Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine is highly anticipated for many reasons, including it marking the start of one of the best movie rivalries of the year. The Rock has starred in all kinds of box office hits, but after so many blockbusters, he’s finally taking his talents to the dramatic realm.

The Smashing Machine tells the story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, with it being directed, written, and produced by Benny Safdie. He is one half of the Safdie Brothers directing duo, with Josh and Benny Safdie previously directing Good Time and Uncut Gems together. However, they aren’t working together anymore.

Although their split was amicable, the Safdies are now directing their first films on their own. The Smashing Machine, releasing on October 3, is Benny’s first solo feature film, and it just so happens to be releasing shortly before Josh Safdie’s first solo film, Marty Supreme, on December 25.

The Smashing Machine & Marty Supreme Will Prove Which Safdie Brother Is Best

Thanks to the timing of their releases, viewers will be watching both of the Safdies’ first solo movies within a short period. Their first solo movies apart were always going to be compared, but that’s even more unavoidable now.

These two films will be an intriguing case study due to how they share lots of similarities. Both films are sports dramas, with Benny’s being about MMA fighting and Josh’s being about ping pong. Each film stars some of the H๏τtest actors working today, with Benny’s starring The Rock and Josh’s starring Timothée Chalamet.

The films also have similar budgets, making them even more comparable. The Smashing Machine and Marty Supreme both have reported budgets of around $70 million, meaning that they are tied for the тιтle of A24’s most expensive movie ever. They aren’t guaranteed box-office hits, but their big budgets and star power give them a solid chance of doing well.

Interestingly, the movies will also show who brought what to the table in the Safdie Brothers’ previous projects. Marty Supreme features non-actors like Shark Tank‘s Kevin O’Leary, suggesting that this casting trend in earlier movies, like Kevin Garnett’s appearance in Uncut Gems, most likely came from Josh’s input.

Meanwhile, The Smashing Machine‘s trailer proves that it has incredibly hectic cinematography. This stressful style seen in Good Time is most likely the product of Benny. Even more details like this will probably be revealed when the movies come out, highlighting how the Safdies work on their own.

While filmmaking isn’t a compeтιтion, it will be fascinating to see which movie performs better, critically and commercially. Marty Supreme and The Smashing Machine are two of the most anticipated movies of the year, and the following months will reveal a lot about the Safdie Brothers’ past and future.