Matchbox The Movie

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2:47

Matchbox The Movie

PG-13

2026

2h 6m

Action

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

30%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Inspired by the iconic Mattel toys, "Matchbox The Movie" is an action-packed, globetrotting adventure about a group of friends since childhood who have their lives upended when undercover CIA agent Sean (John Cena), their long-absent former leader, returns to their small town and unwittingly gets them embroiled in a frantic international pursuit to save the world.

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Audience Says

Matchbox the Movie is fun, but its reluctance to embrace either full-throttle adventure or goofy comedy keeps it stuck in neutral.

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Helen O'Hara

Empire Magazine

Oct 13, 2026

1/5

A risible mess of in-your-face product placement and overly familiar plotting, this can’t be saved even by a talented cast of comedians. You’d be better off playing with toy cars.

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Alison Willmore

New York Magazine/Vulture

Oct 12, 2026

Matchbox: The Movie aims for nothing — it can’t really fail because there are no expectations.

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Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

Oct 12, 2026

3/4

The film aims to bring to life the imagination a child brings to his toys, and it delivers with a welcome spirit and even a little sweetness.

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Maxance Vincent

Cosmic Circus

2 days ago

2.5/5

It’s almost miraculous that Sam Hargrave’s skills as an action artist remain intact in a movie that feels as if it was written (and conceived) by an algorithm.

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Alex Maidy

JoBlo's Movie Network

5 days ago

6/10

Matchbox: The Movie will probably be overlooked by those who either don’t have a connection to the die-cast toys or may not see how it connects plotwise.

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Matt Lynch

In Review Online

Oct 24, 2026

Apart from its corporate mandate, Matchbox‘s only real imperative was to platform a few amusing, charismatic performances and deliver some nifty action. It seems like everyone here basically got the open book assignment.

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Torin F

@nonlinearize 6 hrs ago

MATCHBOX THE MOVIE has many of the right ingredients for a successful action-comedy blockbuster, including some impressive stunts and practical effects, but a lazy premise, middling script and uneven cast prevent the elements from fully cohering. The product placement often feels more like homage than overt promotion, but adds little to a film that largely seems to be going through the motions, making for a forgettable popcorn flick.

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Karen H

@sonomakaren 18 hrs ago

Laugh out loud fun! Exactly the right mix of humor and action!

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Eddie T

@Eddieratesmovies 1 day ago

Good movie but was ruined by inserting gay ideology.

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Max W

@MaxthorWoo 1 day ago

The toy theme itself is certainly suitable for adaptation into an action-packed spectacle; unfortunately, Matchbox the Movie falls short of its potential, filled with clichés, offering neither memorable dramatic moments nor striking action sequences.

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Dan G

@Nowoke 2 days ago

Would have been a decent action flick. Hollywood/apple continue to unnecessarily place woke moments.

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Trivia L

@RT31406714 2 days ago

I don't see anything dull about it- it's fantastic

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Sam Hargrave

Director

John Cena

Sean

Jessica Biel

Aimee

Sam Richardson

Crosby

Teyonah Parris

Charmaine

Arturo Castro

Ted

Matchbox The Movie: Clip - Duolingo

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Matchbox The Movie: Clip - Tossing Your Friends

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Matchbox The Movie: Comic-Con Trailer

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Synopsis

Inspired by the iconic Mattel toys, "Matchbox The Movie" is an action-packed, globetrotting adventure about a group of friends since childhood who have their lives upended when undercover CIA agent Sean (John Cena), their long-absent former leader, returns to their small town and unwittingly gets them embroiled in a frantic international pursuit to save the world.

Director: Sam Hargrave
Producer: David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Robbie Brenner, Ynon Kreiz, Jules Daly
Screenwriter: David Coggeshall
Distributor: Apple TV
Production Co: Apple Original Films, Skydance Media, Mattel Films
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Sequences of Violence/Action)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 9, 2026
Runtime: 2h 6m

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