Matchbox: The Movie (2026) Review – John Cena’s Best Movie

THIS IS JOHN CENA’S BEST MOVIE.

and while we’re at it…

THIS IS THE BETTER VERSION OF FAST AND FURIOUS. I SAID IT!

There. I’ve said it.

Now allow me to explain why.

I walked into Matchbox: The Movie knowing nothing about it. These days, I tend to avoid trailers as I feel they ruin the movie. After seeing the recent trailer for Jason Statham’s Mutiny, which tried to spoil every single thing that happens in the movie, I’m even more convinced that avoiding them is the best decision.

However, I was curious as to how you turn a company known for making miniature toy cars into an action movie.

Well, apparently, you give it to Sam Hargrave and let the man loose.

Hargrave, the stuntman-turned-director behind Extraction and Extraction 2 , knows a thing or two about action. He knows where to put the camera, how to build tension and, most importantly, how to leave the audience stunned.

Matchbox delivers on that front in spades.

There are helicopters and cars and huge trucks going sky bound and being crushed, cars sliding underneath trailers and some of the craziest car chases I’ve seen in a long time. I was gleaming at a certain point when a Shelby Mustang went beneath a truck before after a claustrophobic tunnel chase involving motorbikes and cars, with a car door used as propelled weapon.

The movie then arrives at what I can only describe as the pièce de résistance.

Cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs and a helicopter all go absolutely nuts in a huge set piece that makes you think Hargrave has thrown everything he owns at the climax. And then, the helicopter flies beneath a bridge and I’m reminded of Terminator 2! Hargrave plays subtle homage to the 80s and 90s and I am all here for it.

I literally couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

That’s the thing about Hargrave. He takes a fairly simple premise and makes it something truly spectacular that sticks with you long after the credits have rolled. There’s a physicality to his work that makes the action feel authentic and, dare I say it, dangerous.

And I think that’s something action movies need more of these days.

Now onto the man of the hour – John Cena.

I’ve enjoyed watching Cena in other movies, but I haven’t seen him used quite like this before. Other directors have relied on his comedic ability, bulging muscles and attempts to recreate Arnold Schwarzenegger. He’s the big, buff man who can throw a punch, fire a gun and deliver a joke.

Sam Hargrave clearly saw something else in the man.

As CIA operative Sean, Cena is charismatic, tough, confident and more importantly, a believable leading man. He isn’t constantly made out to be a fool and his body isn’t exploited for comedic effect.

Even his gun work is something to behold as he displays a confidence in the way he moves with a gun that suggests he knows what he’s doing. I am thinking there was some special forces guys on set to lend hand with authenticity.

And here’s something you rarely see in movies these days.

You can have an actor who looks like an actor. You can have an action star who looks like an action star. But getting someone who genuinely convinces you they’re both? That’s a completely different ball game.

And that’s exactly what Sam Hargrave has done with John Cena.

We’ve always known the man has the physique, but in Matchbox , he doesn’t just look the part – he acts the part. He carries himself like a leading man, delivers the drama with confidence and then switches it up to perform some of the best action I’ve seen him perform in a long time.

For the first time, I felt like I was watching John Cena the actor and John Cena the action star working in complete harmony, and I believe that’s down to the man behind the camera.

Hargrave has seen something in Cena that others haven’t been able to elicit from the former wrestler, and he’s given the man the chance to prove himself as both an actor and an action star.

And when the fighting starts, boy, does he deliver.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Daniel Bernhardt, who plays Falko in the movie, and we spoke about some of the physical challenges he faced while making the movie. Bernhardt mentioned how Cena hung below a helicopter and dipped his toes in the water during the fight.

Think about that for a second.

Here is a major Hollywood star who is willing to put himself through that kind of ordeal to give the audience something special, and that’s the kind of thing I love to see in action movies.

The fight choreography is just as good, and you can see Bernhardt’s influence on Cena. The way the two men throw their punches, kicks and their elbows and the sheer physicality of the fight is first rate.

And, of course, there’s the fight fans have been waiting for.

