Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was moved to tears at the Venice Film Festival following the world premiere of his new A24 film, “The Smashing Machine.” The movie, a biopic in which Johnson portrays the life of former UFC fighter Mark Kerr, received a rapturous 15-minute standing ovation from the audience at the prestigious festival. The emotional and lengthy response from the crowd left the WWE legend visibly emotional, highlighting a significant and potentially transformative moment in his acting career. While long standing ovations are common at major film festivals, the one for “The Smashing Machine” was noted for outlasting those for other major premieres at this year’s event.
The film, directed by Benny Safdie, is already generating significant buzz, with early reviews being largely positive. Johnson, in particular, has received hefty praise for his dramatic performance, a departure from the action-comedy roles he is most known for. The powerful reaction at the Venice premiere suggests that the film could be a major awards contender and that Johnson’s portrayal of Kerr might be his most acclaimed performance to date. The project is a passion project for Johnson, who has spoken about his deep connection to the story of Mark Kerr and the world of combat sports. “The Smashing Machine” is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 3rd, and the overwhelmingly positive reception at the festival is sure to build anticipation for its wider release.
Dwayne Johnson cries during the 15-minute standing ovation for his new movie ‘THE SMASHING MACHINE’
Read our review: https://t.co/ejtQIs1Usz pic.twitter.com/17pQYebeat
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 1, 2025
