5 MMA Movies to See before the Exciting Release of The Smashing Machine

Anticipation is running high among MMA fans for the release of The Smashing Machine. Directed by Benny Safdie, the film follows the tumultuous life of Mark Kerr, a mixed martial artist who won heavyweight titles in the UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships, but also struggled with addiction and holding his marriage together. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as Kerr, while Emily Blunt plays Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples.

Upon its October release, The Smashing Machine will join a relatively small group of films centered on MMA. From cult classics to critical bombs, let’s look at five films that MMA fans should know.

Bloodsport (1988)

The earliest movie on this list showcased how exciting MMA can be. Decades later, with the UFC now a household name, it remains a cult classic.

Bloodsport stars Jean-Claude Van Damme (in his first movie) as Frank Dux, an Army captain who leaves the military to compete in an underground fighting tournament known as the Kumite. As he fights in one potentially deadly match after another, he attempts to evade capture by his military superiors.

The movie has become known for showcasing the various fighting styles of the combatants. Kung-fu, kickboxing, jujitsu, karate—viewers got a glimpse of all of these disciplines and more. While critics largely panned the movie, it fared better among the general public and has favorable audience rankings on Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes.

Here Comes the Boom (2012)

The lone comedy on this list, Here Comes the Boom stars noted MMA enthusiast Kevin James in what is his love letter to the sport. James plays Scott Voss, a former college wrestler who, as the movie begins, is working as a high-school biology teacher. After learning that budget cuts will bring about the end of his school’s music department and the dismissal of a beloved teacher played by Henry Winkler, James enters a UFC competition in an attempt to save the department.

Along with James and Winkler, Here Comes the Boom stars Salma Hayek as the school nurse and MMA legend Bas Rutten—in a surprisingly capable comedic performance —as Voss’ trainer. There are also cameos from a number of well-known UFC figures, among them Chael Sonnen, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, and Joe Rogan.

While often lacking in realism—one scene involves a cage being so flooded with rain that James’ character is forced to swim in it—the film features some effective fight sequences. Here Comes the Boom received mostly unfavorable reviews, but some critics were charmed by its blend of comedy and heartfelt drama.

Never Back Down (2008)

Never Back Down follows a troubled teenager played by Sean Faris whose hair-trigger temper leads to his introduction into the world of underground fighting. Djimon Hounsou turns in a strong performance as the teenager’s trainer, while Amber Heard plays his love interest.

A knockoff of Karate Kid with an MMA twist, Never Back Down fared poorly among critics, who pointed out the movie’s barely concealed indebtedness to the 1984 film. Despite the film’s lack of originality, some critics found it entertaining, with TV Guide Magazine calling it “formulaic and derivative, but sufficiently well made.”

Like Bloodsport before it, Never Back Down features intense MMA fighting sequences, with fighters showcasing such styles as boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian jujitsu. If you’re an MMA fan in need of a fighting fix, you could do worse than to give this one a look.

Road House (2024)

A remake of the 1989 cult classic, Road House finds Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal stepping into the shoes of original star Patrick Swayze. Gyllenhaal plays Elwood Dalton, a UFC fighter who left the sport after accidentally killing an opponent. Now working as a bouncer in the Florida Keys, he has to contend with corrupt cops, local criminals, and a gang enforcer played by former UFC champion Conor McGregor.

Road House is directed by Doug Liman, whose previous work includes Swingers, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and The Bourne Identity. With both a proven director and acclaimed actor on hand, as well as McGregor in a supporting role, Road House had high expectations. It largely lived up to them, both with critics and audiences. MMA fans in particular will enjoy Road House’s realistic fight scenes, some of which were actually filmed in the UFC Octagon.

Warrior (2011)

If you only have time to see one MMA movie, make it this one. The rare MMA film that’s simply an excellent movie, Warrior follows a pair of estranged brothers played by Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy as they find themselves competing in the same MMA tournament. Nick Nolte costars as the brothers’ alcoholic father, who Hardy’s character enlists as his trainer.

Directed by Gavin O’Connor, Warrior captures the physical intensity of MMA while depicting a moving family drama anchored by the exceptional performances of its actors. Nolte, in particular, stands out, especially in his gut-wrenching scenes with Hardy. In fact, his performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Warrior also features MMA fighter Erik Apple as fellow tournament entrant Pete “Mad Dog” Grimes. While the film unsurprisingly culminates with the two brothers squaring off in the ring, as Chuck Mindenhall of The Athletic points out, the filmmakers succeed in leaving the audience in doubt as to how the story will end and even which of the two brothers they want to win.