Dwayne Johnson is awarded the career-defining film at the 2025 Venice Film Festival in The Smashing Machine. Dwayne johnson oscar contendor? Critics are celebrating his chemistry with Emily Blunt, the gritty direction of Benny Safdie, and emotional depth of the film as the movie picks up early Oscar buzz despite a few narrative criticisms.
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- The Smashing Machine was acclaimed by the critics at Venice.
In September 2025, at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival (on September 1, 2025), Dwayne Johnson appears in The Smashing Machine, the most emotionally naked role he has ever played, and also the grittiest. His portrayal of MMA legend Mark Kerr has generated serious awards buzz as critics note a depth and vulnerability that undermines his image as an action-hero.
The movie was received with a 15-minute long standing ovation where Johnson was clearly overcome and burst into tears a rare event when it comes to the star.
- Drastic Physical Change.
Johnson, however, shocked fans with a radically slimmed-down appearance, she reportedly lost 60 lbs in order to replicate the body of Kerr more closely. His skinniness at the festival caused some to respect him and some even give funny names such as The Pebble.
- He said the change was something he was very hungry to make, and he had a desire to go beyond his usual blockbuster image.
- The Hawaii Cultural Homecoming.
- A few days prior, Johnson danced the Taualuga, a traditional Samoan dance in Hawaii, in a very intimate setting. With his mother and girls by his side, he paid homage to his Samoan heritage with fans hailing the show as powerful and Johnson himself terming the show as sacred and memorable.
Why It Matters
- A New Chapter in His Career: The Smashing Machine transformation of Johnson represents the transition into more dramatic, sensitive roles based on emotional vulnerability rather than on pure physical presence.
- Award Season Buzz: Early Reviews -Early reviews, both critical and popular, indicate this as a possible awards-season candidate, and possibly even place Johnson in the Oscar race.
- True Cultural Bonding: His outward identification with Samoan culture solidifies his heritage and gives his popular image the extra layers–blockbuster charm coupled with a touch of sincerity.
Critical Reception
The Career-Defining Performance of Dwayne Johnson.
Critics of every stripe are hailing what Johnson has accomplished in his portrayal of MMA superstar Mark Kerr as his most emotionally complex and nuanced performance. The changes he undergoes, both physically, psychologically and emotionally, present an aspect of him that breaks drastically with the action-hero character he was. According to Geoffrey Macnab of The Independent, Johnson gives a performance of such pathos, intensity and depth that he is sure to achieve award recognition. Variety described him as extraordinary and added that this is the most raw and vulnerable Johnson has ever appeared on screen, redefining how observers would consider his more action-oriented parts.
Powerful performance and on-screen chemistry by Emily Blunt.
Emily Blunt as the girlfriend (and later the wife) of Kerr, Dawn, is largely credited with adding emotional depth and tension to the movie. Her acting is called sensational by people and with Johnson, she is quoted many times as to play a part in the effectiveness of the film in terms of emotion. DiscussingFilm pointed out that they complement each other and refer to it as pitch-perfect.
An Urban, Gritty Sports Biography.
Directorially the film is directed towards a hardboiled, almost documentary quality. Variety likened it to The Wrestler and Raging Bull in that it plunges into the depth of personal struggle as opposed to triumph. According to IndieWire, it was a sweet duet, and it focused on emotional reality more than spectacle. Elsewhere, Screen Daily recognized traditional story lines towards the end but enjoyed the personal nature of the film.
Italian sentiment at Venice.
The reaction of the audience during the premiere was immense–The Smashing Machine was given a 15-minute standing ovation, one of the longest of the festival. Johnson and his team, and even Mark Kerr himself, were visibly emotional as the applause went on and on.
Some Criticisms
Not every review was glowing without qualification. The emphasis on realism and restraint is welcomed, but critics thought the film was overly mellow or underwritten. Bilge Ebiri at Vulture referred to it as being soft on itself, and felt that Dawn as a character was not given enough depth. Screen Daily noted that the last set of predictable twists dragged the movie back into the territory of the standard sports-film.
Final Thoughts
The reception of The Smashing Machine, early as it was, marks the beginning of a new era, not only of The Rock, but of the genre. Johnson to Mark Kerr metamorphosis has been resonating with critics and viewers and the emotionally charged role of Emily Blunt gives the film a new twist. The film falls into well-worn tropes at the climax, but its personal touch and authenticity, in general, is exceptional.
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