The Smashing Machine (15)

Evening tickets – £5.50, concessions – £5

Matinee tickets – £4.50, concessions – £4

Running time – 123 minutes

Director – Benny Safdie

The Smashing Machine is a sports drama about mixed martial artist Mark Kerr, played by Dwayne Johnson, as he rises to fame in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) while battling an opioid addiction and a turbulent personal life. Directed by Benny Safdie, the film follows Kerr’s journey from 1997 to 2000, highlighting his career highs and lows, his struggles with addiction, and his relationship with his girlfriend, Dawn Staples, portrayed by Emily Blunt. It is based on a 2002 documentary and captures the intense physical and emotional toll of being a champion fighter.