Mattel’s live-action ‘Matchbox’ movie stars John Cena
Mattel, Inc. and Skydance Media announced plans to develop a live-action Matchbox movie based on the popular die-cast toy vehicle line back in 2022. Now the movie will finally premiere on Oct. 9, 2026.
“Matchbox The Movie” will premiere globally on Apple TV on Oct. 9, 2026. Apple debuted the film’s first trailer during San Diego Comic-Con on July 25.
Originally published in 2022, updated on July 26, 2026.
The history of Matchbox vehicles
Inspired by Mattel’s die-cast vehicles, the action-comedy stars John Cena as Sean, an undercover CIA agent whose return home pulls his childhood friends into an international pursuit to save the world. Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro and Teyonah Parris also star. “Extraction” filmmaker Sam Hargrave directed the movie, which is rated PG-13.
The Matchbox brand was invented in 1953 by automotive expert Jack Odell to solve a challenge for his daughter, who was allowed to take a toy to school as long as it fit in a matchbox. The tiny toy created instant demand among his daughter’s school friends, who all wanted a “matchbox car” of their own – and today, one Matchbox car is sold every second.
Photo courtesy of Matchbox Road Museum
“For nearly 70 years, Matchbox has carried enormous cultural relevance and inspired generations of kids to unleash their imaginations, combining what they see in the world every day with what they dream their own world to be,” said Mattel Films Executive Producer Robbie Brenner when the film was announced in 2022. “We look forward to working with our incredible partners at Skydance Media to craft a story for the big screen that evokes the same imaginative spirit of this beloved Mattel franchise and delights fans of all ages.”
Important note: “Matchbox: The Movie” is rated PG-13.
“Matchbox The Movie” development
Vice President Elizabeth Bassin and Creative Executive Andrew Scannell for Mattel Films led the movie’s development. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, and Aimee Rivera oversaw the project for Skydance Media, which had the hugely successful “Top Gun: Maverick,” and worked on the seventh and eighth installments of the “Mission: Impossible” series.
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“We are thrilled to be working with Robbie Brenner and her amazing creative team at Mattel,” said Skydance Media’s President for Feature Films, Don Granger. “Pairing Skydance’s unique brand of premium, elevated action-adventure entertainment with the incredible legacy of the Matchbox brand is a fantastic opportunity. There is a shared experience for everyone who has played with a Matchbox vehicle or playset, where they create their own inventive action sequence and we’re excited to craft a worldwide adventure film worthy of such imagination.”
In addition to the Matchbox movie, the Mattel Films development slate includes movies for American Girl, Hot Wheels, Polly Pocket, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Thomas & Friends, and UNO. And of course, the widely successful Barbie movie proved Mattel Films can create a powerful movie based on a toy.
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