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Dwayne Johnson's 'Smashing Machine' Transforms His Life
18 May
Summary
- Dwayne Johnson finds 'The Smashing Machine' changed his life.
- Filming in Japan deeply impacted Johnson's view of culture.
- The film highlights MMA fighter Mark Kerr's career journey.
Dwayne Johnson has shared that filming 'The Smashing Machine,' a biographical sports drama, has been a life-altering experience. His time spent in Japan for the production cultivated a profound curiosity and deep appreciation for Japanese culture, which Johnson has actively integrated into his personal lifestyle.
The film, released in Japan on May 10, 2026, with a planned theatrical window, stars Johnson as former wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr. It delves into Kerr’s challenging journey through the early years of mixed martial arts, exploring his rise to prominence and subsequent struggles.
'The Smashing Machine' premiered on September 1, 2025, at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where it received the Silver Lion award. The movie tells the true story of Mark Kerr’s obsession with greatness and its near-ruinous cost.
Johnson is also set to appear in the live-action adaptation of Moana, directed by Thomas Kail, alongside Catherine Laga’aia.
