Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has earned critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival for his role in The Smashing Machine, where he portrays UFC fighter Mark Kerr. The performance is already generating awards buzz and could secure Johnson his first Oscar nomination.
The 53-year-old actor, best known for big-budget films such as Jumanji, San Andreas, Black Adam and the Fast & Furious franchise, said he had long wanted to take on a more dramatic role. “I’ve been scared to go deep and intense and raw until now, until I had this opportunity,” Johnson told reporters. “It has certainly changed my life.”
Directed by Benny Safdie, the film reunites Johnson with his Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt, who plays Kerr’s partner Dawn Staples. The story focuses less on fights inside the ring and more on Kerr’s struggles with addiction, his personal relationships, and the pressures of life as a fighter in the early years of the UFC.
Johnson said Hollywood’s emphasis on box office success had boxed him into a specific type of role. “It can push you into a corner – ‘this is your lane, this is what people want you to be.’ But I had this burning desire and this voice saying, ‘what if there’s more?’”
Critics have praised the performance. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman described it as “a revelation,” while the Telegraph’s Robbie Collin said Johnson appeared “warm, sincere and admirably ego-less.” IndieWire noted that Johnson had positioned himself as a serious contender in this year’s awards race.
Blunt said working alongside Johnson in a more dramatic role was “extraordinary,” adding that he “completely disappeared” into character. She described portraying Dawn Staples as an opportunity to explore the realities of life with a fighter, including both the devotion and the turmoil.
The film takes its title from Kerr’s nickname, earned after a UFC tournament victory in 1997. Johnson first met Kerr in the 1990s during his wrestling career and said they have since become close. He called Kerr “a walking contradiction – at one time the greatest fighter on the planet, but also the most kind and empathetic person.”
Awards analysts note that Johnson faces a crowded field of contenders this year, including Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey, Timothée Chalamet, and Jeremy Allen White. The competition will intensify as more films premiere this season.
Reflecting on his career, Johnson said he now wants to focus on projects that feel personally meaningful. “I started to think, am I living my dream or other people’s dreams? At some point, you want to do what you’ve been hungry to do all along.”
