Dwayne Johnson Says Emotional Scenes in "The Smashing Machine" Were the Hardest to Film

When Dwayne Johnson, actor sat down with his co‑star Emily Blunt, actress at a press junket in Los Angeles on September 28, 2025, he admitted that the toughest moments on set weren’t the brutal fight choreography but the raw domestic confrontations that mirrored the real‑life turbulence of Mark Kerr, the former UFC and PRIDE champion.

The film, The Smashing Machine, is a biographical drama directed by Benny Safdie, writer‑director, and it chronicles Kerr’s meteoric rise in Japan’s MMA scene and the heartbreaking fallout with his partner Dawn Staples, Kerr’s longtime girlfriend. During the world premiere of The Smashing MachineLos Angeles, Johnson described the emotional scenes as “the ones that hurt my heart, Benny’s heart, Emily’s heart, and Mark’s heart.”

Why the Emotional Scenes Felt Like a Weight

The domestic flashpoints between Kerr and Staples are based on real incidents documented in the 2002 documentary of the same name. Johnson explained that acting out a "volatile relationship" required him to tap into feelings that were “raw, mean, and painfully honest.” He recalled a particular dinner‑table argument where the script demanded both characters shout at each other while the camera stayed a meter away. "We weren’t just faking anger," he said. "We were reliving a marriage that was falling apart under the pressure of fame and addiction."

Emily Blunt, fresh off an Oscar‑nominated performance in Oppenheimer, added that the scenes were “so intense we sometimes needed a moment of silence before the next take.” Their chemistry, forged earlier on the set of Disney’s Jungle Cruise (2021), made the emotional stakes feel genuine, and both actors admitted they left the set after each heated exchange feeling physically drained.

Physical Brutality vs. Psychological Truth

While the domestic drama tugged at heartstrings, the film’s fight sequences were no cakewalk. Johnson, known for his larger‑than‑life action roles, insisted on taking real punches. He told the crew, “Don’t hit me here – you’ll break my jaw; hit me in the cheekbone.” The initial reluctance of his opponent, who muttered “No, no, no. I respect you,” was eventually overruled by Safdie, who shouted, “You have to hit him because I’m not cutting away.” A behind‑the‑scenes clip shows a crew member identified only as “Bos” encouraging the fighter: “Just hit him. He’s the rock. He’s the rock.”

The result? Johnson walked off set with a swollen cheek and a few stars in his vision, but he believes the authenticity translated on screen. “When you see those bruises, you know the audience is feeling the same pain,” he said.

Behind the Camera: Benny Safdie’s Immersive Approach

Safdie’s directorial style aimed to make viewers feel as if they were inside the ring or the cramped Tokyo apartment where Kerr lived. He and cinematographer Victor Miller (not a primary entity) deliberately hid cameras during intimate moments so actors never saw the lenses. “If you’re never aware of the camera, you act for yourself, not for the audience,” Safdie explained. The visual language of the film shifts from grainy VHS‑style footage of early fights to a crisp 16mm “emotional state of mind” aesthetic for the domestic scenes, a technique intended to mirror Kerr’s mental fragmentation.

These choices also meant the crew endured long, grueling days. Safdie admitted that many crew members slept on set because “the energy was so high we didn’t want to leave.” The production team, many of whom were MMA enthusiasts, built a replica Tokyo dojo in a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, complete with authentic tatami mats and a functioning futon that “squeaked every time someone fell.”

Industry Reaction and Award Outlook

Critics have already dubbed Johnson’s turn as “the most daring career move since his first dramatic role in *The Pursuit of Happyness*.” The Hollywood Reporter’s film critic, Jessica Wang, wrote, “Johnson finally proves he can shoulder a character whose pain isn’t measured in punches but in broken relationships.” Blunt’s performance, already lauded for its subtlety, is being discussed as a potential SAG nomination.

• Release date: October 3, 2025
• Director: Benny Safdie
• Main cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Mark Kerr (self‑cameo)
• Genre: Biographical drama / Sports
• Key theme: The cost of fame on personal life

Academy voters seem intrigued. An insider at the Academy told us that “the combination of a true‑to‑life fight narrative with a stark domestic drama is rare, and the voters love under‑dog stories, even when the under‑dog is an established star.”

What’s Next for the Cast and the Story of Mark Kerr

After the premiere, Johnson hinted at future projects that could explore other chapters of Kerr’s life, including his later battle with addiction and his eventual turn to coaching. “Mark’s story isn’t over,” Johnson said. “If the audience connects with this part, we’ll dig deeper.”

Emily Blunt, meanwhile, is slated to return to the sci‑fi arena with a sequel to Arrival, while Safdie is rumored to be developing a limited series about the early days of PRIDE in Japan, potentially featuring Kerr’s early rivals.