‘The Smashing Machine’ Premieres TIFF, Earns Standing Ovation Venice

The biopic "The Smashing Machine," starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA and UFC fighter Mark Kerr and Emily Blunt as his ex-wife Dawn Staples, depicts Kerr's rise, struggles with addiction, and turbulent relationship. Filming emotionally intense scenes, particularly a physical confrontation between Johnson and Blunt, deeply affected the actors, with Johnson describing the experience as emotionally challenging and exhausting. The film premiered to critical acclaim, including a 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival and a celebrated Canadian debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it generated significant excitement among fans and critics. MMA star Ryan Bader, who portrays Mark Coleman, shared his excitement about the film and the crossover from fighting to acting, earning praises from fellow fighters like Jon Jones. The film features appearances by notable fighters such as Oleksandr Usyk and Bas Rutten, further grounding it in the MMA community. "The Smashing Machine" is set to be released in theaters on October 3.