Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine Draws 15-Minute Venice Ovation, Fuels Oscar Buzz

The film premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 1 and received a standing ovation of about 15 minutes. Johnson was visibly emotional during the applause, with reports noting he teared up in response to the reception. A24 set the theatrical release for October 3 in the United States and Canada, with Mexico and Latin America following on October 9. The story centers on Kerr’s 1997–2000 ascent and his struggles with opioid and painkiller addiction, alongside a fraught relationship with Dawn Staples. Emily Blunt co-stars as Dawn Staples, with Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman and Oleksandr Usyk as Igor Vovchanchyn under writer‑director Benny Safdie.

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