Stream it or skip it: ‘The Smashing Machine’ on HBO Max, Dwayne Johnson’s Oscar-bait-ish role as a fighter with deep inner conflicts

Big man, big vulnerabilities.
Yahoo

How to Stream ‘The Smashing Machine’

Over 20 years ago, HBO released its acclaimed documentary about the life of mixed martial artist Mike Kerr, and now his story is getting the Hollywood treatment. A24’s newest release, The Smashing ...
FilmBook

The Smashing Machine Review

The Smashing Machine (2025) Film Review from the 50th Annual Toronto International Film Festival, a movie directed and written by Benny Safdie, and starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Lyndsey Gavin, ...
Forbes

Dwayne Johnson Explains ‘The Smashing Machine’s Honest, UnHollywood Ending

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Simon is a Los Angeles-based journalist who covers film and TV. Although biographical sports drama The Smashing Machine is based ...
The Tufts Daily

‘The Smashing Machine’ reimagines the role of a fighter

In the late 1900s, America began to champion a new type of gladiator — one that traded togas for spandex and amphitheaters for arenas. Still, their fights were primal and captivated the masses, ...
Altoona Mirror

Review: Dwayne Johnson has never been better in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ but the movie dodges

This image released by A24 shows Dwayne Johnson in a scene from "The Smashing Machine." (Eric Zachanowich/A24 via AP) Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine” isn’t what you think it is, especially if ...