Matchbox the Movie (2026) • Advance Review • Can a Toy Car Really Carry a Movie?

Darryl got an early look at Matchbox the Movie ahead of its 2026 release, the Apple Original directed by Extraction's Sam Hargrave and led by John Cena, in this advance review for Frame 70. Taking a toy car brand with no existing characters or story and turning it into a globe-spanning action comedy is a tall order, and Darryl breaks down whether it works. This episode is completely spoiler free. Frame 70 viewed Matchbox the Movie ahead of release via an advance screener provided by Apple TV. The film releases 9th October on Apple TV. In this review, Darryl shares the surprising piece of Matchbox trivia tucked into the opening scenes that he'd never known despite a lifetime with the toys, why Sam Richardson steals every scene he's in as part of Cena's reunited friend group, and what it was about his Frame 70 Moment, roughly ninety minutes in, that made him realize the film had actually pulled everything together. Thanks for listening to Frame 70 Reviews. New reviews every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Every review in full at frame70.com, where you can also join the weekly newsletter. We couldn't do this without you. Thanks for listening, and please consider subscribing / following us to help support the show! ❤️