UFC Icon Defends Dwayne Johnson After The Smashing Machine Flops
Few Hollywood stars have taken as bold a turn as Dwayne Johnson did when portraying UFC legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. In this film, Johnson set aside his usual blockbuster charm to deliver a raw portrayal of addiction, redemption, and physical sacrifice.
Critical Praise Despite Box Office Disappointment
His performance earned critical acclaim and early Oscar buzz, yet the film's commercial results were underwhelming. UFC commentator Bruce Buffer expressed disappointment over the movie’s box-office performance during his podcast with TJ De Santis and Ray Longo.
"It was a tour de force for The Rock and Emily Blunt. They did a fantastic job with what they were given," Buffer said. "For the benefit of Mark Kerr, I was hoping it'd be a huge hit because I'd hope Mark had a piece of the action."
Film Direction and Production
Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, the film abandons the polished spectacle usually associated with Johnson's projects. Instead, it presents the bruised humanity of a man battling inner demons as intensely as his opponents.
Johnson’s Commitment to the Role
According to MMA Fighting, Johnson dedicated up to four hours daily in prosthetics to authentically capture Kerr’s physical and emotional transformation inside and outside the cage.