Will ‘The Smashing Machine’ Win An Oscar?
The announcement of the 2026 Oscar nominations marks a bittersweet for ‘The Smashing Machine’, as it received just one nomination.
While that is considered a feat in and of itself, the nomination was for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The nomination was built on Dwayne Johnson’s transformation into Mark Kerr, utilizing prosthetic work by Kazu Hiro (who previously won for Darkest Hour and Bombshell), as he played the former PRIDE and UFC Heavyweight Champion. While Johnson received a Best Actor nomination at the 2026 Golden Globe, he missed out this time. The same went for Emily Blunt, who played Kerr’s wife, who missed out on any nomination.
However, the film faces tough competition.
| Film | Lead Transformation / Style | Oscar Momentum |
| The Smashing Machine | Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr | High (Kazu Hiro factor) |
| Frankenstein | Oscar Isaac / Jacob Elordi | Frontrunner (del Toro aesthetic) |
| Sinners | Period-accurate 1930s / Horror | Strong (Michael B. Jordan buzz) |
| The Ugly Stepsister | Avant-garde / Prosthetic heavy | Dark Horse |
| Kokuho | Traditional Japanese theater aesthetics | Critical Darling |
The Smashing Machine struggled at the box office ($21 million worldwide against a $50 million budget), which likely hindered the momentum needed for Emily Blunt to secure a Supporting Actress nod.
“I’m truly honored and grateful for this nomination. The Smashing Machine was a project that required total trust, patience, and empathy from everyone involved, and I’m thankful to be recognized alongside such incredible artists. I share this recognition with our director Benny Safdie, the talented Dwayne Johnson, and the entire filmmaking team,” Kazu Hiro (prosthetic designer on the film)
“I’m also thankful to my makeup and prosthetics team, whose craftsmanship and dedication made this work possible. To be acknowledged by the Academy is incredibly meaningful to me, and I’m sincerely grateful,” said
Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.
