Dwayne Johnson Responds to Christopher Nolan Praising His ‘Best Performance of the Year’
Dwayne Johnson had a moment he says he will never forget when Christopher Nolan praised his performance in The Smashing Machine. The Rock, 53, was in the audience at a Directors Guild of America screening in Los Angeles on October 5, the Sunday of the film’s opening weekend, when Nolan, known for rarely giving public compliments, spoke about Johnson’s role as MMA fighter Mark Kerr.
“I think it’s an incredible performance,” Nolan said during an interview with Benny Safdie about his new film. He called Johnson’s work “heartbreaking” and added, “I don’t think you’ll see a better performance this year or most other years.”
The comments stood out because they came as the film opened to a modest $6 million in 3,300 theaters, a start that had led many Oscar prognosticators to dismiss it.
Johnson told reporters on October 31 that hearing Nolan’s praise live was one of the most inspiring moments of his career. “It was the most inspiring thing anyone has ever said about me,” he said, reflecting on the experience. Friends in Hollywood had already complimented his performance, and Matt Damon had reminded him, “In what we do, we’re lucky enough, sometimes, to make a film that endures.” Still, Nolan’s words in that setting hit differently.
“Once it started to sink in, I was having an out-of-body experience,” Johnson recalled. He was sitting next to his wife, singer Lauren Hashian, and grabbed her hand tightly. Hashian encouraged him to speak to Nolan afterward.
Excited to share the official trailer for Benny Safdie’s THE SMASHING MACHINE, starring Dwayne Johnson and Academy Award nominee Emily Blunt.
— UFC (@ufc) April 29, 2025
In theaters October 3rd. pic.twitter.com/PmLIYnNWQM
“I just gave him the biggest hug and the biggest kiss on the cheek,” Johnson said. “All I could say was ‘Thank you.’ And he said, ‘I meant what I said. You were heartbreaking, and the best performance of the year.’ I gave him another hug. That was all I could muster.”
For Johnson, Nolan’s recognition was more than just praise, it was a validation of the work he put into portraying Kerr. Even if the film’s opening weekend was modest, Johnson said the experience of being acknowledged by one of Hollywood’s most respected directors made the moment unforgettable.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!