When the Oscar nominations went out this week, one of the most prominent names that was left off the Best Actor list was Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Although critics have given the film high marks, The Smashing Machine was crushed at the box office, grossing only $21 million worldwide, and it received only one Oscar nomination (for Best Makeup and Hairstyling).
The Smashing Machine just debuted on HBO Max, and with heavy snow scheduled to blanket most of the United States this weekend, now is a good time to discover why my favorite 2025 drama deserves more love.
It Features the Best Performance of Dwayne Johnson’s Career
Watching the film, it’s easy to see why Johnson and his supporters felt he had a real shot at an Oscar nomination. This is by far the best role that Johnson has ever had in a film, and he threw himself into it. Johnson dropped a lot of weight and slimmed down to play pioneering MMA wrestler Mark Kerr, but the most impressive thing about his performance is how real it feels. Johnson doesn’t come off like he’s just playing another part. He really seems like an ordinary guy who just happens to be an MMA fighter.
One of the reasons why Johnson was so well-suited for this is that he’s one of the few A-list actors who could convincingly portray Kerr’s physicality. The Rock has always had a charismatic persona that’s carried over from the wrestling ring to his films. The key difference here is that he doesn’t play Kerr as an extension of himself. He really seems devoted to portraying Kerr as the fighter himself.
Emily Blunt Gives an Oscar-Worthy Performance
Like Johnson, Emily Blunt was also shut out of the Oscar nominations for her role in this film. But she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes, and she deserved the honor. Blunt has considerably more acting experience than Johnson, and that’s one of the reasons why her performance as Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn Staples, is so impressive. She disappears into Staples’ persona almost completely.
According to the film, Kerr and Staples had a very volatile relationship, and that plays out on-screen with some riveting scenes between Johnson and Blunt. To his credit, Johnson held his own against Blunt. But Blunt is at her best when Staples has her emotional manipulations and breakdowns. She should have been a serious contender in this year’s Oscar race.
The Fighting Sequences Are Intense
It seems like it’s a lot harder to convey the reality of MMA fights in films than it is for boxing matches. That’s because MMA matches are sometimes finished very quickly after some swift and blinding blows. The Smashing Machine‘s matches don’t go quite as quickly, but the film doesn’t shy away from showing Kerr taking a beating.
This isn’t the kind of sports biopic where the main character is going to ultimately triumph over all adversity. That actually makes the film more enjoyable, and its MMA scenes feel more authentic and intense. The Smashing Machine deserves to find an audience in the streaming-verse, and now it’s going to get that chance.
The Smashing Machine is now streaming on HBO Max.
