UFC Icon Defends Dwayne Johnson After The Smashing Machine Fails at Box Office
Dwayne Johnson took a bold step by transforming into UFC legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. Departing from his usual blockbuster style, Johnson delivered an intense portrayal of addiction, redemption, and physical sacrifice. This performance earned critical praise and early Oscar buzz, but the film's box-office results were disappointing.
Bruce Buffer Reacts to the Movie's Performance
UFC commentator Bruce Buffer expressed both admiration for Johnson and concern over the film's commercial outcome during his podcast with TJ De Santis and Ray Longo.
“It was a tour de force for The Rock and Emily Blunt. They did a fantastic job with what they were given,” Buffer said. “For the benefit of Mark Kerr, I was hoping it'd be a huge hit because I'd hope Mark had a piece of the action.”
Film Production and Story Approach
Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, the film abandons the usual polished spectacle typical of Johnson’s career. Instead, it reveals the raw humanity of a man battling inner demons as fiercely as his opponents inside the cage.
According to MMA Fighting, Johnson spent up to four hours daily in prosthetics to authentically capture Kerr’s dramatic transformation both physically and emotionally.
Summary
This project highlights Johnson's dedication to challenging roles, even if commercial success doesn’t always follow.