The discussion around The Smashing Machine cast salaries mainly centres on Hollywood superstars Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) and Emily Blunt, who play the leading roles in this intense sports biopic. The film, directed by Benny Safdie, portrays the real-life journey of MMA legend Mark Kerr, showcasing his rise, struggles, and personal battles both inside and outside the ring.
Cast Salary Details
Project Budget and Leading Actors
The total production budget of The Smashing Machine is estimated to be between $50 million and $70 million, making it one of A24’s biggest projects to date.
- Dwayne Johnson, who portrays Mark Kerr, reportedly received around $20 million or more for his role. His fee aligns with his status as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors and reflects his commitment to taking on a dramatic, transformation-heavy role that’s quite different from his usual action blockbusters.
- Emily Blunt, playing Dawn Staples, Kerr’s wife, is believed to have earned around $10 million or slightly more. As one of the top-billed actresses in Hollywood and Johnson’s co-star in Jungle Cruise, her inclusion adds major star power to the film.
The rest of the cast earned significantly lower amounts, as most of the budget was dedicated to the film’s two leads and the detailed recreation of the MMA world from the late 1990s and early 2000s.
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Supporting Cast and Earnings
The film features an impressive supporting lineup, including Ryan Bader (as Mark Coleman), Bas Rutten, Oleksandr Usyk, Lyndsey Gavin, and Stephen Quadros. These actors, many with direct ties to MMA or combat sports, received more modest compensation ranging between $200,000 and $500,000 each. Their performances add realism and authenticity, while the main budget remains concentrated on the principal cast and large-scale production design.
Budget Breakdown
The movie was filmed across the United States, Canada, and Japan, which added to the production costs. The realistic fight sequences, period settings, and location shoots significantly increased spending. However, the largest share of the budget was allocated to Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt’s salaries.
A considerable portion also went into choreography, visual styling, and set designs to recreate the raw, physical world of professional MMA fighting.