Overview

• Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt led a London screening as festival buzz from Venice—where Benny Safdie won the Silver Lion—continues to build ahead of the October 3 U.S. release.
• MMA veterans including Matt Serra and Mark Coleman lauded Johnson’s portrayal, while Kerr said watching the film felt “almost like therapy.”
• Reviews highlight Johnson’s career-redefining performance and extensive prosthetic work, with critics noting a dramatic shift from his blockbuster persona.
• Safdie prioritized in-camera realism in fight scenes, and Johnson performed the choreography himself, taking a real punch on set to preserve authenticity.
• Industry projections place the opening weekend roughly in the $10–$20 million range, with early awards chatter positioning Johnson as a potential contender.