THE SMASHING MACHINE

US, 2003, 93 minutes, Colour.

Directed by John Hyams.

The Smashing Machine was an early film about mixed martial arts, popular documentary on its release, and critically acclaimed.

The focus is on fighter, Mark Kerr, his family background and their disapproval of his fighting, his moving into the world of fighting and wrestling, becoming involved in MMI, his friendship with former rival, Mark Coleman, a focus on his training, various competitions, the visual brutality of his victories, his nickname, his acclaim.

He was a film very much for documentary rests and MMI fans. In 2025, a feature film was released, The Smashing Machine, the life and career of Mark Kerr, played by Dwayne Johnson, his wife by Emily Blunt.

But, for Mark Kerr, despite the reputation, it was not an easy life. There are scenes of his training, the entourage around him and promoting him, the banning of the various fights and television screenings in the US, his going to Brazil, finding development for his career in fights in Japan. There is his friend, Mark Coleman, himself involved in fighting, the bonds between the two men. Then there is Dawn Staples, her relationship with Mark Kerr, her own difficulties, but there bonding and having a child.

This documentary is a film of its time, focusing on Mark Kerr and the fights, his drug dependence, downfall, rehabilitation, professional choices. But it does provide documentary background for the 2025 feature film.