The Smashing Machine

The Smashing Machine

Poster for the movie "The Smashing Machine"
Poster for the movie "The Smashing Machine"

The Smashing Machine (2025)

R 123 min - Drama, History - 2 October 2025
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MMA fighter Mark Kerr struggles with addiction, winning and love during his peak era in the UFC.

Director:  Benny Safdie

Photos

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Storyline

MMA fighter Mark Kerr struggles with addiction, winning and love during his peak era in the UFC.


Collections: Benny Safdie

Tagline: The unforgettable true story of a UFC legend.

Genres: Drama, History

Details

Language:  English
Release Date:  2 October 2025

Box Office

Budget:  $40,000,000

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:  2 h 03 min

The report of The Smashing Machine budget for Dwayne Johnson’s film, varies significantly between sources, with some citing a budget around $40 million and others suggesting a higher figure of approximately $70 million, which would make it A24’s most expensive production to date. The exact budget is not officially confirmed, but the film, directed by Benny Safdie, is a sports biopic about MMA fighter Mark Kerr and has been in post-production as of early 2025 

Different Budget Reports:
  • $40 Million:
    Some sources, including talkSPORT and The Movie Database (TMDB), have reported a budget closer to $40 million for the project. 

  • $70 Million:
    Other reports, such as those from Reddit users referencing articles in The New Yorker, indicate a higher budget, potentially around $70 million. 

Why the discrepancy? 
  • The budget figure for The Smashing Machine may be an estimate, as official numbers for projects in post-production are often not publicly released.
  • Some figures could be based on industry speculation rather than verified information.
What this means for the film:
  • Regardless of the exact budget, The Smashing Machine is a major A24 project, with the higher estimate making it their most expensive production to date. 
  • The film’s high budget suggests a significant investment in the biopic, which stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr. 
The Smashing Machine is a sports biopic about the life of Mark Kerr, focusing on his struggles with addiction and injuries while fighting in the late 1990s and early 2000s.