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The Smashing Machine (2025)
The story of legendary mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr.
Animal actors in this production were monitored through American Humane Society’s No Animals Were Harmed™ program.
The Smashing Machine
Certified Animal Action Overview
AHS closely monitored every moment of animal action in this film to guarantee the highest standards of care and safety. In a cozy scene where a cat is gently placed on an actress’ lap, trainers were on set every step of the way. Before filming, the cat was given time to explore the environment and get comfortable, then calmly reintroduced to the actors just before cameras rolled. During the take, trainers remained nearby, using quiet cues to keep the cat focused while allowing her natural, relaxed behavior to shine. The result is a peaceful, authentic moment on screen, made possible by compassionate handling behind the scenes.
Detailed Animal Action Report
In the scene where the actress sits on the couch and places a cat in her lap and pets him while she talks to other actor, prior to shooting the scene trainers brought the cat to set in a carrier. They let the cat out of the carrier to let her get acclimated with the set before they placed her back inside to wait for the actors. Once the actors were on their marks, the trainer brought the cat to the actress who pet her. The trainers also stood off-camera with a stick to keep the cat’s attention. On action, the actress simply pet the cat and placed her on her lap as she exchanged dialogue with the other actor.
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Release Date: October 3, 2025
Certification: Full Certification
Genre: History, Drama
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