Classic Movies Live Season 6, Episode 22 – The Smashing Machine
October 15, 2025
Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?
On today’s episode of Classic Movies Live!, we’re once again reviewing a film featuring the incomparable Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson! Last discussed in our episode about S03E55 – Black Adam three years ago, Johnson is positioning himself for a comeback as a “serious actor” with a starring role in a film by one of the Safdie Brothers, chronicling three years in the life of UFC legend Mark Kerr.
The Smashing Machine shows Kerr during a pivotal moment in his career, as he struggles with an opiate addiction, as well as losing his first fights during the earliest days of Japan’s mixed martial arts Pride Fighting Championships. An acting showcase for Johnson and co-star Emily Blunt, The Smashing Machine centres Kerr and his rocky relationship with his then-girlfriend Dawn Staples, and the tension between his home life as a gentle giant, and his life in the ring as one of MMA’s most brutal fighters.
The Smashing Machine is a landmark film in the careers of Safdie and Johnson, but does it succeed in setting either up for new career highs? Tune in as Pierre and Jeff break down everything there is to talk about Mark Kerr, Dwayne Johnson, and Benny Safdie in yet another classic movie… live!
