The Smashing Machine Looks at the Early Days of a Combat Sport Politicians Wanted To Ban A fascinating but uneven actor's showcase for Dwayne Johnson. Reason · Oct 3, 2025
'The Smashing Machine' Interviews With Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson And Benny Safdie Watch our interviews with the stars and filmmaker of the Mark Kerr biopic. Cinemablend · Oct 2, 2025
Matt Damon "literally" went through The Odyssey to make Christopher Nolan's new epic, says co-star: "He would always have this incredible excitement about what we were doing" Exclusive: The Odyssey star Benny Safdie and Oppenheimer's Emily Blunt tease Matt Damon's "excitement" at leading Christopher Nolan's next movie Total Film · Oct 2, 2025
Dwayne Johnson Gives The Performance Of A Lifetime In The Year's Most Surprising Sports Movie Dwayne Johnson creates spellbinding intimacy in Benny Safdie’s sports drama. Inverse · Oct 2, 2025
The Smashing Machine director Benny Safdie says acting for Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson made him a better filmmaker: "You want somebody to say you did okay" Exclusive: The Smashing Machine director learnt a lot from Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson Total Film · Oct 1, 2025
'I Don't Look Pregnant': Dwayne Johnson Doesn't Hold Back While Talking About Losing All That Weight For New Role After slimming down, The Rock becomes The Pepple. Cinemablend · Oct 1, 2025
What Pushed Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to Transform Into Mark Kerr for ‘The Smashing Machine’ The Rock packed on the pounds to portray college wrestler turned MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the deeply personal film he says “turned into more than a movie.” Sports Illustrated · Oct 1, 2025
'Think Clint Eastwood at 75' Dwayne Johnson reveals all on slimming down for new movie Lizard Music Dwayne Johnson is pleased not to "look pregnant" anymore after channelling his inner 75-year-old Clint Eastwood to slim down for Benny Safdie's forthcoming film Lizard Music. BANG Premier · Oct 1, 2025
You’ll Never Guess How Dwayne Johnson Injured His Elbow Filming The Smashing Machine The Most Electrifying Move In On-Set Injuries? Cinemablend · Sep 30, 2025
The Rock's Biggest Gamble Yet: 'The Smashing Machine' Could Finally Bring Dwayne Johnson His First Oscar Dwayne Johnson transforms into MMA legend Mark Kerr in 'The Smashing Machine', a gritty biopic generating Oscar buzz. Could this be The Rock's first Academy Award? International Business Times UK · Sep 30, 2025
Culture Digest: The best things to do, hear, see or watch in Europe this week Large-scale sculptures illuminate Lisbon's MAAT, A24's 'The Smashing Machine' wrestles with addiction, and Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' marks the cultural event of the year. Euronews · Sep 29, 2025
The Smashing Machine isn’t the transformative Dwayne Johnson vehicle we’ve been promised – but it’s a start INSIDE FILM: Benny Safdie’s new wrestling drama has made its leading man an unexpected Oscar contender. But it’s also a clever bit of career course correction for the typically commercially minded star, writes Xan Brooks – different for him, but not so much that it could sabotage his brand The Independent UK · Sep 29, 2025
I Didn't Realize How Much Impact The Smashing Machine Actually Had On The Rock In The Live-Action Moana Movie Mark Kerr walked so live-action Maui could flex. Cinemablend · Sep 27, 2025
‘This is the first time I’ve not thought about the box office’: Dwayne Johnson on wrestling, reinvention and the role that could redefine him He became cinema’s most bankable strongman. But weary of his own persona, Johnson turned to indie director Benny Safdie – and delivered a bruising new role that rewrites his own rulebook The Guardian - UK · Sep 26, 2025
Evening Standard · Sep 25, 2025 The Smashing Machine review: average film with great Dwayne Johnson performance 3/5 Benny Safdie has successfully turned The Rock into a serious actor. But when it comes to the big moments, The Smashing Machine chokes
The Independent UK · Sep 24, 2025 Dwayne Johnson faces his fears in 'The Smashing Machine' Dwayne Johnson faces his fears in “The Smashing Machine,” a drama about MMA fighter Mark Kerr
Evening Standard · Sep 24, 2025 Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt dazzle in London at screening of The Smashing Machine The drama is earning Dayne Johnson rave reviews and some early Oscars buzz
The Independent UK · Sep 24, 2025 Dwayne Johnson dove deep for ‘The Smashing Machine,' with a little push from friends Dwayne Johnson faces his fears in “The Smashing Machine,” a drama about MMA fighter Mark Kerr
Cinemablend · Sep 22, 2025 ‘I Don't Know If You've Ever Been Asked This Before, But I Think You Need To Gain More Weight’: Dwayne Johnson On The Major Transformation He Made For The Smashing Machine The Rock being told to bulk up is just wild!
Cinemablend · Sep 16, 2025 ‘Jaws Dropped’: The Smashing Machine’s Emily Blunt Recalls Dwayne Johnson’s Wild Physical Transformation I can't wait to see this movie.
Cinemablend · Sep 16, 2025 'Performance Of A Lifetime.' The Surprising Thing Emily Blunt Told The Rock The First Time She Met Him In Hollywood Just when you thought Mark Kerr was a transformative role.
The Mary Sue · Sep 10, 2025 You know that movie where the Rock is a Chicken Man? That might be why the WWE star is looking different these days Gives new meaning to Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen
The Mary Sue · Sep 9, 2025 New ‘The Smashing Machine’ trailer has the perfect needle drop The perfect soundtrack for The Rock's underdog story?
Total Film · Sep 9, 2025 Dwayne Johnson's dramatic physical transformation is for the role of a lifetime: a 70-year old who is best friends with a chicken The Rock is playing an eccentric older companion to a young boy in search of a secret lizard society
Evening Standard · Sep 9, 2025 Why did Dwayne Johnson lose so much weight and How did he do it? The actor has transformed his physical appearance for his latest role in Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine