The Smashing Machine Trailer Shows Why Dwayne Johnson Is Getting Oscar Buzz

A24 has shared a new The Smashing Machine trailer for its highly anticipated sports biopic drama, featuring Jungle Cruise co-stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. The movie is currently slated to arrive in theaters on October 3, 2025.

“The movie follows Mark Kerr, the legendary MMA fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak of his career,” reads the official synopsis. “He struggles with addiction, winning, love, and friendship in the year 2000.”

Check out The Smashing Machine trailer below (watch more trailers):

What happens in The Smashing Machine trailer?

In the video, Johnson is unrecognizable as MMA fighter Mark Kerr. This marks his first dramatic role in a long while, after starring in a string of action and comedy movies for most of his acting career. The trailer shows the legendary athlete’s professional and personal struggles during the peak of his career. It also highlights his complicated relationship with then-girlfriend Dawn Staples, played by Blunt.

The Smashing Machine is written and directed by Uncut Gems’ Benny Safdie. The ensemble cast also includes Lyndsey Gavin as Elizabeth Coleman, Oleksandr Usyk as Igor Vovchanchyn, Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman, Satoshi Ishii as Enson Inoue, James Moontasri as Akira Shoji, Yoko Hamamura as Kazuyuki Fujita, and more. In addition, Johnson is also producing alongside Eli Bush, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, David Koplan, and Safdie, with Tracey Landon serving as an executive producer.

Before its theatrical release, the movie had its world premiere at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Lion award. After its premiere, Johnson’s performance received a 15-minute standing ovation from the audience. It is also currently his highest-rated live-action movie as a lead star with an initial Tomatometer rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes.

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