The trailer for Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine was recently released, featuring Dwayne Johnson as former UFC champion Mark Kerr, and his look in the movie has surprised fans. The film, which is produced by A24, will debut in theaters on October 3, 2025.
Fans react to Dwayne Johnson’s Mark Kerr look in The Smashing Machine trailer
Dwayne Johnson appeared in a completely different avatar in the trailer for his upcoming movie, The Smashing Machine. The actor sported a wig and prosthetics to make him resemble UFC fighter Mark Kerr.
Check out the trailer below:
The movie’s logline reads, “‘The Smashing Machine’ is a drama based on the story of Mark Kerr, the legendary MMA fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak of his career. He struggles with addiction, winning, love and friendship in the year 2000.”
Since the debut of the trailer on the internet, numerous fans took to social media to share their reaction to Johnson’s transformation.
A user noted that the movie should be nominated for best makeup at the Oscars and wrote, “This film getting at least best makeup nomination at the Oscar’s because that is not Dwayne lmaooo.”
Another user stated, “Dwayne looks a lot like Mark after the makeup and I’m sure he’ll do a great job.”
An X user named @JKLM praised the make-up artists of the movie and commented, “The make up artists did a great job cause I wouldn’t know that’s the Rock if you didn’t tell me.”
Fans also gathered in the comments section under the trailer on YouTube and further complimented Johnson.
One viewer wrote, “It’s a unique compliment for the Rock when no one recognises him in a film. I’m glad he challenged himself for this role. He is phenomal in this trailer and I can’t wait to see it.”
Another commented, “The prostheses in the nose and brow are so subtle and yet he really does look like another person – and the body transformation, too.”
Apart from Johnson, the talented cast of The Smashing Machine includes Emily Blunt, Lyndsey Gavin, Oleksandr Usyk, and Bas Rutten.
