Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in “The Smashing Machine.”
A24
The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as true-life mixed martial arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Mark Kerr, is reportedly coming soon to digital streaming.
Rated R, The Smashing Machine opened in theaters on Oct. 3. The film follows the highs and lows of Kerr’s career from 1997 to 2000, before the MMA and the UFC experienced a worldwide boom in popularity. Kerr’s career was previously chronicled in the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.
Directed by Benny Sadfie, The Smashing Machine also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn Staples, and MMA great Ryan Bader as Kerr’s fellow fighter and friend, UFC legend Mark Coleman. MMA legend Bas Rutten also plays himself in the film as Kerr’s trainer.
The Smashing Machine is expected to be released on digital streaming via premium video on demand on Tuesday, Nov. 4, according to When to Stream. While When to Stream is typically accurate with its PVOD reports, the streaming tracker noted that The Smashing Machine’s studio, A24, has not announced or confirmed the release date of the film on PVOD and it is subject to change.
When The Smashing Machine arrives on PVOD, it will be available on such digital outlets as Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video and YouTube. Prime Video currently has The Smashing Machine listed for pre-order for purchase for $24.99. Since PVOD rentals are generally $5 less than purchase prices, viewers can expect the film to be available to rent for 48 hours for $19.99.
Disclaimer: The trailer embedded below includes swearing.
How Did Audiences And Critics Receive ‘The Smashing Machine’?
The Smashing Machine to date has earned $11.1 million domestically and $4 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $15.1 million. The film had a production budget of $50 before prints and advertising costs, according to Variety.
The Smashing Machine earned a 70% “fresh” rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 282 reviews. The RT Critics Consensus reads, “Dwayne Johnson goes the distance with his transformative turn as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, a gritty biopic that sidesteps cliché even at the expense of narrative satisfaction while still landing the dramatic body blows that count.”
The film also received a 76% “fresh” score on RT’s Popcornmeter based on 500-plus verified user ratings. The RT audience summary for the film reads, “While The Smashing Machine may not break any records as a sports classic, Dwayne Johnson’s knockout performance transforms a familiar story into an unexpectedly memorable experience.”
The Smashing Machine is currently playing in theaters nationwide and is expected to be released on PVOD on Nov. 4.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2025/10/19/dwayne-johnsons-the-smashing-machine-gets-streaming-date-report-says/
