Dwayne Johnson Makes Venice Film Festival Debut with Oscar-Buzzed “The Smashing Machine”

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stepped into serious dramatic territory today as his biographical drama “The Smashing Machine” made its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, immediately generating significant Oscar buzz for the action star’s career-defining transformation.

Venice Premiere Sparks Awards Season Speculation

“The Smashing Machine,” directed by Benny Safdie and distributed by A24, had its global debut Monday at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, where it is competing in the main competition for the Golden Lion. The film showcases Johnson in a dramatically different role as UFC legend Mark Kerr, alongside Emily Blunt who portrays Kerr’s wife Dawn Staples.

Venice Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera expressed considerable enthusiasm for Johnson’s performance, stating he “wouldn’t be surprised to see Johnson, who he called ‘absolutely amazing’ in the film, and Emily Blunt, who plays Kerr’s wife, among the Oscar nominees next year”. Barbera’s initial assessment proved transformative after viewing the complete film: “When I saw the first images in last January, I thought it could be a good out of competition contender, but then when I saw the film, I realized that it’s a great movie”.

The Venice Film Festival has established itself as a launching pad for Best Actor Oscar contenders, having previously introduced award-winning performances from Brendan Fraser in “The Whale” and Adrien Brody in “The Brutalist”. Like these acclaimed films, “The Smashing Machine” carries A24’s distribution backing, adding credibility to its awards season prospects.

Johnson’s Dramatic Career Pivot

The biographical sports drama represents a significant departure from Johnson’s typical blockbuster fare, focusing on the troubled life of Mark Kerr, a two-time UFC heavyweight tournament winner who retired in 2009. Known as “The Smashing Machine” for his dominance in the ring, Kerr’s story encompasses his brutal MMA career shadowed by severe addiction to painkillers and opioids, including two overdoses.

Director Benny Safdie, known for his work on “Uncut Gems” alongside his brother Josh, described the project’s approach in his director’s statement: “Dwayne, Emily and I kept asking ‘what is it like to really be Mark Kerr, what is it like to really be Dawn Staples?’ We wanted to empathize with these characters in a way that felt like our own feelings”. Safdie characterized the film’s title as “a perfect onomatopoeia for something visual, conjuring images of domination and destruction with ease”.

Johnson’s transformation for the role has been noted as particularly striking, with early images showing the actor looking “almost unrecognizable” in his portrayal of the troubled MMA fighter. The performance marks a conscious career shift for Johnson, who previously admitted experiencing genuine fear about taking on dramatic roles.

Industry Recognition and Future Release

“The Smashing Machine” competes alongside other high-profile entries including “Frankenstein,” “Bugonia,” “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” “La Grazia,” and “No Other Choice” for Venice’s top honors. Festival winners will be announced on September 6, 2025.

The film features an ensemble cast including Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman, Bas Rutten as himself, and Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk as Igor Vovchanchyn. The production represents a collaboration between Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions and A24, with the film scheduled for North American theatrical release on October 3, 2025.

This Venice premiere positions Johnson for potential awards season recognition while demonstrating his commitment to expanding beyond the action-comedy franchise work that has defined his recent Hollywood career. The positive reception at Venice suggests “The Smashing Machine” could serve as a pivotal moment in Johnson’s evolution as a dramatic actor, potentially opening doors to more serious roles and awards consideration.