The Rock Sobs as ‘The Smashing Machine’ Gets 15-Minute Venice Ovation

Is The Rock headed to the Oscars?

Judging by the rapturous reaction to his performance in “The Smashing Machine” at the Venice Film Festival on Monday night, that seems to be the consensus out of Italy.

Dwayne Johnson uncontrollably sobbed as the world premiere audience on the Lido chanted, cheered and screamed during a 15-minute standing ovation, one of the longest at this year’s festival so far.

Johnson plays Mark Kerr in the film. Emily Blunt stars as Dawn Staples. During the ovation, Benny Safdie — the film’s director — hugged both his stars and joined Johnson in crying tears of joy as the clapping continued. Adding to the waterworks, the film’s real-life inspiration Kerr, also stood with the cast, crying and celebrating the story of his life.

Before the screening started, one fan shouted Johnson’s signature WWE line, “Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?!” — prompting laughter from the man of the hour.

Johnson is nearly unrecognizable in the film, undergoing pounds of prosthetics to portray the beefy two-time UFC Heavyweight champ. The actor previously told Variety that he was drawn to “The Smashing Machine” because Safdie is someone who “continues to push the envelope when it comes to stories that are raw and real; characters that are authentic and at times uncomfortable and arresting.”

“I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past,” said Johnson, best known for franchise fare like “Jumanji,” the “Fast and Furious” franchise and superhero adventure “Black Adam.” “I want to make films that matter, that explore a humanity and explore struggle [and] pain.”

“The Smashing Machine” marks the solo feature directorial debut of Benny Safdie, who worked with his older brother, Josh, on indie favorites like “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems.” (Josh will also make his solo feature debut this year with A24’s “Marty Supreme,” a sports drama starring Timothee Chalamet.) “The Smashing Machine” reunites Benny Safdie and Blunt, who shared a memorable scene in Christopher Nolan’s historical epic “Oppenheimer,” as well as Johnson and Blunt, who co-starred in Disney’s action-adventure “Jungle Cruise.”