{"id":112811,"date":"2025-09-01T22:13:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T22:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/112811\/"},"modified":"2025-09-01T22:13:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T22:13:07","slug":"dwayne-the-rock-johnson-breaks-down-in-tears-at-the-end-of-mma-movie-premiere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/112811\/","title":{"rendered":"Dwayne \u2018The Rock\u2019 Johnson breaks down in tears at the end of MMA movie premiere"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dwayne \u2018The Rock\u2019 Johnson could be looking at an Oscar nomination after playing a UFC legend.<\/p>\n

The WWE superstar-turned-actor took on one of the biggest challenges of his career thus far with his new MMA film, \u2018The Smashing Machine\u2019.<\/p>\n

Produced by A24, the biopic tells the story of UFC<\/a> Hall of Famer Mark Kerr<\/a>: his wins, his losses, a battle with opioid addiction and a turbulent relationship with his girlfriend, Dawn Staples, played by Emily Blunt (Edge of Tomorrow, The Devil Wears Prada).<\/p>\n

With the help of prosthetics, Johnson saw an unreal and almost unrecognizable transformation into Kerr<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Smashing Machine\u2019, which is set to release on Oct. 3<\/a>, held its worldwide premiere in Venice on Monday.<\/p>\n

Johnson was simply overwhelmed by the reception to the film.<\/p>\n

\"HiramPhoto by Stefania D’Alessandro\/WireImageDwayne Johnson tears up during 15-minute standing ovation for \u2018The Smashing Machine\u2019<\/p>\n

As the credits rolled for the premiere, the star-studded cast of \u2018The Smashing Machine\u2019 received a 15-minute standing ovation from those in attendance.<\/p>\n

Johnson and director Benny Safdie were brought to tears as the crowd continued to clap.<\/p>\n

Dwayne Johnson weeps during the 15-minute #Venezia2025<\/a> standing ovation for \u2018The Smashing Machine.\u2019 This was the most emotion we\u2019ve since on the Lido since Brendan Fraser launched his Oscar campaign here four years ago for \u2018The Whale.\u2019 pic.twitter.com\/BzAjB4v6uk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) September 1, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was the most emotion we\u2019ve since on the Lido since Brendan Fraser launched his Oscar campaign here four years ago for \u2018The Whale.\u2019\u201d Variety\u2019s Ramin Setoodeh posted on X.<\/p>\n

Brendan Fraser won best actor in a leading role for \u2018The Whale\u2019 back in 2023. There\u2019s a chance Johnson will be up for an Oscar nomination for his performance as UFC heavyweight tournament winner Mark Kerr.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Smashing Machine\u2019 debuts at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes<\/p>\n

The reviews are in for \u2018The Smashing Machine\u2019<\/p>\n

Still a month out from its worldwide release, the film debuted with a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Johnson won over the critics with what they\u2019re calling an extraordinary performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohnson, shifting his whole aspect (he seems like a new actor), invests that silent, moody, hidden side of Mark with a quality of mystery. He gives an extraordinary performance,\u201d Variety\u2019s Owen Gleiberman reviewed on Rotten Tomatoes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the most raw and vulnerable that Johnson has ever been on screen. Once you\u2019ve seen him this exposed, you won\u2019t watch his typical action movie stunts in quite the same way ever again,\u201d Geoffrey Macnab wrote in their review.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohnson\u00a0owns the whole thing with his truly remarkable work as fighter Mark Kerr, disappearing so fully underneath Kazu Hiru\u2019s astonishing prosthetics,\u201d Deadline\u2019s Damon Wise<\/a> reviewed.<\/p>\n

As of this writing, The Smashing Machine stands at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.<\/p>\n