Dwayne Johnson's MMA biopic 'The Smashing Machine' is a nostalgia headache

Los Angeles TimesFriday, October 3, 2025 at 4:00:58 PM
Dwayne Johnson's latest film, 'The Smashing Machine,' directed by Benny Safdie, is drawing criticism for being a too-loyal adaptation of a 2002 HBO documentary about fighter Mark Kerr. While it features a star-studded cast, including Emily Blunt, the film seems to struggle with originality, leaving audiences feeling nostalgic yet disappointed. This matters because it highlights the challenges of adapting real-life stories into engaging cinematic experiences, especially when the source material is already well-known.
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