The Smashing Machine
IMGVA recently supported the production of the feature film The Smashing Machine by licensing archival sports audio featured within the film. Shot in a documentary style, the production used the audio to overlay re-enacted fights. The licensed material provided the missing piece, helping to achieve the raw and uncut documentary feel production were aiming for.
The Smashing Machine is a biographical sports film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as legendary UFC and MMA fighter Mark "The Smashing Machine" Kerr. A pioneering figure in the UFC during the late 1990s, Kerr’s explosive and dominant performances helped define a generation of mixed martial arts. The archival material licensed from IMGVA authentically captures reactions to his influence and presence in The Octagon.
For the project, IMGVA licensed 9 minutes of audio, 42 seconds of video, and 35 seconds of music from the UFC archives. Some of the audio featured was from Mark Kerr’s debut in 1997, capturing the real time reactions from announcers to his raw and dominant grappling style revealing how he earned the nickname, ‘The Smashing Machine’. Moments like these demonstrate how archive material enhances atmosphere and sits at the heart of effective storytelling. The historical footage brings Johnson’s portrayal to life and transports audiences back to the centre of Kerr’s debut.
The Smashing Machine highlights the versatility of archive content. The seamless pairing of historical audio with modern visuals demonstrates how archives continue to enrich and strengthen storytelling. Film productions rely on archival material to build authenticity, context, and emotional depth, combining historical recordings with contemporary filmmaking techniques to recreate past events while preserving a strong sense of realism.
IMGVA has contributed to a number of major global productions over the past year. Johnson received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in The Smashing Machine, while Timothée Chalamet received a nomination for his role in the sports comedy Marty Supreme, for which IMGVA also licensed archival footage.
Contributing archive licensing to major sports films such as Marty Supreme and The Smashing Machine highlights the continuing importance of historical sports footage in contemporary filmmaking. Participation in productions of this scale demonstrates the enduring value of archive material in bringing authenticity, immersion, and cultural context to modern sports storytelling.
You can view the official trailer for The Smashing Machine here The film is also available to watch on Amazon Prime.