Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was visibly moved and cried when the audience stood to applaud The Smashing Machine at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. Contemporary reports called it a 15-minute standing ovation; Johnson later recalled it as sixteen-and-a-half minutes. He said the response was far beyond what he had imagined and deeply moved him and his colleagues.
What happened at the Venice screening?
The Smashing Machine screened at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2025. Johnson plays former MMA fighter Mark Kerr, the film’s real-life subject. At the screening’s conclusion, the audience stood and applauded. MMA Fighting reported that Johnson, Kerr and director Benny Safdie were in tears as they embraced. Global News also described Johnson as brought to tears after the ovation.
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The moment was a crowd response to the film’s screening, not a separate award or personal honor. Emily Blunt co-starred, and Johnson later named Blunt alongside Safdie and Kerr among those who were deeply moved.
How long did the ovation last?
Contemporary September 2025 coverage described the standing ovation as 15 minutes. In a later interview with Esquire, Johnson recalled: “We got a sixteen-and-a-half minute standing ovation.” The figures are not identical: the first is the duration reported at the time, while the second is Johnson’s later recollection. The published accounts do not explain the difference or establish how the duration was timed.
#1 Best Overall
What did Johnson say about his reaction?
In a statement shared on Instagram after the screening, Johnson described the reception as beyond what he could imagine: “I feel like dreams are something we can contextualize. We imagine things and scenarios in our minds. This was far beyond my imagination and something my heart had a hard time comprehending. We were all deeply moved to our core. Benny, Emily, Mark, and myself. Thank you, Venice Film Festival.” CinemaBlend reproduced the statement.
In the later interview, Johnson also described crying and sobbing during the ovation, saying it “just rocked me” and “blew me away.” His remarks establish that he felt deeply moved by the reception; they do not establish one exclusive private reason for his tears.
Rank #2
- Powerful biographical sports drama based on the life of legendary mixed martial artist Mark Kerr.
- Presented on Blu-ray with high-definition picture quality for an immersive viewing experience.
- Region Free Blu-ray compatible with Blu-ray players worldwide.
- Explores the physical and emotional toll of fame, competition, and personal struggle in professional fighting.
- Ideal for fans of combat sports, biographical films, and intense character-driven dramas.
What the ovation does—and does not—tell us
The reports document an emotional response from Johnson and other people involved in the film. They do not show that the length of the applause, by itself, proves the film’s quality or predicts awards or box-office results. The event is best understood as a powerful audience reaction at the Venice screening, alongside Johnson’s own account of how much the reception affected him.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
- The true story of legendary mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson), whose obsession with greatness made him a legend and nearly cost him everything. A portrait about ambition, sacrifice and the courage to fight for something greater than victory. SPECIAL FEATURES: Deleted Scenes, Commentary with director Benny Safdie.
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