The Smashing Machine
“The Life and Times of Extreme Cage Fighter Mark Kerr”
Synopsis
An unflinching look at the life and story of Mark Kerr between 1999 and 2001, an intelligent, articulate, and emotionally vulnerable athlete, considered by many at the time to be the most dominant ultimate fighter in the world. A former Olympic wrestler, Kerr easily dominated all his opponents, earning him the nickname "The Smashing Machine." With the promise of big money and the euphoria of his early victories, Kerr must battle his injuries and inner fears. The shock of these fights takes a heavy toll on his body and mind, and Kerr attempts to overcome these physical and psychological traumas by turning to painkillers. Kerr's addiction is shown in its raw form, with the camera capturing him desperately soliciting drugs from friends and staff, and injecting painkillers into his veins. His shocking defeat to Fujita in Japan shows us a story that is sometimes difficult and heartbreaking to watch.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-07-28
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Release History & Theatrical Window
Oldenburg International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Hyams
- Original Score
- Michael Krassner
- Original Title
- The Smashing Machine
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Studios
- Solaris Film, HBO Documentary Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Hyams
Michael Krassner
Stephen Schlueter
Jordan Mokriski, John Hyams
Michael Robinson, Jon Greenhalgh, Gavin O'Connor, Greg O'Connor, Kevin Goodman
Department Leadership Roster
John Hyams
Director
Jordan Mokriski
Editor
Jon Greenhalgh
Producer
John Hyams
Editor
Stephen Schlueter
Director of Photography
Michael Krassner
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Smashing Machine.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Smashing Machine.
MOVIES
TheList
Automate
Movies
Watchlist
Crime/Drama Movies
a24
Similar Titles to The Smashing Machine
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.9
6.2
7.7
6.9
6.7
7.5
6.8
5.7
7.3
5.0
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 2 3"%3E%3Crect width="2" height="3" fill="%23161922"/%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tao - Fighting for Football in China
7.0
More Like The Smashing Machine
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Smashing Machine
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Smashing Machine about?
An unflinching look at the life and story of Mark Kerr between 1999 and 2001, an intelligent, articulate, and emotionally vulnerable athlete, considered by many at the time to be the most dominant ultimate fighter in the world. A former Olympic wrestler, Kerr easily dominated all his opponents, earning him the nickname "The Smashing Machine." With the promise of big money and the euphoria of his early victories, Kerr must battle his injuries and inner fears. The shock of these fights takes a heavy toll on his body and mind, and Kerr attempts to overcome these physical and psychological traumas by turning to painkillers. Kerr's addiction is shown in its raw form, with the camera capturing him desperately soliciting drugs from friends and staff, and injecting painkillers into his veins. His shocking defeat to Fujita in Japan shows us a story that is sometimes difficult and heartbreaking to watch.
Who directed The Smashing Machine?
The Smashing Machine was directed by John Hyams.
Who stars in The Smashing Machine?
The principal cast of The Smashing Machine includes Mark Kerr, Bas Rutten, Mark Coleman, Royce Gracie, Dawn Staples.
When was The Smashing Machine released and how long is it?
The Smashing Machine was released in 2002 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
Who composed the musical score for The Smashing Machine?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Smashing Machine was composed by Michael Krassner.