For a film built on sweat, pain, and redemption, The Smashing Machine was supposed to be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s most vulnerable role yet. Instead, it has become one of his most commercially unsuccessful films at the box office. Despite praise at the Venice Film Festival and appreciation for the WWE legend’s heartbreaking portrayal of UFC veteran Mark Kerr, audiences decided not to show up at all.

Despite a $40-50 million budget, the biopic has only grossed $20 million globally, earning less than $5,000 in daily ticket sales by its fourth week. For a man whose name generally guarantees global blockbusters, the silence in theaters has been deafening. While film and finance analysts looked at the causes behind its commercial failure, one MMA voice has addressed the situation quite differently: with empathy.

Bruce Buffer feels disappointed with Dwayne Johnson’s film failing

Bruce Buffer, the legendary UFC announcer, recently discussed the film on his YouTube show with TJ De Santis and Ray Longo, expressing both appreciation and regret. Buffer went to see the film in theaters and was extremely moved by Dwayne Johnson’s performance. “It was a tour de force for The Rock and Emily Blunt,” he said on his YouTube channel.

“They did a fantastic job with what they were given.” However, his tone changed as he mentioned the numbers. “I’m sorry to say, for The Rock, it’s his lowest-grossing film of all time… six million out of the gate. For the benefit of Mark Kerr, I was hoping it’d be a huge hit because I’d hope Mark had a piece of the action.”

Bruce Buffer’s words showed some honest remorse, not only for ‘The Brahma Bull,’ but also for Kerr himself. The real ‘Smashing Machine,’ who once was the face of MMA’s brutal early years, became a cautionary story of physical punishment and addiction. His tale was now being told on the big screen, and for those who had witnessed the sport’s early days, the movie represented something personal.

“Those of you who’ve seen the original documentary, it followed it quite well,” Buffer said, complimenting everyone involved. It wasn’t about ticket sales for him; it was about ensuring that a piece of MMA history gets its proper recognition. Meanwhile, Dwayne Johnson has handled the film’s failure with both grace and introspection. The WWE legend took to Instagram to reflect on what the project meant to him. “You can’t control box office results,” he wrote.

“But you can control your performance and your commitment to disappear into a role. This film changed my life.” The post showed a man who was more concerned with purpose than with profit. For someone who has built his reputation on strength and charisma, his portrayal of Kerr —shattered, addicted, and human —was a stark and admirable shift. The Smashing Machine’s underperformance may be due to audience expectations rather than the film itself. It is not a fast-paced drama but rather a slow burn about suffering, identity, and the cost of greatness.

As Variety pointed out, younger fans came for muscle but departed with something too raw to applaud about. Still, Bruce Buffer feels the story is far from over, as he believes the film will find success when it makes its digital release on VOD, the streaming site: “I think it’ll do very well once it hits streaming.” And he’s probably right. Films like these frequently find their audience later, among people who prioritize heart over hype. In fact, it has already won the admiration of none other than the legendary Christopher Nolan.

Christopher Nolan is all praise for The Rock’s performance

While The Smashing Machine struggled at the box office, it won something far more valuable: praise from Christopher Nolan. During an interview on The Director’s Cut podcast with director Benny Safdie, the Oppenheimer filmmaker described Dwayne Johnson’s portrayal of Mark Kerr as “heartbreaking,” adding, “I don’t think you’ll see a better performance this year or most other years.”

It was a powerful nod from one of cinema’s most renowned voices, transforming what many considered a commercial failure into a creative triumph. The discussion also revealed a backstage link between the two filmmakers. Safdie revealed that while working on Oppenheimer, he was developing The Smashing Machine and even recruited Emily Blunt for the film’s Q&A sessions.

Nolan joked, “I heard that when you were supposed to be learning lines on my set, you were actually casting your movie,” and Safdie laughed and admitted, “It worked out great.” Nolan concluded the discussion with a statement that exemplified the film’s quiet strength: “It’s a remarkable and radical piece of work that will be understood more and more over time.”

His sentiments reflected what Bruce Buffer and others have said: The Smashing Machine may not have drawn massive audiences, but its emotional weight and sincerity will undoubtedly find an audience long after its theatrical run. But what do you think? Do you agree with Bruce Buffer’s review of the film? Were you too blown away by Dwayne Johnson’s portrayal of Mark Kerr? Let us know in the comments.