‘It’s New For Me.’ Dwayne Johnson Reacts After Christopher Nolan Praises His Work In The Smashing Machine

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Before and after its release, most of the discussion around Benny Safdie’s *The Smashing Machine* focused on Dwayne Johnson – first on his physical transformation for the role, and then on the film’s disappointing box office numbers, which were the lowest of his career. However, underlying these conversations is significant praise for Johnson’s acting, including high compliments from acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, which seem to have deeply resonated with the actor.

Christopher Nolan’s Comments About The Smashing Machine

Okay, so I’m really excited about *The Smashing Machine* – it’s been one of the most talked-about movies coming out in 2025, especially since A24 is behind it. It actually premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September and *killed* it, winning the Silver Lion! Since then, regular audiences haven’t been quite as blown away, but things got interesting when Christopher Nolan showed up on the *Director’s Cut* podcast to chat with Benny Safdie. And get this – he gave Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson the *highest* praise, maybe the biggest compliment of his entire acting career. Seriously, it was a huge moment.

That was an amazing performance, truly one of the best I’ve seen, and I doubt anything will top it this year – or for a long time to come.

Although the compliment wasn’t meant for me, it still gave me a small boost of confidence. Coming from Nolan, a director known for his critically acclaimed films and with a highly anticipated movie, *The Odyssey*, on the horizon, his praise carries a lot of weight – much more than if it came from a stranger.

How The Rock Reacted To Christopher Nolan’s Compliments

Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie were at the 2025 Academy Museum Gala, and in a Variety interview (posted on X), Safdie, the director of *Smashing Machine*, admitted he was surprised by comments made by Christopher Nolan. He explained that Nolan hadn’t shared those thoughts with him directly beforehand.

We were talking, but I was surprised to hear him say that. It was really unexpected, honestly!

Johnson said it wasn’t long at all before Safdie hit him up to share the good news:

You texted me after Nolan saw the movie, saying it had really affected him and that he was impressed with your work. It was truly amazing to hear.

Although the athlete didn’t admit to excitedly jumping and cheering, it’s likely Johnson was celebrating privately with a lot of energy.

When asked about receiving praise from Nolan, the athlete confessed it felt unusual, even after twenty successful years in the spotlight. He explained that he wasn’t accustomed to positive feedback like that during his career.

I’m still getting used to it, but it was truly wonderful. When Josh finished performing, I gave him a huge hug, and I hugged Chris too. I told them that no one had ever said anything so kind about me before, and it really meant the world to me.

Everyone’s wondering if Christopher Nolan will cast Dwayne Johnson in his next big film, but it’s unknown what project that will be after he finishes *The Odyssey*. While a sequel to *Jungle Cruise* seems unlikely, it’s always possible I could be mistaken.

Despite no longer being in the top ten highest-grossing films this week, *The Smashing Machine* is still showing in some cinemas.

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2025-10-20 17:09