UFC Icon Defends Dwayne Johnson After The Smashing Machine Struggles at Box Office
Few Hollywood actors have taken a creative risk as bold as Dwayne Johnson’s decision to portray UFC legend Mark Kerr. In The Smashing Machine, Johnson left behind his signature blockbuster energy to deliver a raw, intense performance exploring addiction, redemption, and physical endurance.
The film, directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, received critical acclaim and even sparked early Oscar talk. However, its box-office performance fell short of expectations, leaving many— including longtime UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer— feeling conflicted about its reception.
"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."
During his podcast with TJ De Santis and Ray Longo, Buffer expressed admiration for Johnson’s dedication while lamenting the film’s modest commercial results. According to MMA Fighting, Johnson endured up to four hours of prosthetic application each day to capture Kerr’s physical and emotional transformation inside and outside the cage.
Author’s Summary
Dwayne Johnson’s bold performance as Mark Kerr drew praise but failed to triumph at the box office, prompting both admiration and regret among MMA veterans like Bruce Buffer.