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Sam Hill is a news writer at Polygon covering gaming and entertainment. He's a Portland, Oregon–based journalist known for covering gaming, the outdoors, national parks, tech, food, and internet culture. He has written for a range of publications including Outside Magazine, Boston Magazine, Vice, the Seattle Times and Digital Trends.
The film is climbing streaming charts despite failing to win over critics
John Cena's nostalgia-fueled action movie from Extraction director becomes a hit on Apple TV
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John Cena has carved out an unexpectedly varied career as a leading man, bouncing between raunchy comedies, superhero blockbusters, and the occasional offbeat family adventure. He’s played a hard-partying dad in The Vacation Friends, joined the plastic-fantastic world of Barbie as a mermaid, and suited up as the unhinged Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad before taking that character to HBO.
Now, the former WWE star is leading a new movie based on a familiar childhood favorite, and it’s already racing to the top of the streaming charts.
Matchbox: The Movie debuted on Apple TV on Oct. 9, and it’s off to a strong start. According to FlixPatrol’s streaming rankings, the action-adventure movie claimed the No. 1 spot on Apple TV’s U.S. movie chart over its opening weekend, suggesting there’s still an audience for big-budget nostalgia plays.
What is Matchbox: The Movie about?
Inspired by Mattel’s classic Matchbox toy cars, Matchbox: The Movie follows Sean, played by Cena, an undercover CIA agent who returns to his hometown and reconnects with his childhood friends. Their reunion takes a dangerous turn when the group becomes caught up in an international conspiracy, forcing them into a globe-trotting mission to save the world.
Directed by Sam Hargrave (Extraction 2), the film delivers high-speed car chases and spy-movie spectacle. Jessica Biel co-stars as Aimee, alongside Sam Richardson (Veep), Teyonah Parris (The Marvels), Arturo Castro (Broad City), and Danai Gurira (Black Panther).
The film is another attempt to turn a familiar Mattel property into a major entertainment franchise following the success of Barbie. But while that movie became a cultural phenomenon, Matchbox is getting a much cooler response from critics.
Early reviews have been largely negative. Variety criticized the film for feeling like a placeholder between Fast & Furious installments, arguing that its action overwhelms its attempts at emotional storytelling. The Wrap was more forgiving of the ensemble, describing the movie as a genial time-waster, but also took aim at its toy-commercial sensibilities. The movie has just a 25% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
That negative reception hasn’t stopped Matchbox from finding an audience in its first few days on Apple TV. For fans of high-octane car chases, globetrotting spy adventures, and a healthy dose of childhood nostalgia, Matchbox: The Movie may still be worth a watch despite its rough critical reception.