Christopher Nolan, the director behind Interstellar and Oppenheimer, lauded Dwayne Johnson for his work in the sports biopic “The Crushing Machine.”
During a podcast with the film’s director, Benny Safdie, Nolan called Johnson’s performance “riveting.”
“I think it’s an extraordinary role. I’m not certain you’ll see a better performance this year—or in other years,” Nolan remarked.
In The Crushing Machine, Johnson portrays Mark Kerr, an American mixed-martial-arts competitor and two-time UFC champion. Emily Blunt also appears in the cast.
Safdie received the Silver Lion for directing at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The biopic opened in theaters in early October. Despite generally favorable reviews from critics (70% on Rotten Tomatoes), the film underperformed at the box office.
Nolan’s next project, the epic Odyssey, is scheduled for release on July 17, 2026.
