The toy-movie trend scrapes the bottom of the bargain bin with Matchbox: The Movie

Matchbox: The Movie, a feature-length toy commercial released on October 9, 2026, marks a disappointing attempt to capitalize on the success of Greta Gerwig's self-aware comedy fantasy Barbie. Co-produced by Mattel Studios and Skydance, the film features a skilled stunt team led by Sam Hargrave, who previously directed the Extraction series. However, the movie struggles to balance humorous action sequences with emotional depth, primarily due to its poorly written script by David Coggeshall.

The film follows a group of middle school friends who used to play with Matchbox toys, using them to cope with feelings of loneliness. As they grow up and reunite, they become entangled in a rogue CIA agent's plot to steal and deploy a nuclear warhead. Despite the presence of seasoned ensemble cast members, including Arturo Castro, John Cena, and Sam Richardson, their performances fail to breathe life into the programmatic and by-creative-committee nature of the film.

The movie's attempt at humor relies heavily on dad jokes, corny homespun wisdom, and over-the-top lines, such as Charmaine's sarcastic "Bye, bitch," which ultimately comes across as mirthless and tonally berserk. Cena and Richardson's characters are thinly developed, appearing more like machines delivering punchlines than genuinely relatable human beings. The film's attempt to balance parody and emotional resonance falls short, leaving audiences with a sense of disappointment and unfulfilled potential.