Dwayne Johnson’s A24 wrestling movie,The Smashing Machine, has set a fall 2025 release date. Written and directed by Benny Safdie, the upcoming A24 film stars Johnson as the former wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr, following the peak of his career during the no-holds-barred era of the UFC to his struggles with substance abuse.The Smashing Machine’s castalso includes Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife Dawn Staples, alongside several real fighters, such as Oleksandr Usyk, Bas Rutten, Ryan Bader, Satoshi Ishii, and Cyborg Abreu.
Now, according toDeadline,A24’sThe Smashing Machinehas set a theatrical release date of October 3. This follows the news of Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic looking to relocate from that date as it considers releasing as two separate movies. Otherwise,The Smashing Machineis now set to debut on the same date as Paramount’sRoofman, directed by Derek Cianfrance and starring Channing Tatum, and Neon’s upcoming horror filmThe Keeperfrom Oz Perkins, making for quite the box office battle between auteur directors.
What The Smashing Machine’s Release Date Means For The Movie
It Has Awards Season Hopes
SinceThe Smashing Machinewas first announced in December 2024, it was deemedDwayne Johnson’s most dramatic roleyet, who typically opts for traditional blockbusters and family fare, and seen as a potential awards season contender.The Smashing Machineis a biopic about a tragic figure who struggles with substance abuse and drug addiction, which is typically the type of performance that tends to perform well during awards season. By releasing in the fall,The Smashing Machinehas officially positioned itself as an awards season contender.
25 Most Anticipated Movies Of 2025
2025 has plenty of exciting films to offer with Mission: Impossible, DC, Marvel, Avatar, and more returning. Here are our 25 most anticipated movies.
By releasing in early October,Benny Safdie’sThe Smashing Machinewill avoid any competition with his brother Josh Safdie’sMarty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, which is set for a release on July 11, 2025. Though theSafdie brothers started their careerswriting and directingGood TimeandUncut Gemstogether,The Smashing MachineandMarty Supremerepresent their solo debuts. Both are sports biopics from A24, and since they could target similar audiences, it’s smart for the studio to put some space between their release dates.
Our Take On The Smashing Machine’s Release Date
It’s Anything But Oscar Bait
ThoughThe Smashing Machine’s release date indicates that A24 has awards season hopes for the biopic, it should be anything but Oscar bait. Considering Benny Safide’s style, most recently seen in the Showtime seriesThe Curse,The Smashing Machinelikely won’t be a conventional depiction of Mark Kerr’s life. Safdie’s raw and unfiltered style suggests a grittier, more chaotic take on Kerr’s life rather than a polished prestige drama.The Smashing Machineshould embrace authenticity over sentimentality, making it a bold, unconventional awards contender.
The Smashing Machine
Cast
The Smashing Machine is a biographical drama that chronicles MMA fighter Mark Kerr’s turbulent journey through addiction, success, and personal relationships during his peak era in the UFC. Set to be released in 2025, it explores Kerr’s battle against personal demons amidst the high-stakes world of mixed martial arts.
