In a busy weekend for theaters with Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party Of A Showgirl, cinema screens are also getting the wide debut of Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine. While moviegoers can finally enjoy it, the real life athlete took some time to look back on how he felt when he saw the final product. 

The Smashing Machine stars Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr, an all-star and highly regarded MMA fighter. The film shows the struggles he faces while at the top of his game, trying to keep his life together while keeping his career in line. 

Kerr himself didn’t work directly on the film, but was able to view it before most did. He was able to view the film during its run at the Venice International Film Festival. Recently, Kerr got the chance to talk to Hollywood Reporter about the film, and he wasn’t shy about the visceral emotional response it elicited. 

“DJ [Johnson] is sitting on my left and patting my leg. Benny’s on my right and patting my leg, and I ended up holding his hand for the last half-hour of the movie. I have so many emotions running through me, and the way that I’m releasing them is tapping my legs and my arm back and forth,” he said in regards to the final sequences of the film.

He would go on to marvel at just how much they were able to pack into the story and what they could convey on screen. 

The Smashing Machine is now playing in theaters.