Why is “The Smashing Machine” rated R? The MPAA rating has been assigned for “language and some drug abuse.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes a few kissing and hugging scenes, many scenes of MMA fighting with people being struck with punches, kicks and knees causing injuries and bloody wounds, a woman holding a gun to her head, people using opioids for pain and becoming addicted, a woman seeming to attempt to overdose, many arguments, and at least 42 F-words and other strong language. Read our parents’ guide below for details on sexual content, violence & strong language.

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Biopic of MMA and wrestling champion Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson) from 1997-2000, chronicling his career, struggle with substance abuse, relationship with his then-girlfriend (Emily Blunt), training partners and friends. Also with Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, Kenny Rice, Jerin Valel and Andre Tricoteux. Directed by Benny Safdie. [Running Time: 2:03]

The Smashing Machine SEX/NUDITY 3

 – A woman stretches a man’s leg back, lies on top of him and they kiss. A man kisses a woman lying in bed. A man and a woman hug and kiss. A man kisses a woman on the cheek. A man and a woman kiss, and a woman kisses a man and he pulls away. A man and a woman embrace as she sits on his lap. A man and a woman hold hands.
► A man uses a sexually suggestive term to describe fighting and winning. A man argues with a woman about not being ready to have children when she says that he would be a good father. Men hug in greeting in several scenes.
► Fighters pose shirtless for press photos (we see bare chests, abdomens, backs and legs). Fighters are shirtless and wear short trunks in the ring and during training (we see bare chests, abdomens, legs and backs). A woman wears low-cut and tight-fitting outfits in many scenes (we see cleavage, bare abdomens, backs and shoulders). A man wearing a towel wrapped around his waist walks into a shower room (we see his bare chest, abdomen and back).

The Smashing Machine VIOLENCE/GORE 6

 – Two fighters enter a ring and fight: one man is thrown to the mat and punched and kneed in the face repeatedly (we see his very bloody nose and face); this happens in many scenes with different fighters). A fighter is kneed in the head repeatedly until he seems to be knocked out in a couple of scenes. Fighters knee and punch other fighters in the ribs in several fights. A couple of fighters appear scared in the ring and back away from another fighter before being thrown to the mat and pummeled in the head and face with punches and head-butting. A fighter is kneed in the ribs and punched in the head repeatedly and he does not move; he later says, “It was like I was dead.”
► A man punches a heavy bag on the floor during a training demonstration and he collapses moaning; another man thinks he is having a heart attack, but the man says that it is his tendon, and the second man injects him with an opioid (the injured man seems to feel better). A fighter is thrown to the mat and stays on his back kicking toward the other fighter that stands up and tries to move around him.
► A man and a woman argue bitterly and he tells her that she needs to leave; she goes to a safe and takes out a gun that she puts to her head and the man takes the gun away, she then goes to the bathroom and we hear pills rattling in a vial (implying that she is going to overdose) and the man grabs and holds her until she settles down (she cries and complains that he is hurting her); the woman is taken away by police and we hear that she will be evaluated. A woman goes on a centrifugal force ride and when it spins around, she turns upside down while being pressed against the wall of the ride.
► A woman confronts a man about taking drugs and being out of control; the man becomes angry and punches a door, breaking it in half. A man and a woman argue and she throws a pottery bowl on the floor shattering it.
► A woman tearfully calls a man saying that another man was not responsive and that it seemed like he had overdosed; we see the man in the hospital with an IV and later walking into a rehab facility. A man talks to another man about needing to get his drug use under control and the second man says, “I want to die.” A man complains that another fighter was using illegal attacks and that he did not lose; the fight is declared a no contest. A man is described as having a hard punch. Rules of a competition include no eye gouging, no head-butting, and no biting. A man complains about a woman not taking proper care of a cactus or cleaning leaves out of a swimming pool. A man tells a woman that her behavior is so unhealthy for him after he gets out of rehab. A man and a woman argue bitterly in several scenes. A woman says that the fighting a man does is the “bloody thing they’re trying to ban.” A man signs an autograph for a young boy and tells him, “No fighting.” A man says, “A day without pain is like a day without sunshine.” A man talks about needing to control your emotions in the ring. A man calls a doctor’s office asking for a new prescription for pain medication explaining that what he has makes his stomach upset. A man says that he is going to get sick all over if he goes on an amusement park ride (we do not see him get sick).
► Cars slam together in a demolition derby and one is struck from the side repeatedly until a fire starts under the hood and the driver is taken out (he seems dazed but unharmed).
► A man is shown with a gash on his chin and we see blood; a doctor stitches the wound and we see a hypodermic injecting and numbing agent. A man injects himself with an opioid (we see the needle press into his vein). A man is shown with scars on his knees and bruises on his face. A man is missing his front teeth. A man has bruises on his back after a fight.

The Smashing Machine LANGUAGE 9

 – About 42 F-words and its derivatives, 1 obscene hand gesture, 1 sexual reference, 11 scatological terms, 8 anatomical terms, 1 mild obscenity, name-calling (annoying, insane, tattletale, rude, selfish, dumb, stupid, exhausting, dummy, dangerous, jealous, sight for sore eyes, tough [F-word deleted]), exclamations (slayed the beast, oh my goodness), 10 religious exclamations (e.g. God, oh my God, oh God, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Holy [scatological term deleted], thank God, a man says that he feels like a god when he wins). | profanity glossary |

The Smashing Machine SUBSTANCE USE

 – A man injects himself with an opioid, a man asks for stronger pain relief and he is given Advil, a man gathers drugs from his house and throws them away, a man injects another man with an opioid for pain, and a man calls a doctor’s office asking for a new prescription for pain medication explaining that what he has makes his stomach upset. Two women drink beer and Margaritas at a restaurant, and a woman says that a man was out partying and drinking before a fight.

The Smashing Machine DISCUSSION TOPICS

 – MMA fighting, animal instincts, opioid addiction, rehab.

The Smashing Machine MESSAGE

 – MMA fighting can be like a roller coaster ride.