Overview

• Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt headlined a London screening as Benny Safdie’s Mark Kerr biopic continues its post‑Venice momentum, where it earned a lengthy ovation and the Silver Lion for directing.
• Early reviews highlight Johnson’s transformative performance and period authenticity, with some critics flagging slower pacing and a less impactful ending.
• UFC veterans including Matt Serra and Mark Coleman lauded the film’s realism, and Kerr described viewing it as therapeutic, reinforcing its resonance within the MMA community.
• Johnson detailed a demanding physical and prosthetic transformation, trained through fight choreography, and said he took a real punch on set; he also called the intense domestic scenes with Blunt emotionally painful to film.
• A24’s wide theatrical release is set for October 3, with industry forecasts pointing to a roughly $10–$20 million domestic opening and sustained awards-season attention for Johnson and Safdie.