Overview

• The A24 drama moves from Venice and Toronto acclaim into a wide U.S. theatrical release this weekend.
• Critics widely praise Johnson for a career-redefining performance as MMA pioneer Mark Kerr, with Emily Blunt earning strong notices as Dawn Staples.
• Safdie centers the late‑1990s world of early MMA while foregrounding the personal costs of the sport in a restrained, character-first approach.
• The film intentionally condenses and reshapes events for narrative clarity, a choice Safdie has explained as Kerr consulted and later called the experience therapeutic.
• Authenticity is enhanced by real fighters on screen, including Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman and Bas Rutten appearing as himself.