When I look at Dwayne Johnson, I always think back to his days as The Rock in pro wrestling. Seeing him play an athlete going through struggles with addiction on his way to heightened fame represents a whole different level of achievement. Written and directed by Benny Safdie, this is The Smashing Machine, a true story that includes many knockouts and rounds of difficult trials and errors. Johnson delivers a stunning performance playing Mark Kerr. Emily Blunt is also outstanding. Her emotions are hard to dismiss in her role as Dawn Staples. The Smashing Machine is story about athleticism and the pursuit of a goal which involves components of physicality and drug abuse which lead to a hard fall.

The film is about Kerr’s life and his road to success and fame. His physique plays a key role as does the way he incorporates many types of injections to make sure his body stays in tune. Inthe martial arts competitions he competes in, he finds himself frustrated with new rules. He relies so much on drugs to thrive. Dawn recognizes that he is an addict. Despite his athletic success, she calls him out repeatedly. The realism related to shame, addiction, and guilt is no joke in The Smashing Machine. The title even speaks for itself because the film feels like a “smashing machine.”

The film’s vibrant display of hurdles faced along the way is compelling. Kerr feels there is no easy way out. His body takes a toll and the story guides viewers through the harrowing approach to redemption. To clarify, the harsh steps to get sober are presented in a vivid and spellbinding way. Safdie’s directing incorporates stressful displays of lighting and accompanying characterizations that make audiences’ hearts pound. This movie is almost as stressful as Uncut Gems, which he co-wrote and directed with his brother Josh Safdie. However, The Smashing Machine is Benny’s project. The writing leads to rapid heart rates which come from Benny’s ability to create unforgettable vibes in The Smashing Machine. Throwing in athleticism, dishonesty, and disconnection which all combine to bring self-aggravation and personal destruction, makes this film hard to dismiss. The Smashing Machine paints an honest portrait that proves that even in the darkest places there is still light.

The highlight of this film lies within the performances of Johnson and Blunt. They are an unmissable power couple that truly take the cake. This biopic of actual events hits many detrimental bumps along the way to get the message right. The Smashing Machine delivers the important message to never give up. I believe it is one of the best films of 2025. Also, it may be one of the best Johnson has delivered. He has come a long way since his wrestling days.

Getting out of patterns is not easy. Finding trust is what the story explores. The Smashing Machine shows how important it is to have a foundation for success. It is one-of-a-kind movie and atrue story that is meant to be seen. Four out four stars.