After spearheading an unprecedented spring of box office hits, former WWE wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson makes a dramatic turn as MMA fighter Mark Kerr.

A two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, Kerr led a prolific career matched only by Johnson in his respective field. Charting the highs and lows of an athlete at the top of his game in the world’s bloodiest sports, The Smashing Machine follows Kerr’s MMA career, including the UFC, PRIDE FC and in fighting Vale Tudo, a loosely-regulated combat sport.

This is Benny Safdie’s (Good Time, Uncut Gems) first feature film not co-directed with his brother Josh. By all accounts, their split hasn’t dampened his talent: Safdie won the Silver Lion for Best Direction prize at the Venice Film Festival, an accolade previously won by The Brutalist’s Brady Corbet. The film also received a fifteen-minute standing ovation at the festival, with many praising Johnson and co-star Emily Blunt’s performances as Oscar-worthy.