UFC Icon Defends Dwayne Johnson After The Smashing Machine Flops at the Box Office
Dwayne Johnson took a bold step by transforming into UFC legend Mark Kerr in the film The Smashing Machine. Departing from his usual blockbuster style, Johnson delivered a raw performance depicting addiction, redemption, and physical sacrifice.
Despite critical acclaim and early Oscar buzz, the film's box-office performance was disappointing, leaving UFC stalwart Bruce Buffer feeling let down.
Bruce Buffer Praises Johnson’s Performance
"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."
Buffer expressed admiration for Johnson's portrayal but lamented the movie's commercial failure during his podcast with TJ De Santis and Ray Longo.
Raw Portrayal Under the Direction of Benny Safdie
Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, the film abandoned Johnson's usual polished spectacle for a deeply human story. It explored Kerr’s battle with inner demons as intensely as his fights inside the cage.
According to MMA Fighting, Johnson dedicated up to four hours daily in prosthetics to authentically capture Kerr’s transformation both physically and emotionally.
Summary
Dwayne Johnson’s daring, raw performance in The Smashing Machine earned critical praise, but the film's poor box-office returns disappointed fans and UFC figures alike.