US Edition
Dwayne Johnson Says He Felt ‘Pigeon-Holed’ as Hollywood Blockbuster Star
Dwayne Johnson's portrayal of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, battling addiction and turmoil, earned a 15-minute standing ovation and strong awards buzz at the Venice Film Festival.
- On September 1, 2025, Dwayne Johnson sobbed after The Smashing Machine received a 15-minute standing ovation at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Lido, Venice, Italy.
- Drawn by `raw and real` storytelling, Dwayne Johnson accepted Benny Safdie's film that dramatizes Mark Kerr's rise and personal struggles including substance abuse and a turbulent marriage.
- Wearing heavy prosthetics, Dwayne Johnson appeared significantly slimmer during promo appearances and the film debuted with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Variety reported he spent three to four hours daily applying prosthetics.
- The standing ovation has boosted Oscar chatter, positioning Dwayne Johnson as a Best Actor contender as A24 sets the U.S. release for October 3, 2025, following TIFF on September 8, 2025.
- At the Lido, the audience's reaction — one of the year's longest ovations — coincided with Mark Kerr, the film's real-life subject, breaking into tears as the credits rolled, highlighting addiction and UFC's early struggles.
68 Articles
68 Articles
Dwayne Johnson ‘La Roca’ takes a serious turn as the wrestler of the UFC Mark Kerr at The Smashing Machine, a film that lived its world premiere on Monday at the Venice Film Festival with 15 minutes of applause in honor of the actor, a moment that moved him to tears. “For a long time I wanted this,” said the WWE wrestler before the premiere. “The part of the transformation was something I really wanted to do. I was lucky enough to have the caree…
Oscar buzz builds for Dwayne Johnson’s role as Mark Kerr in ‘The Smashing Machine’ - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
VENICE, Italy (AP) — Dwayne Johnson takes a serious turn as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in “The Smashing Machine,” which had its world premiere Monday at the Venice Film Festival. “I have for a long time wanted this,” Johnson said before the premiere. “The transformation part was something I was really hungry to do. I’ve been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had and make the films that I have, but there was just this voice inside of me, thi…
The Rock's New Movie Is So Good It Got People To Clap For 15 Minutes (Which Is Way Too Much Clapping)
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson — I like to include "The Rock" so you don't get him mixed up with any other A-list Dwayne Johnsons — makes a lot of movies. However, not too many of those are the kind that are going to get a thumbs-up from stuffy film festival types.However, Johnson's upcoming flick, The Smashing Machine, appears to be an exception. According to Variety, it brought down the house at the Venice Film Festival, with the crowd giving it a …
Oscar Buzz Builds for The Rock
Dwayne Johnson takes a serious turn as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, which had its world premiere Monday at the Venice Film Festival. "I have for a long time wanted this," Johnson said before the premiere, per the AP . "The transformation part was something I was really...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
