Published Feb 3, 2026, 6:31 PM EST
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Apple TV just hit the gas on one of its biggest 2026 movies. The streamer has unveiled the first-look images for Matchbox The Movie, a globe-trotting action adventure inspired by the classic Mattel toy cars, and confirmed the film will premiere worldwide on October 9, 2026. Directed by Sam Hargrave — best known for the Extraction films — the movie stars John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, and Arturo Castro. The ensemble also includes Danai Gurira, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, and Golshifteh Farahani.
The story follows Sean (Cena), a former small-town kid turned undercover CIA agent whose sudden return home drags his childhood friends into a chaotic international mission. What starts as a reunion quickly turns into a high-speed, globe-spanning race to stop a global catastrophe. It’s a wild premise for a brand best known for tiny die-cast cars, but producer Jules Daly previously told Collider the scale is anything but miniature. She teased that the film is “Matchbox on steroids” when it comes to action and called it “the best and most fun action movie I’ve ever made in a PG-13 way.” She also praised Cena and Biel’s on-screen chemistry, hinting that the movie balances character moments with massive stunt work.
What Can We Expect From 'Matchbox'?
Cena has also emphasized that Matchbox won’t just be explosions and chase scenes. According to him, Hargrave leans further into character arcs than he did in Extraction, giving the film more emotional weight alongside its spectacle. Speaking to Collider's Steve Weintraub last year, Cena elaborated, saying, "The thing I love about Matchbox is Sam also gets to flex a little range. He gets to tell stories. I’m not saying Extraction didn’t have those, but he gets to lean into a lot of character arc. Everyone will be blown away by the action."
Cena also admitted that he had loved the experience of working with Hargrave so much that he couldn't wait to do it again:
"My biggest takeaway from that experience is I gained a friend and a ton of respect for a person in Sam Hargrave. He's somebody that's inspirational to me, somebody I admire. He asks your absolute best every single day, without fail, and I love that about a person who attacks and earns every day. I now know why his stuff looks the way it does, because he just refuses for it to fail. I can't wait to work with him again. I really hope I have that luxury and I really hope people enjoy Matchbox. It is a kick-ass film, and I think he got to lean into his ability to show his depth, to tell a story, not just to perform crazy stunts."
Matchbox the Movie arrives on Apple TV on October 9, 2026. Check out the first images above and stay tuned at Collider for further updates.
Writers David Coggeshall, Jonathan Tropper
English (US) ·