UFC Icon Defends Dwayne Johnson After The Smashing Machine Flops at the Box Office
Few Hollywood actors have taken a risk as bold as Dwayne Johnson transforming into UFC legend Mark Kerr. In The Smashing Machine, Johnson stepped away from his usual blockbuster style to portray a raw story of addiction, redemption, and physical endurance.
The performance gained him strong critical praise and even sparked early Oscar discussions, but the film’s revenue told another story—one that left even longtime UFC figure Bruce Buffer reflecting on the outcome with mixed feelings.
Bruce Buffer’s Reaction
Speaking on his podcast with TJ De Santis and Ray Longo, Buffer expressed both appreciation and concern about Johnson’s work and the movie’s commercial performance.
“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 Scenes of The Smashing Machine
Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, the film departed from the polished action style typical of Johnson’s career. Instead, it revealed the vulnerability of a man battling personal demons and physical exhaustion as much as the fighters he faced in the octagon.
According to MMA Fighting, Johnson endured up to four hours a day in prosthetics to completely capture Kerr’s transformation both inside and outside the cage.
Author’s Summary
Dwayne Johnson’s daring shift from action hero to troubled fighter earned critical acclaim but struggled at the box office, leaving fans admiring his dedication despite the film’s modest success.