A24 has officially unveiled the second trailer for The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie’s highly anticipated drama centered on the life of legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Written and directed by Safdie, the film delves deep into the complexities of Kerr’s career during the year 2000, a period marked by both his rise as one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC and his struggles with personal demons.
The film stars Dwayne Johnson in a transformative role as Mark Kerr, showcasing a performance that is already being touted as one of his most intense and layered to date. Far from his typical action-hero persona, Johnson embodies the vulnerability and resilience of Kerr as he battles addiction, fame, and the relentless pressures of professional fighting. The trailer offers fans a glimpse of both the brutal fight sequences and the raw, emotional core of Kerr’s story.
Emily Blunt stars alongside Johnson as Dawn, Kerr’s girlfriend, who finds herself navigating the chaos and contradictions of his turbulent life. Their relationship appears to serve as the film’s emotional anchor, portraying not only the struggles of love amidst fame but also the devastating impact of addiction and personal battles on those closest to the fighter.
The supporting cast adds further authenticity to the film’s MMA backdrop, featuring notable names like Lyndsey Gavin, Oleksandr Usyk, Ryan Bader, Satoshi Ishii, Bas Rutten, and Stephen Quadros. Their inclusion brings realism to the fight scenes, grounding the movie in the grittiness of the sport’s early days when MMA was still defining itself on the global stage.
Slated for release on October 3, 2025, The Smashing Machine promises a raw, emotional, and hard-hitting exploration of one man’s fight both inside and outside the cage. With A24’s signature penchant for daring, intimate storytelling and Safdie’s track record for unflinching character studies, this is shaping up to be one of the most compelling sports dramas of the decade.
Check Out The Trailer:-