10 Recent Movie Castings That Had No Right To Be This Good
3. Dwayne Johnson As Mark Kerr - The Smashing Machine
Generally speaking, audiences know what they can expect from a movie and a role of Dwayne Johnson's. The tough guy, not too far away from his WWE days, has been perfectly embodied by the likes of Luke Hobbs, Dr. Smoulder Bravestone, and a plethora of others.
You could look at an image of any Johnson character, and it could have come from a multitude of different movies. However, in 2025, the People's Champion branched out to do something he had rarely done before and tested himself with a layered character of far more depth than his usual offering.
As Mark Kerr, Johnson's physique and wrestling experience may have made sense for the role, but never has he truly showcased the chops to tell such a powerful and emotional story. Particularly when opposite the always-outstanding Emily Blunt, who by all rights should have acted circles around him.
The physical side of things, Rocky could do in his sleep, but for the real depth of the movie, he brought out a side to him that has never been seen before, and it's arguably now less puzzling that he has been chosen as a lead for the next Martin Scorsese picture.