UFC icon defends Dwayne Johnson after The Smashing Machine flops at the box office
Few Hollywood stars have taken a creative risk as bold as Dwayne Johnson's portrayal of UFC legend Mark Kerr. In The Smashing Machine, Johnson abandoned his usual blockbuster energy to deliver a raw performance focused on addiction, redemption, and personal struggle.
Despite receiving strong critical acclaim and even early award speculation, the film struggled commercially, a result that disappointed longtime UFC figure Bruce Buffer.
Bruce Buffer’s reaction
Speaking on his podcast with TJ De Santis and Ray Longo, Buffer expressed both admiration for Johnson’s dedication and concern over the film’s box-office results.
“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.”
Behind the film’s vision
Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, the movie shed the polished style of Johnson’s past projects, focusing instead on the vulnerabilities and physical toll of a fighter battling both inner and external challenges.
According to MMA Fighting, Johnson spent up to four hours daily in prosthetics to fully inhabit Kerr’s transformation inside and outside the octagon.
Author’s Summary
Dwayne Johnson’s fearless dive into drama as Mark Kerr impressed critics but disappointed at the box office, drawing both praise and sympathy from UFC veteran Bruce Buffer.