Getting very strong The Wrestler vibes with this one, in the best way.

From writer/director (and actor) Benny Safdie - one half of the Safdie brothers (Good Time, Uncut Gems) - comes what looks to be a sure-fire awards contender and potentially one of the best movies of the year.

Between Benny Safdie releasing The Smashing Machine in October, and Josh Safdie releasing Marty Supreme in December (starring Timothee Chalamet, based on professional ping pong player Marty Reisman), even though they've split up for now, the Safdie brothers look to have the sports drama market cornered this awards season...

The Smashing Machine
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11214558/
October 3, 2025
Theatrical Exclusive

Is this the dude who completely beat the snot out of his wife/girlfriend?

Nevermind I was thinking of another MMA fighter with a Machine nickname. War Machine. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/19552938/ex-mma-fighter-war-machine-sentenced-life-prison-eligible-parole-36-years

That's the Rock?! How'd they make him look like that?! Wow

After a quick search I can't find anything to support this claim. At least on the surface nothing mentions anything along these lines, I didn't see any Reddit threads of people up in arms with pitchforks out, etc.

Finally watched this last night after FINALLY watching Uncut Gems.

Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. Liked the pace. Emily Blunt was solid, and Dwayne Johnson stepped it up a notch.

I thought it was meh. Mildly entertaining, no desire to ever watch again.

Bruce Almighty said:

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I thought it was meh. Mildly entertaining, no desire to ever watch again.

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Same

I thought Emily Blunt was amazing in this. I was having visceral reactions to her level of crazy, she sold it.

It is well known in and amongst fighters and fight psychologist that the crazy girl friend or wife can hamstring a fighter well before he ever steps into the ring or octagon.

This wasn't a movie about fighting, it was a movie about humans that happen to revolve around fighting.

More A24 slop