‘The Rock’ Dwayne Johnson’s turn as UFC icon Mark Kerr in A24’s The Smashing Machine sparked a whopping 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, placing it squarely among the most celebrated screenings in modern festival history.
The Rock and The Smashing Machine
15-Minute Standing Ovation
At Venice on September 1, the audience rose to applaud The Rock Johnson’s gritty performance, alongside director Benny Safdie and co-star Emily Blunt. The ovation stretched uninterrupted for a full quarter of an hour, a rare feat outside Cannes and Venice’s most lauded premieres.