Dwayne Johnson gets 15-minute standing ovation at Venice

Dwayne Johnson received a thunderous reception at the Venice Film Festival on Monday night, where his dramatic biopic “The Smashing Machine” earned a remarkable 15-minute standing ovation following its world premiere. The reaction left the typically composed action star in tears as he stood between co-star Emily Blunt and the real-life Mark Kerr, the MMA fighter he portrays in the film.

The A24 production, directed by Benny Safdie in his solo directorial debut, has immediately generated Oscar buzz for Johnson’s transformative performance. Venice’s artistic director Alberto Barbera suggested last week that he wouldn’t be surprised to see both Johnson and Blunt among next year’s Academy Award nominees.abcnews

A Dramatic Departure for Johnson

Johnson’s portrayal of Mark Kerr represents a radical shift from his blockbuster franchise work in films like “Jumanji” and the “Fast & Furious” series. The actor underwent a physical transformation that included significant weight loss and hours of daily prosthetic makeup designed by Kazu Hiro, the artist behind Gary Oldman’s Winston Churchill and Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein.people

“I have for a long time wanted this,” Johnson said before the premiere, according to ABC News. “The box office in our business is very loud, and it can push you into a category and into a corner: This is your lane, this is what you do”. The 53-year-old actor credited co-star Blunt and director Safdie with encouraging him to take the leap into more serious dramatic territory.abcnews

During the emotional ovation, Safdie was also seen overcome with tears as the audience chanted “DJ,” “Benny,” and “Emily.” One Variety editor compared the moment to Brendan Fraser’s emotional Venice reception for “The Whale,” which launched his successful Oscar campaign.people

The Story Behind “The Smashing Machine”

The film chronicles the life of Mark Kerr, nicknamed “The Smashing Machine,” during his dominant years in mixed martial arts between 1997 and 2000. Kerr was a two-time UFC heavyweight tournament champion who also struggled with opioid addiction and overdosed twice before retiring in 2009.livenowfox

Blunt portrays Dawn Staples, Kerr’s volatile girlfriend during this turbulent period. The actress described the role as an opportunity to show “the full spectrum of what a relationship really looks like” rather than a “moviefied relationship”.abcnews

Director Safdie explained his attraction to the 1990s MMA era, telling the Venice audience that “that era was incredibly experimental. Numerous martial arts disciplines were pitted against each other, creating a truly distinctive sport”. He was drawn to the contrast between the violent competition and the close bonds between fighters.deadline

Industry Recognition and Release Plans

The film’s reception has positioned it as a potential awards contender, with critics praising Johnson’s performance as career-defining. The Hollywood Reporter’s review noted that Johnson “dominates the film with his truly exceptional portrayal of fighter Mark Kerr, vanishing completely beneath Kazu Hiru’s remarkable prosthetics”.deadline

“The Smashing Machine” is scheduled for theatrical release by A24 on October 3, 2025. The film’s premiere marked Johnson’s first visit to the Venice Film Festival, where it is competing in the main competition alongside other titles vying for the festival’s top prizes, with winners to be announced on September 6.people

For Johnson, the project represents both a career pivot and a personal journey. “I’ve been scared to go deep and go intense and go raw until now,” he said, describing how portraying Kerr had “certainly changed my life”.bbc