Matchbox: The Movie (2026): cast, story, release date and box office

Matchbox: The Movie (2026) is an action comedy film directed by Sam Hargrave and written by David Coggeshall and Jonathan Tropper, based on the Matchbox toy brand by Mattel. It was released in the United States on October 9, 2026, and premiered in New York at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater on October 5, 2026. The film stars John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Teyonah Parris, Randeep Hooda, Danai Gurira, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, Golshifteh Farahani, and Daniel Bernhardt. It is distributed by Apple TV and has a running time of 126 minutes, with an MPA rating of PG-13.

The story follows spy and former soldier Sean Walker, who reunites with childhood friends. After being drugged and kidnapped, he is taken by a group seeking a nuclear warhead. The CIA believes Walker and his friends stole the weapon, so the group decides to re-steal it to clear their names. The film develops through a series of action sequences and character interactions that explore the group's mission and their growing tension.

The film was developed by Skydance Media and Mattel Films. Filming began in Budapest in January 2025, with additional scenes shot in Casablanca, Erfoud, and Merzouga. Production also took place in Slovakia and Los Angeles.

Matchbox: The Movie ranked first on Apple TV’s viewing chart in the United States within 24 hours of its release, surpassing Mayday and F1. It is currently in the top 10 on Apple TV in 23 countries. On Rotten Tomatoes, 24% of 34 critic reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.9/10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 38 out of 100, indicating 'mixed or average' reviews.

The film is available to watch on Apple TV. Availability varies by country. It was released in theaters in the United States on October 5, 2026, and is also available on Apple TV.

The film was developed in May 2024. Sam Hargrave was hired to direct, and David Coggeshall and Jonathan Tropper were writing the screenplay. John Cena joined the cast in September 2024. Jessica Biel joined in November 2024. Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, and Teyonah Parris joined in December 2024. Randeep Hooda, Danai Gurira, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, and Golshifteh Farahani were added later.

The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, according to the sources.

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Where to watch

Matchbox: The Movie is in US theaters now. It is listed for streaming on Apple TV. Availability changes and differs by country, so check the service before you subscribe. The film box at the top of this guide links to every streaming, rental and purchase option.