“What they did to Emily Blunt was atrocious”: The Smashing Machine Reviews Are Disappointing Even if Dwayne Johnson Delivered
Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine has landed with the thud of a gloved fist on granite. Despite Dwayne Johnson’s Herculean performance, critics and fans are divided, and Emily Blunt’s character portrayal has become the center of a blistering controversy.
Touted as one of A24’s most ambitious (and expensive) projects yet, The Smashing Machine marks Benny Safdie’s first solo directorial outing after cult hits like Uncut Gems and Good Time. This is Dwayne Johnson’s Oscar gambit, playing UFC legend Mark Kerr in his most serious role to date. And while the critics are split, the numbers are right there:
Early Reception:
| Platform | Score |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 79% (Fresh) |
Safdie created a gritty, emotionally fractured film, but fans have voiced frustration that Emily Blunt’s role as Dawn Staples feels clipped and underdeveloped. Here are a few fans’ views:
Exactly how I felt! I liked Christy way more. What they did to blunt was just atrocious
— Accordingtoseth 🔜 TIFF50 (@according2seth) September 10, 2025
That’s definitely the vibe! DJ was better than expected. I just wish there was more to explore
— manda #TIFF50 ✨ (@amxndareviews) September 10, 2025
THE SMASHING MACHINE is a dull & pretty uninteresting sports drama. DJ gives a strong performance, but the script does nothing for him. The direction in the ring wasn’t strong either & it was hard to root for Kerr. I also have no words for what they did w Blunt. #TIFF50 https://t.co/TLq5IlcEVM
— manda #TIFF50 ✨ (@amxndareviews) September 10, 2025
Yeah it was disappointing
— Rachel Reviews 🔜 #TIFF50 (and Theatre) (@rachel_reviews) September 10, 2025
It’s shockingly dull. Just…no momentum. No real weight to these characters.
— Nadia@TIFF (@nadreviews) September 10, 2025
Meanwhile, Johnson’s work is earning praise across the board. “This is the most raw and vulnerable that Johnson has ever been on screen,” wrote Geoffrey Macnab (The Independent). Rayan Lattanzio (IndieWire) said Johnson was the “ideal match” for Safdie’s bruising vision.
Inside Dwayne Johnson’s Intense Transformation for The Smashing Machine
For the first time in his career, Dwayne Johnson was asked to bulk up for emotional gravity, not for action hero bravado. To embody Mark Kerr, a man battling not just opponents but himself, Johnson went through a grueling physical and emotional metamorphosis.
| Transformation Details | Description |
| Weight Gain | Bulked up further to match Kerr’s physique |
| Facial Prosthetics | 14 pieces daily, including realistic “cauliflower ears” |
| Voice Coaching | Soft, tender tone to reflect Kerr’s real-life speech |
He worked with voice coaches to adopt Kerr’s soft-spoken cadence, wore up to 14 facial prosthetics daily, and trained to mimic Kerr’s specific fighting posture. But perhaps the most surreal moment came when Mark Kerr himself saw Johnson in full prosthetics and gasped (via USA Today):
He’s standing right behind me and it’s me!
The Rock said of the role:
I had waited for this opportunity for such a long time, to do something that challenged myself. I pushed for more and I wanted more.
So, did The Smashing Machine stick the landing? That depends on whether you came for Oscar-level acting or a balanced emotional narrative. Because right now, it’s the latter that’s being thrown under the bus, and Blunt, especially, deserves better.
The Smashing Machine: Cast, Plot & Everything We Know
The Smashing Machine dives into Mark Kerr’s life, the peak of his MMA fame, and the nadir of his personal struggles. This isn’t your average sports drama; it’s a portrait of a man on the brink, spiraling into addiction, injury, and emotional isolation.
While Johnson dominates the screen, the emotional counterweight, Emily Blunt’s Dawn, is where many say the film missed its shot.
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free):
| Element | Details |
| Setting | Late 1990s MMA scene; focuses on Kerr’s rise and personal collapse |
| Core Themes | Addiction, mental health, toxic masculinity, codependency, redemption |
| Action Style | Realistic MMA choreography, based on actual UFC/Pride FC fights |
| Narrative Style | Gritty realism, psychological intensity, restrained character development |
Full Cast List of The Smashing Machine:
| Actor | Role |
| Dwayne Johnson | Mark Kerr |
| Emily Blunt | Dawn Staples |
| Ryan Bader | Mark Coleman |
| Bas Rutten | Himself |
| Yoko Hamamura | Kazuyuki Fujita |
| Oleksandr Usyk | Igor Vovchanchyn |
| Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu | Fábio Gurgel |
| Satoshi Ishii | Enson Inoue |
| James Moontasri | Akira Shoji |
| Andre Tricoteux | Paul Varelans |
| Marcus Aurélio | Mestre Hulk |
| Lyndsey Gavin | Elizabeth Coleman |
| Whitney Moore | Jacqueline |
| Paul Lazenby | Hans Nijman |
| Zoe Kosovic | McKenzie Coleman |
| Eric Odbaatar | Pride FC Cornerman |
| Stephen Quadros | Himself |
The Smashing Machine is brutal in its honesty, and Dwayne Johnson has never gone deeper. But an emotional narrative without balance is like a ring with only one fighter. Emily Blunt deserved better, and audiences aren’t letting it slide.
So what’s your take? Was The Smashing Machine robbed of greatness by poor character development? Or is this just how Oscar-bait biopics go? Punch in your opinions below; don’t tap out without dropping your hot take.
The Smashing Machine will debut in theatres on October 3, 2025 (USA).
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