Matchbox: The Movie: Slick Stunts Stuck in a Forgettable Toy Commercial
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Nell Minow comes away pleasantly surprised. A feature built around die-cast toy cars struck her as a marketing stunt with no obvious story, but John Cena and the ensemble play it with such earnest commitment that the silliest lines go down easily, with Bill Camp, Corey Stoll and Golshifteh Farahani standing out.</p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Her warmest praise goes to the stunts, which she feels benefit from director Sam Hargrave&#8217;s own past as a stuntman and would fit comfortably in a summer blockbuster. The betrayal is easy to see coming and the dialogue only does its job, yet a tender Ohio-set opening gives the ride enough heart to make it fun. Nell Minow, <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/matchbox-the-movie-john-cena-apple-tv-movie-review-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RogerEbert.com</a></p>

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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">William Bibbiani sees a textbook case of the glossy, wisecracking action comedies streamers keep churning out, though he ranks it among the more watchable ones. He also notes how little it has to do with the actual toys, since cars only drive a handful of its sequences.</p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sam Richardson&#8217;s reactions and a surprisingly heartfelt Jessica Biel help flimsy gags land, and the closing chase is a blast. Even so, he misses the daring unbroken action of Hargrave&#8217;s Extraction films, feels the constant joking drains the danger, and pegs it as pleasant filler that fades from memory soon after the credits. William Bibbiani, <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/reviews/matchbox-the-movie-review-john-cena/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TheWrap</a></p>

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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Todd Gilchrist is less forgiving, arguing that Mattel has not found its next Barbie and that the film rarely feels aimed at grown-ups. He enjoys Cena&#8217;s awkward, puppyish charm and the brief jolt of menace Farahani brings as an arms dealer, and admits the stunts feel more tactile than he expected.</p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">His main issue is that the movie never decides whether it&#8217;s a car picture or a straight action film, drifting toward the weaker Fast and Furious sequels. The emotional beats feel like boxes being ticked, and Hargrave&#8217;s nonstop momentum left him worn out rather than thrilled. Todd Gilchrist, <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/matchbox-the-movie-review-john-cena-1236899979/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a></p>

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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Simon Abrams is the harshest of the group, seeing a weak action movie that turns into an even weaker toy advertisement. He gives Hargrave&#8217;s team credit for a few solid fights and chases, and thinks Cena is at his most likable when he is simply throwing punches.</p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Everything around those moments, in his view, falls apart: the sentimental opening rings hollow, the folksy humor thuds, and the characters feel like joke-delivery machines rather than people. Unlike the Barbie and Lego movies, it never balances spoof with sincerity, leaving something that feels assembled by committee. Simon Abrams, <a href="https://www.avclub.com/matchbox-the-movie-review-john-cena-apple-tv-toy-car-comedy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The A.V. Club</a></p>

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<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The consensus:</strong> Critics broadly agree that Sam Hargrave&#8217;s stunt work and a game cast led by John Cena are the film&#8217;s best assets, but they split on whether that is enough to offset a thin, formulaic script and a flimsy link to the toys. The overall verdict leans negative: a fitfully fun but forgettable action comedy for undemanding viewers and Cena fans.</p>
