Despite its underwhelming box office performance, the Dwayne Johnson-Emily Blunt starrer The Smashing Machine continues to find admirers from within and beyond the entertainment industry. Earlier, wrestler Kurt Angle called the Benny Safdie directorial a film worthy of a Best Picture Oscar, praising Johnson’s performance in the role of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Now, Christopher Nolan has appreciated Johnson's performance in the lead role. Speaking on the Directors Guild of America’s The Director’s Cut podcast, Nolan said that it is a “heartbreaking” and an “incredible” performance. “I do not think you will see a better performance this year or most other years,” the filmmaker said.

Johnson and Nolan are yet to collaborate on a project but have expressed mutual admiration and respect for their past work. For example, Nolan has said that he likes the long-running Fast and Furious franchise, whereas Johnson has described his experience viewing Oppenheimer as amazing.

In our The Smashing Machine movie review, Sreejith Mullappilly wrote, “Johnson is virtually unrecognisable after all the weight he has gained to look the part. He also disappears into the role. The actor is at his best in those little moments where Kerr makes a passing look at his opponent that reeks of some disingenuity, or the ones where he has a big altercation with his wife.”