Movies Like Apple TV’s ‘Matchbox The Movie’ That Offer the Same Mix of Action and Friendship
‘Matchbox The Movie’ is set to launch on Apple TV on October 9, directed by Sam Hargrave and starring John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, Arturo Castro, Danai Gurira and Corey Stoll. Cena plays Sean, an undercover CIA agent whose return home pulls a group of childhood friends into an international chase and a mission to save the world. Jalopnik described the film as a Mattel branded Fast & Furious clone that leans further into comedy than cars.
That blend of old friendships, espionage and big practical action is what makes ‘Matchbox The Movie’ stand out. The strongest companions tend to pair mismatched friends and secret agents with ridiculous missions and comedy. The films below each capture a piece of that formula.
‘The Lost City’
Sandra Bullock plays a romance novelist and Channing Tatum plays an enthusiastic cover model, and the two find themselves running from a wealthy villain through exotic locations. The film shares the playful tone of ‘Matchbox The Movie’ by dragging ordinary people into an increasingly absurd adventure. It balances danger with comedy rather than treating every narrow escape as deadly serious.
‘Red Notice’
‘Red Notice’ moves between international locations while FBI agent John Hartley becomes entangled with two professional criminals. Ryan Reynolds supplies the wisecracking energy, Dwayne Johnson brings the action credibility and Gal Gadot adds another layer of deception. It is an easy pick for anyone drawn to the globetrotting side of Sean’s story.
‘The A-Team’
‘The A-Team’ comes close to the basic recipe of ‘Matchbox The Movie’, with a group that shares history, a complicated conspiracy and international danger. Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley and Quinton Jackson play former soldiers pulled into a mission after being framed. The emphasis on camaraderie matters here, since the bonds between old friends carry as much weight as the plot.
‘The Fall Guy’
Ryan Gosling plays a stuntman who becomes involved in a missing person mystery while trying to help an old colleague. Its practical stunt work gives the cars and crashes a real physical presence while the humor keeps things breezy. That makes it a natural fit for a film directed by Sam Hargrave, who was the stunt coordinator on ‘Atomic Blonde’ before moving into directing.
‘Central Intelligence’
The childhood friendship angle gets a stronger comic workout in ‘Central Intelligence,’ where Dwayne Johnson plays a former schoolmate who reconnects with Kevin Hart’s accountant. Their relationship quickly turns into an international spy adventure. Like Sean and his old crew, they are thrown into a situation where running away would be the sensible choice.
‘The Gray Man’
Ryan Gosling plays a CIA operative hunted by his own organization after he uncovers dangerous information. The story travels through several international settings and builds momentum around elaborate action sequences. It is considerably more serious in tone, but the secret agent conspiracy and constant motion make it a strong companion for ‘Matchbox The Movie’.
‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’
Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer play rival agents forced to work together against a larger threat during the Cold War. Its international settings, humor, cars and competing personalities appeal to anyone who enjoyed the mix of action and comedy in Matchbox. The leads spend nearly as much time irritating each other as they do saving the world.
‘Knight and Day’
The film throws an ordinary woman into the life of a highly capable secret agent and sends them on a fast moving chase across multiple countries. Tom Cruise plays the mysterious Roy Miller while Cameron Diaz becomes increasingly involved in his dangerous situation. It shares the love of travel and vehicle action found in Sean’s mission.
‘The Italian Job’
‘The Italian Job’ combines a group of specialists, an elaborate plan, friendship and a generous supply of cars. Mark Wahlberg leads a crew attempting to recover stolen gold, joined by Charlize Theron, Jason Statham and Seth Green. The heist structure differs from a spy conspiracy, but both films enjoy watching different personalities forced to cooperate as everything goes wrong.
‘Fast Five’
Dominic Toretto’s crew evolves into a full team of specialists while planning a major heist in Rio de Janeiro. The installment highlights teamwork alongside its vehicles, and the trust between its characters echoes the bond between Sean’s childhood friends. If Sean and his old neighborhood crew had to borrow a partner from this group, would you send them after the stolen gold with the team from ‘The Italian Job’ or hand the wheel to Toretto in ‘Fast Five’?
