We’ve spent the last decade watching "The Rock" play a version of himself: the invincible, charismatic hero who saves the day with a wink and a massive bicep flex. The Smashing Machine is the movie where that persona goes to die.

Directed by Benny Safdie (one half of the duo behind the anxiety-inducing Uncut Gems), this is a biopic about Mark Kerr. If you aren't a combat sports nerd, here’s the context: Kerr was a legendary MMA fighter during the "no-holds-barred" era of the late 90s. He was a powerhouse, a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, and he earned the nickname "The Smashing Machine" because he essentially steamrolled everyone in his path.

But the movie isn't a highlight reel. It’s a raw exploration of Kerr’s struggle with an addiction to painkillers, the physical destruction of his body, and the chaotic early days of the UFC before it became the polished, billion-dollar corporate entity it is today.

The biggest hurdle for us as parents in 2026 is that Dwayne Johnson has spent years cultivating a brand that is essentially "safe for the whole family." When kids see his face, they think of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle or his viral TikToks.

If your middle schooler is into Roblox or follows sports influencers on YouTube, they likely already know who The Rock is and might even follow the current UFC scene. The marketing for this movie might look like a "cool fighting movie," but the reality is a visceral R-rated drama that deals with heavy themes of self-destruction.

Read our guide on why kids are obsessed with MMA culture

If you're considering letting your teen watch this, you need to know exactly what’s in the "gritty" bucket. This isn't stylized Marvel violence.

The fight scenes in The Smashing Machine are designed to make you wince. We’re talking about the early days of MMA where rules were sparse. You’ll see heavy ground-and-pound, bloodied faces, and the very real sound of bones and joints being pushed to the limit. It’s not "cool"; it’s exhausting and painful to watch.

This is the core of the film. Mark Kerr’s reliance on painkillers to keep fighting is depicted with zero filters. There are scenes of drug use, the physical symptoms of withdrawal, and the devastating impact addiction has on relationships. For a younger audience, this isn't just "mature content"—it’s potentially traumatizing or, at the very least, incredibly confusing without significant life context.

The movie dives deep into depression and the feeling of being used by an industry that only cares about you as long as you’re winning. It’s a "downer" in the truest sense of the word. While it’s an important story, it lacks the "triumph of the underdog" arc that makes movies like Rocky or Creed palatable for younger viewers.

If your kid is a huge fan of The Rock or is starting to get interested in wrestling and martial arts, there are much better ways to scratch that itch without exposing them to the heavy themes of The Smashing Machine.

Check out our full list of the best sports movies for teens

It’s worth noting that this is an A24 film. If you’ve seen The Iron Claw (the movie about the Von Erich wrestling family), you know that A24 doesn't do "happy" sports movies. They do "shatter your heart into a million pieces" sports movies.

If your teen is a "film buff" and wants to see it because of the directing or the acting, that’s a conversation to have. But if they want to see it because they think it’s a "Rock movie" where he beats people up and says catchphrases, they are going to be bored, confused, or upset within the first twenty minutes.

If your child asks why they can't see it, be honest. You can say: "This movie isn't an action movie like Jumanji. It's a true story about a man who struggled with a very serious illness called addiction and got hurt very badly in his job. It’s made for adults to understand the dark side of sports, and it’s a bit too heavy and sad for where you’re at right now."

If they are persistent, you might use it as a jumping-off point to talk about sports safety or the reality of professional athletes' lives versus what we see on Instagram.

The Smashing Machine is a career-defining performance for Dwayne Johnson. He’s finally showing he can act act. But this is a film for parents to watch on a Friday night after the kids are in bed—preferably with a lighthearted palate cleanser queued up for afterward.

Don't let the "Rock" branding fool you. This machine is built to smash your emotions, not to entertain your third-grader.

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For more deep dives into the latest releases, check out cineparenting.com.