PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

 
 

THE SMASHING MACHINE NOW STREAMING ON HBO MAX

By Mike Johnson on 2026-01-23 18:33:00

The Rock's film The Smashing Machine is now streaming on HBO Max.

The film is an adaptation of the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Mark Kerr.

Mark Kerr, now 57, won two UFC Heavyweight Tournaments, competed in the PRIDE Fighting Championship, was a NCAA Division I champion and a World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner over the course of his MMA career.  The 2002 documentary was acclaimed at the time of its release:

Johnson announced he would be portraying Kerr back in November 2019, but the project was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Rock's production company Seven Bucks produced.  

 Emily Blunt, who worked with The Rock on Disney's Jungle Cruise portrays Kerr's wife, Dawn Staples.  

Benny Safdie, who co-directed and co-wrote the great Adam Sandler crime thriller Uncut Gems, wrote the screenplay and directed The Smashing Machine.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!