JOHN CENA VERSUS DANIEL BERNHARDT.

Let me tell you something. It does not disappoint.

Before facing off against Bernhardt, Cena has to deal with two female fighters who give him a good kicking, but when he finally meets Falko in the back of a truck, we get to see two powerhouses go at it in a confined space.

It’s like putting two lions in a cage and letting them sort their differences between themselves.

Bernhardt is one of those actors I’ll always enjoy watching in movies. Whether he’s playing a hero or a villain, he doesn’t phone it in and you know that when the time comes for him to square off against the leading man, you’re in for a treat.

And this is no exception.

But Matchbox is far from being a John Cena show.

Jessica Biel is excellent as Aimee while Arturo Castro almost steals the movie as Ted. From the moment he appeared on screen, I had a feeling he was going to be one of my favourite characters and I wasn’t wrong. His comedic timing is second to none, especially during the motorcycle action which involves a fun little homage to Terminator.

Pairing him with Sam Richardson, who plays Crosby, was another inspired move as the two actors have great chemistry and provide some of the funniest moments without making it an outright comedy.

Teyonah Parris is just as good as Charmaine, who gets involved in that absolutely insane helicopter sequence. Her character has a presence about her and she’s another fantastic addition to the cast.

What makes this group of people work so well together is the camaraderie. They have that bond you get when a group of people have been working together for a long time, and it gives the movie something to grab onto between the huge action set pieces.

Danai Gurira, whom I’ve loved since The Walking Dead , makes a welcome appearance as Helen. At first, she appears to be just another CIA suit standing around giving orders, but thankfully she gets to roll her sleeves up and get her hands dirty.

That’s another thing I enjoy about this movie. The supporting characters aren’t there just to watch the main event. They all get their moment to shine and they all bring something worthwhile to the table.

But, as I mentioned earlier, let’s talk about the action because that’s what sets Matchbox apart from the competition.

I’ve watched the Fast and Furious franchise evolve from street racing to ludicrous international adventures and become something of a CG fest, which has left my feeling the franchise just isn’t worth the money that’s invested in it. You’re paying for all these stars rather than a quality movie.

Matchbox reminded me why I fell in love with these kind of action movies in the first place.

It’s the stuntwork, the real cars and the sheer audacity of trying to pull off these sequences that make me love this genre so much.

A truck jumping, a car sliding underneath a trailer, a helicopter ducking beneath a bridge, John Cena hanging above the water. That’s the stuff I live for in action movies and Hargrave doesn’t just want to show you something big. He wants you to feel the danger of what’s happening.

Honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy Matchbox as much as I did. What could have been another forgettable movie based on a recognisable brand has turned into one of the most entertaining action experiences I’ve had in years.

And I want more.

I want a sequel. I want a third movie. I want to see this become a huge franchise.

If the Fast and Furious guys can keep going for over twenty years, I don’t see why Matchbox can’t follow suit, especially with this cast and this director.

We’ve got a man behind the camera who knows what he’s doing, a leading man who is being utilised to his full potential and a supporting cast who have fantastic chemistry and deliver set pieces that left me in awe.

What more can an action fan ask for?

THIS IS JOHN CENA’S BEST MOVIE.

THIS IS THE BETTER VERSION OF FAST AND FURIOUS. I SAID IT AGAIN!

Hands down.

Fucking brilliant.

Steve McQueen would be truly impressed with the car chases in this movies!

And Sam Hargrave, if you’re reading this, I’m serious. Talk to Daniel Bernhardt. Get my email address. Get my phone number. You know action. I love action and you’ve brought some of the best action sequences to the screen, the kind that make audiences gasp in disbelief.

You’re that guy, Sam.

There aren’t many people like you in the industry these days. Directors who understand action, who know how to make an audience feel every bone-crushing punch and who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. You’re one of the last of a dying breed, brother, and cinema needs more people like you.

So consider this my personal call to you, Sam Hargrave. Let’s do it!!

Check out more reviews at Action Reloaded