Overview

• The film made its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 8 following Safdie’s Best Director win in Venice.
• A24 released a second trailer on Sept. 9 that spotlights Emily Blunt’s role alongside Dwayne Johnson’s Mark Kerr.
• The Venice world premiere drew a sustained 15-minute standing ovation during which Johnson appeared visibly emotional.
• Critics highlight Johnson’s physical and emotional transformation, aided by Kazu Hiro’s prosthetics, with Blunt earning strong notices and awards-season attention building.
• Authenticity is emphasized through real fighters in the cast and large-format cinematography, with a U.S. theatrical release set for Oct. 3.