‘The Smashing Machine’ Lands on HBO Max — Here’s the Release Date Fans Have Been Waiting For

Dwayne Johnson’s most serious role to date is getting a new life on streaming. The Smashing Machine is set to arrive on HBO Max on January 23, giving viewers another chance to watch the film after its short run in theaters.

The movie is directed by Benny Safdie and tells the story of Mark Kerr, a real-life MMA legend. Kerr was a dominant fighter in the late 1990s and early 2000s and won several major titles during his career. The film focuses not only on his success in the cage, but also on the personal struggles that followed him behind the scenes.

Johnson plays Kerr in what many see as the biggest transformation of his career. He stars alongside Emily Blunt, who plays Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples. The cast also includes Bas Rutten, Lyndsey Gavin, and Oleksandr Usyk. This project also marks Safdie’s first solo directing effort after working with his brother on films like Uncut Gems and Good Time.

The Smashing Machine is really setting the bar high…an unrecognizable Dwayne Johnson looks to give the best performance of his career, helmed by Benny Safdie produced by A24…yeah I can’t see Zack Snyder’s BRAWLER topping this… pic.twitter.com/zUEgsLhHV3

— YouTube: @TheSimulationPresents (@FilmAgeStudios) April 29, 2025

The Smashing Machine had a quiet start at the box office, earning around $5.9 million in the U.S. during its opening. Still, Johnson has been open about how much the film means to him. After the release, he shared his thoughts on Instagram and thanked viewers for giving the movie a chance.

“From deep in my grateful bones, thank you to everyone who has watched ‘The Smashing Machine,’” Johnson wrote. “You can’t control box office results, but you can control your performance and your commitment to disappear into a role.”

He also praised Safdie for trusting him with such a challenging part, adding that the film had a real impact on his life. The comments were shared directly by Johnson on his social media account, giving fans a personal look at how much the project mattered to him.

With its move to HBO Max, the film may now reach a wider audience that missed it in theaters. Streaming could give The Smashing Machine a second chance to be judged more for its performances and story than its opening numbers.