Get ready for an adrenaline-packed journey with The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the legendary mixed martial artist and UFC pioneer, Mark Kerr. This highly anticipated film is set to debut on digital streaming platforms soon.
The movie, rated R, first hit theaters on October 3. It captures the riveting rise and tumultuous fall of Kerr’s career from 1997 to 2000, a period just before MMA and the UFC exploded into global phenomena. Kerr’s life was previously explored in the 2002 documentary, The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.
Directed by Benny Safdie, the film features an impressive cast. Emily Blunt stars as Dawn Staples, Kerr’s girlfriend, while MMA veteran Ryan Bader takes on the role of Kerr’s friend and fellow UFC legend, Mark Coleman. Additionally, MMA icon Bas Rutten appears as himself, portraying Kerr’s trainer.
Fans eagerly awaiting the digital release can expect The Smashing Machine to be available for premium video on demand starting Tuesday, November 4, as reported by When to Stream. However, it’s worth noting that while When to Stream is often reliable with its PVOD updates, the film’s distributor, A24, has yet to make an official announcement, leaving the release date open to potential changes.
Directed by Benny Sadfie, The Smashing Machine also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn Staples, and MMA great Ryan Bader as Kerr’s fellow fighter and friend, UFC legend Mark Coleman. MMA legend Bas Rutten also plays himself in the film as Kerr’s trainer.
The Smashing Machine is expected to be released on digital streaming via premium video on demand on Tuesday, Nov. 4, according to When to Stream. While When to Stream is typically accurate with its PVOD reports, the streaming tracker noted that The Smashing Machine’s studio, A24, has not announced or confirmed the release date of the film on PVOD and it is subject to change.
When The Smashing Machine arrives on PVOD, it will be available on such digital outlets as Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video and YouTube. Prime Video currently has The Smashing Machine listed for pre-order for purchase for $24.99. Since PVOD rentals are generally $5 less than purchase prices, viewers can expect the film to be available to rent for 48 hours for $19.99.
Disclaimer: The trailer embedded below includes swearing.
How Did Audiences And Critics Receive ‘The Smashing Machine’?
The Smashing Machine to date has earned $11.1 million domestically and $4 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $15.1 million. The film had a production budget of $50 before prints and advertising costs, according to Variety.
The Smashing Machine earned a 70% “fresh” rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 282 reviews. The RT Critics Consensus reads, “Dwayne Johnson goes the distance with his transformative turn as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, a gritty biopic that sidesteps cliché even at the expense of narrative satisfaction while still landing the dramatic body blows that count.”
The film also received a 76% “fresh” score on RT’s Popcornmeter based on 500-plus verified user ratings. The RT audience summary for the film reads, “While The Smashing Machine may not break any records as a sports classic, Dwayne Johnson’s knockout performance transforms a familiar story into an unexpectedly memorable experience.”
The Smashing Machine is currently playing in theaters nationwide and is expected to be released on PVOD on Nov. 4.
