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The Latest Breaking News from Benny Safdie

Christopher Nolan lauds Dwayne Johnson's 'incredible' performance in The Smashing Machine

Christopher Nolan was very impressed with Dwayne Johnson's performance in The Smashing Machine and told director Benny Safdie that his movie about former wrestler Mark Kerr will be "understood" more over time despite disappointing box office figures.

BANG Premier

Christopher Nolan says Dwayne Johnson has given best movie performance of 2025

‘It’s a really remarkable poiece of work,’ the ‘Oppenheimer’ director says

The Independent UK

Christopher Nolan calls The Rock's new movie The Smashing Machine "incredible" and "heartbreaking": "I don't think you'll see a better performance this year"

Despite flopping at the box office, The Smashing Machine has received big praise

Total Film

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I Wasn't The Smashing Machine's Biggest Fan, But There's Something I Can't Stop Thinking About

It's all in the details.

Cinemablend

Flopped? Dwayne Johnson Defends 'The Smashing Machine' After Shockingly Weak Debut

Dwayne Johnson defends his dramatic turn in Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine' after a £4.45m ($6.00m) opening weekend; festival praise and industry analysis explain the divide.

International Business Times UK

Dwayne Johnson addresses The Smashing Machine debuting to a career-worst $5.9 million over its opening weekend: "In our storytelling world, you can't control box office results"

"Truth is, this film has changed my life"

Total Film

Dwayne Johnson Reacts To Smashing Machine’s Poor Box Office Performance, And Here’s What I Hope This Doesn’t Mean For The Future

The Rock’s latest didn’t exactly smash the box office.

Cinemablend

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Dwayne Johnson reacts to Smashing Machine's box office flop with emotional statement

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has responded after his new film The Smashing Machine flopped at the box office to give the former wrestler the worst opening weekend of his career.

BANG Premier

Despite critical acclaim, The Smashing Machine breaks an unwanted record for The Rock after going up against Taylor Swift at the box office

Moviegoers don't seem to be too interested in the actor's dramatic turn

Total Film

I Can't Get Enough Of This Clip Of Emily Blunt Roasting People Who've Been Saying The Rock Is Skinny Now

Blunt brings the heat.

Cinemablend

Benny Safdie making Lizard Music for his kids

Benny Safdie wanted to work on his upcoming movie Lizard Music for his children.

BANG Premier

Dwayne Johnson Is Transformative In The Smashing Machine, But There's Another Performance I Hope People Start Celebrating

Can we get more of this guy?

Cinemablend

From cage to screen: The Smashing Machine and Mark Kerr’s second act with The Rock

Once MMA’s fiercest heavyweight, Kerr spiralled into addiction. Two decades after The Smashing Machine, The Rock has revived his story for film

The Guardian - US

The Smashing Machine Looks at the Early Days of a Combat Sport Politicians Wanted To Ban

A fascinating but uneven actor's showcase for Dwayne Johnson.

Reason

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Cinemablend

'The Smashing Machine' Interviews With Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson And Benny Safdie

Watch our interviews with the stars and filmmaker of the Mark Kerr biopic.

Total Film

Matt Damon "literally" went through The Odyssey to make Christopher Nolan's new epic, says co-star: "He would always have this incredible excitement about what we were doing"

Exclusive: The Odyssey star Benny Safdie and Oppenheimer's Emily Blunt tease Matt Damon's "excitement" at leading Christopher Nolan's next movie

Inverse

Dwayne Johnson Gives The Performance Of A Lifetime In The Year's Most Surprising Sports Movie

Dwayne Johnson creates spellbinding intimacy in Benny Safdie’s sports drama.

Total Film

The Smashing Machine director Benny Safdie says acting for Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson made him a better filmmaker: "You want somebody to say you did okay"

Exclusive: The Smashing Machine director learnt a lot from Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson

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news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
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Cinemablend

'I Don't Look Pregnant': Dwayne Johnson Doesn't Hold Back While Talking About Losing All That Weight For New Role

After slimming down, The Rock becomes The Pepple.

Sports Illustrated

What Pushed Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to Transform Into Mark Kerr for ‘The Smashing Machine’

The Rock packed on the pounds to portray college wrestler turned MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the deeply personal film he says “turned into more than a movie.”

BANG Premier

'Think Clint Eastwood at 75' Dwayne Johnson reveals all on slimming down for new movie Lizard Music

Dwayne Johnson is pleased not to "look pregnant" anymore after channelling his inner 75-year-old Clint Eastwood to slim down for Benny Safdie's forthcoming film Lizard Music.

Cinemablend

You’ll Never Guess How Dwayne Johnson Injured His Elbow Filming The Smashing Machine

The Most Electrifying Move In On-Set Injuries?

International Business Times UK

The Rock's Biggest Gamble Yet: 'The Smashing Machine' Could Finally Bring Dwayne Johnson His First Oscar

Dwayne Johnson transforms into MMA legend Mark Kerr in 'The Smashing Machine', a gritty biopic generating Oscar buzz. Could this be The Rock's first Academy Award?

Euronews

Culture Digest: The best things to do, hear, see or watch in Europe this week

Large-scale sculptures illuminate Lisbon's MAAT, A24's 'The Smashing Machine' wrestles with addiction, and Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' marks the cultural event of the year.

The Independent UK

The Smashing Machine isn’t the transformative Dwayne Johnson vehicle we’ve been promised – but it’s a start

INSIDE FILM: Benny Safdie’s new wrestling drama has made its leading man an unexpected Oscar contender. But it’s also a clever bit of career course correction for the typically commercially minded star, writes Xan Brooks – different for him, but not so much that it could sabotage his brand

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