Dwayne Johnson’s “The Smashing Machine” Premiere Marred by On-Set Injury Amid 15-Minute Ovation

Venice, Italy - Hollywood superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson experienced both triumph and setback on Tuesday evening at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Making his Venice debut, Johnson’s biopic The Smashing Machine garnered a rapturous 15-minute standing ovation from an emotional audience, only to be overshadowed later by news of an elbow injury sustained during filming.

The world premiere of Benny Safdie’s gritty MMA drama saw Johnson portray UFC legend Mark Kerr, complete with prosthetic makeup and a reinvented Ohio accent. Critics and festivalgoers alike praised Johnson’s raw, nuanced performance, hailing it as a career-defining pivot that could ignite early Oscar buzz. Co-star Emily Blunt and director Safdie joined Johnson onstage, and even the real Mark Kerr was moved to tears as applause flooded the Lido.

However, the celebratory atmosphere was tempered by reports that Johnson suffered a right-elbow injury on set earlier that day. In a video posted to Instagram, the actor revealed he had “got banged up pretty good” during one of the film’s intense fight sequences and anticipated soft tissue fluid necessitating a drainage procedure and an MRI. He reassured fans that, despite the pain, he was in good spirits and optimistic about a quick recovery.

Set for wide release on October 3, The Smashing Machine chronicles Kerr’s rise to two-time UFC heavyweight tournament champion and his battles with opioid addiction. Early reactions suggest the film’s unflinching portrayal of violence, coupled with Johnson’s deeply emotional turn, will resonate strongly with audiences come fall.