Overview

• The A24 drama reaches U.S. theaters on October 3 after Venice and TIFF bows, including a reported 15-minute standing ovation in Venice.
• Early reviews widely praise Johnson’s vulnerable transformation but register mixed overall, with critiques of pacing and low energy.
• Johnson said on The Tonight Show that he suffered a concussion filming a fight scene to keep the action authentic.
• Written and directed by Benny Safdie, the film follows MMA pioneer Mark Kerr in the late-1990s UFC/PRIDE scene and portrays his painkiller addiction and personal turmoil.
• Real fighters bolster the cast, with UFC champion Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman and MMA legend Bas Rutten appearing to heighten realism.