A24’s version takes a different approach. Director Benny Safdie, in his first solo directorial effort, draws from that documentary while expanding on Kerr’s inner world. Safdie worked closely with ...

Dwayne Johnson is playing MMA and UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the biopic "The Smashing Machine." Johnson looks unrecognizable in the movie, appearing to wear a wig and prosthetics. "The Smashing Machine, ...

Not everyone knows the full story behind the rise of mixed martial arts, but Mark Kerr’s journey helped define the sport. Kerr, a dominant force in wrestling and MMA, earned the nickname The Smashing ...

Most recently, Kerr was the subject of the film The Smashing Machine by A24, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the celebrated athlete Mark Kerr and Emily Blunt as Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn Staples.

“The Smashing Machine” recounts the success and struggles of Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Mark Kerr. Relying on his own professional wrestling background, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson gives a ...

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Benny Safdie have teamed up to bring one of the most intriguing stories in combat sports to the big screen. Their new film, The Smashing Machine, dramatizes the life of ...

On this week's episode of Valley 101, host Bill Goodykoontz talks with Mark Kerr about the experience of being portrayed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on the "The Rock" portrays Scottsdale resident and ...

Dwayne Johnson delivers the most transformative and emotionally raw performance of his career in “The Smashing Machine,” a gritty look at MMA legend Mark Kerr’s turbulent rise and struggles. The ...

Thomas Butt is a senior writer. An avid film connoisseur, Thomas actively logs his film consumption on Letterboxd and vows to connect with many more cinephiles through the platform. He is immensely ...

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson went into why "The Smashing Machine" resonated with him as a wrestler.

Over 20 years ago, HBO aired a documentary called The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr (2002). It was about a mixed martial artist (MMA) who is considered a pioneer in ...