VENICE, ITALY: On September 1, all eyes were on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as he walked into the famous Venice Film Festival. Fans were shocked when the actor, who is known for his strong, muscular body, showed up to the photocall and press conference for his highly awaited new movie, The Smashing Machine, looking much smaller.
Pictures of Johnson in a blue button-up shirt and black pants with his co-star Emily Blunt rapidly went viral on social media, causing a lot of people to respond. A lot of fans quickly commented on how much thinner he looked, and others even made funny comments like “The Rock turned into a pebble.” Some people really cared about him and supported him, guessing that the change was for his health. “He has lost a lot of weight over the past few months.” One commenter said, “I hope he is taking care of his health.” Another person said, “I’m 100% sure that he lost all that weight because of his health.” He wasn’t natural; he appears healthy now, which is wonderful for Rock.
The Rock is currently going viral after losing a lot of muscle👀 pic.twitter.com/joGhS4GMo1
— kira 👾 (@kirawontmiss) September 1, 2025
“This is what happens when you get healthier,” a social media user said in defense of the actor’s choice. He had to eat a lot to keep his body the way it was. You have to modify your habits or perish when you reach a certain age. “People who judge him are just dumb.”
He had to modify his body a lot for his role as famed MMA fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. Benny Safdie directed the movie, which is based on the 2002 documentary of the same name. It looks at Kerr’s famous career and his difficulties with drug and alcohol misuse. The movie also looks at his relationship with his fiancée at the time, played by Emily Blunt.
At the festival’s press conference, Johnson talked openly about why he chose to take on such a difficult and demanding position. He said that he often felt “pigeonholed in Hollywood” into a certain type of character and had a “burning desire” to show that he could do more. “I got that, and I made those movies, and I liked them, and they were fun…” I felt this strong need and a voice that kept repeating, “What if?” He asked, “What if there is more and what if I can?” showing how excited he was about the new creative path his career was taking. The movie is now in the festival’s competition area, which is a big step for Johnson in his acting career.