Matchbox The Movie Arrives on Apple TV After Mixed Reviews

Apple TV released Matchbox: The Movie, an action comedy starring John Cena and Jessica Biel, on October 9, 2026, after its October 5 premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York. The film adapts Mattel's Matchbox toy line into a global spy adventure directed by Sam Hargrave. According to Yahoo, Cena plays Sean, an undercover CIA agent who returns to his hometown and reconnects with childhood friends before they become involved in an international pursuit.

Jessica Biel portrays Aimee, with Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Teyonah Parris, Danai Gurira, and Corey Stoll among the supporting cast. The movie is based on the Matchbox brand, which dates back to 1953, and uses the toy line's car-focused identity as the foundation for its story. Yahoo reported that the production follows other Mattel adaptations, including Barbie in 2023 and Masters of the Universe in 2026.

Variety reported that Matchbox: The Movie was produced by Apple Studios, Skydance Media, and Mattel Studios, with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, and Robbie Brenner as producers. The film has a PG-13 rating and a 126-minute runtime.

Reviews were unfavorable after release. Yahoo reported that Rotten Tomatoes listed the film with a 22% critics score from 23 reviews, while Metacritic recorded a score of 44 out of 100 from 11 critics. IGN's review said the film centers on childhood friends from a small Ohio town who reunite after Sean returns as a spy. The story involves a missing nuclear warhead and forces the group to work together to clear their names.

Vulture reported that the film uses large-scale action sequences, including car chases and vehicles flipping through the air, but criticized its approach to adapting the toy property. The outlet noted that the movie was released through streaming, making its audience performance difficult to measure.