film was filmed on 16mm film by cinematographer Maceo Bishop, who collaborated with Safdie on The Curse (2023–2024). [6] Johnson announced on tweeted later that year that the score would be written by Belgian artist Nala Sinephro. [7] [8] [9]

3 Release

On October 3, 2025, the Smashing Machine is expected to be released in the US. [10] On April 29, 2025, the film's first trailer was made public. [11]

4 See also

List of boxing films

5 References

Mia Gallupo (13 December 2023). "Dwayne Johnson to Play MMA Fighter Mark Kerr in A24 Movie from Benny Safdie" . The reporter from Hollywood. On December 13, 2023, the original content was archived. December 13, 2023. Retrieved. Ramos Diego Bechara (March 10, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson Talks Reuniting With Emily Blunt for New MMA Drama, 'Possibly' Reteaming for 'Jungle Cruise 2'" . diversity. On March 11, 2024, the original content was archived. taken from March 11, 2024. Emily Brown (May 21, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson is completely unrecognizable in new movie role leaving fans shocked" . UNILAD. On May 21, 2024, the original content was archived. taken from May 21, 2024.

The article "Report: A24's 'The Smashing Machine' Targeting A December 2024 Release" was written by Skylar Russell on May 22, 2024. tenacious. On May 22, 2024, the original content was archived. taken from May 22, 2024. Wiseman, Andreas; Goodfellow, Melanie (August 7, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson MMA Fighter Pic 'The Smashing Machine' Scores Deals For A24 As Shooting Wraps" . Hollywood Deadline. On August 7, 2024, the original content was archived. obtained on 7 August 2024. Bill Desowitz, March 12, 2025. "20 Movies Shot on Film in 2025: Separate Safdie Brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, and More" . IndieWire. Retrieved 13 March 2025.

"Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) on X". X (previously Twitter). Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024. Sumith Prasad (March 2, 2024). "Dwayne Johnson's The Smashing Machine Starts Multi-Country Filming in May" . The movie buff. On March 2, 2024, the original content was archived. taken from March 2, 2024. Zack Sharf, May 21, 2024. "'The Smashing Machine' First Look: Dwayne Johnson Transforms into MMA Icon Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie's A24 Drama" . diversity. On May 21, 2024, the original content was archived. taken from May 21, 2024.

D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 2, 2025). "Dwayne Johnson & Benny Safdie's Mark Kerr MMA Biopic 'The Smashing Machine' From A24 Busts Its Way Into Fall". Deadline Hollywood. taken from April 2, 2025. Benjamin Lee (29 April 2025). "The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson fights for an Oscar in first trailer" . The Guardian.