US EditionChristopher Nolan Says Dwayne Johnson's Work In 'The Smashing Machine' Is The Best Performance Of The Year; The Rock Reacts
Christopher Nolan praised Dwayne Johnson's portrayal of UFC fighter Mark Kerr as the best acting performance of 2025 despite the film's $10 million domestic box office, below its $50 million budget.
- Christopher Nolan praised Dwayne Johnson during a recent Directors Guild podcast interview, calling his performance `heartbreaking` and saying `I don't think you'll see a better performance this year or most other years.`
- Johnson portrays two-time UFC heavyweight champ Mark Kerr opposite Emily Blunt in The Smashing Machine, which director Benny Safdie developed while starring in Oppenheimer and recruited Blunt during an Oppenheimer Q&A.
- Box-Office figures show The Smashing Machine has so far $10 million domestically on a $50 million production budget, with a $5.9 million opening marking a career low for Johnson below Faster's $8.5 million debut.
- The endorsement has boosted Dwayne Johnson's best actor Oscar campaign for The Smashing Machine, and Johnson said it was his honor to transform for the role, adding the film `changed my life`.
- Though they haven't collaborated, Nolan and Johnson have spoken admiringly of each other’s work, with Nolan praising the Fast & Furious franchise and Johnson lauding Oppenheimer’s IMAX experience.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Christopher Nolan Praises Dwayne Johnson, Says ‘Smashing Machine’ Will Be ‘Understood More Over Time’: ‘I Don’t Think You’ll See a Better Performance This Year or Most Other Years’
Christopher Nolan says Dwayne Johnson in 'The Smashing Machine' is the best performance of 'this year or most other years.'
Christopher Nolan Says Dwayne Johnson's Work In 'The Smashing Machine' Is The Best Performance Of The Year; The Rock Reacts
the rock the smashing machine Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has earned a powerful ally in his quest to land his first ever Academy Award nomination: iconic Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who recently said that The Rock’s performance in The Smashing Machine is the best of the year. During a recent conversation with Benny Safdie, the actor and filmmaker who directed The Smashing Machine, the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer director showered prai…
Christopher Nolan Lavishes Praise On Dwayne Johnson In ‘The Smashing Machine’: “I Don’t Think You’ll See A Better Performance This Year”
The Smashing Machine may not have been a box office knockout, but Dwayne Johnson’s turn as UFC fighter Mark Kerr has a big admirer in Christopher Nolan. The Oppenheimer director lavished praise on Johnson during an interview with The Smashing Machine helmer Benny Safdie on The Director’s Cut, the Directors Guild of America’s podcast. Nolan said the performance was “heartbreaking,” adding: “I think it’s an incredible performance. I don’t thin…
Christopher Nolan Praises Dwayne Johnson’s Performance in Box Office Flop “The Smashing Machine”
Christopher Nolan has stepped forward to show strong support for Dwayne Johnson’s latest movie The Smashing Machine, a film that’s been struggling to attract audiences despite critical buzz. The Oscar-winning director recently appeared on The Director’s Cut podcast, where he spoke with filmmaker Benny Safdie about the project and had nothing but praise for Johnson’s... The post Christopher Nolan Praises Dwayne Johnson’s Performance in Box Office…
Dwayne Johnson uses facial prosthetics to play Mark Kerr, one of the first stars of the UFC, in his upcoming ambitious biographical drama
Christopher Nolan Crowns Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine as 2025’s Best Performance
Christopher Nolan calls Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine performance the year’s best. Christopher Nolan Crowns Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine as 2025’s Best Performance Written by Jarrod Saunders for Fortress of Solitude
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