People Can’t Get Enough of Dwayne Johnson’s Emotional Venice Moment

Dwayne Johnson has faced roaring crowds his entire life — but nothing prepared him for this. At the Venice Film Festival, the man once known as The Rock experienced so special moment, that it shook the theater and sparked instant Oscar buzz.

Known to millions as The Rock, Johnson has built his career on blockbuster action hits like The Mummy, Black Adam, and Baywatch. But this time, he went raw, unrecognizable, and deeply vulnerable. In The Smashing Machine, hitting theaters in November via A24, he plays a ’90s UFC fighter, Mark Kerr, battling demons inside and outside the ring.

Dwayne Johnson couldn’t hold back. The 53-year-old superstar sobbed as the Venice Film Festival audience rose to their feet, clapping and cheering for an astonishing 15 minutes — one of the longest ovations of the year.

Emily Blunt co-stars as Kerr’s girlfriend, Dawn Staples, and together with director Benny Safdie, the trio shared an unforgettable moment. Safdie embraced both actors as the applause thundered on, tears streaming down all of their faces. Even Kerr himself wept as the credits rolled, adding to the overwhelming emotion in the room.

Johnson lit up the red carpet earlier that evening, stopping for selfies and autographs, before delivering the most emotional performance of his career. And in a festival already glittering with George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Emma Stone, Johnson and Blunt stole the spotlight — turning Venice into the true beginning of awards season.

And Johnson himself admits he’s chasing something deeper now: “I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past. I want to make films that matter, that explore humanity, struggle, and pain.”

Dwayne ’The Rock’ Johnson is almost unrecognizable after a major transformation for this project. The former WWE champ, known for his trademark look, has completely changed his appearance.

The photo was taken on the set of his current film, The Smashing Machine. The actor, with black hair, is seen sitting shirtless in a boxing ring, wearing red boxing shorts and black and white sneakers, while two people help him cool off. In the foreground, a pair of legs in white sparkly heels — presumably belonging to the film’s female lead, Emily Blunt.

When fans saw Johnson with black hair instead of his usual bald look, some were confused. They didn’t recognize him at first!

“Is the Rock?... Totally different”, said one person. Others liked the change, saying, “Wow, The Rock with hair is something else...” But for some, it took a bit of getting used to. They said, “Wow, The Rock with hair looks like a whole different person.”

Another user thought the actor looked old, “Is he really that old, or did they just make him look older for the film?” However, most commenters praised the actor for his dedication to the job, and others celebrated his muscular body and the effort he puts into achieving it.

Johnson’s tearful ovation proved his greatest strength is vulnerability. And Hollywood keeps buzzing — The Devil Wears Prada is returning with shocking cast changes, while Sharon Stone finally revealed the truth about her iconic Basic Instinct scene.