Loved Matchbox? 5 Movies to Add to Your Watchlist

After the blockbuster success of “Barbie,” Looper published a list of toy-based movies audiences would love to see next. One of the ideas on that list was “Matchbox,” and that project has now reached the screen.

Apple TV released “Matchbox: The Movie” on October 9, beating J.J. Abrams’ proposed gritty “Hot Wheels” film to theaters. In Hollywood, however, a recognizable name only goes so far; the project that gets moving first often wins the race. “Matchbox” follows former soldier Sean Walker (John Cena) and a longtime group of friends as they embark on an international mission to recover a nuclear weapon before it falls into dangerous hands. Naturally, plenty of high-speed driving comes with the assignment.

“Matchbox: The Movie” makes its influences clear, giving viewers plenty of options for a follow-up watch. From globe-spanning action spectacles to offbeat comedies, these films should appeal to anyone who enjoyed watching Cena put the pedal to the metal.

A close-knit group of friends — essentially a chosen family — setting off on a dangerous adventure around the world could easily describe “Matchbox: The Movie.” It also captures the spirit of the “Fast and Furious” franchise. Although several entries could fit this list, 2011’s “Fast Five” is the closest match in terms of tone, scale and story.

Many fans view “Fast Five” as the movie that transformed the series. The franchise moved beyond street-level crime into international missions, while its heroes gradually became near-superhuman figures capable of pulling off almost anything with a car. In this installment, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) plan to steal $100 million from a corrupt businessman as they evade a determined new opponent, Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson).

Both “Fast Five” and “Matchbox” deliver exotic locations and eye-catching vehicles, but their most important similarity is the loyalty at the heart of each story. Their protagonists form a united team willing to risk everything for one another — a setup John Cena knows well after joining the “Fast and Furious” series in “F9.”

“The Fall Guy” follows a remarkably similar formula to “Matchbox: The Movie,” even beyond their shared blend of action and comedy. The 2024 film centers on stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), who is blamed for the death of another stunt performer and must work to prove his innocence. Its story also adds a clever layer of self-awareness by exploring the movie business and honoring the stunt professionals who make action films so entertaining.

John Cena’s Sean Walker is likewise forced to clear his name after being framed for stealing a nuclear device. In both films, though, the mystery matters less than the practical stunts and large-scale set pieces. David Leitch directed “The Fall Guy” after beginning his career as a stunt performer, a background that influenced the physical filmmaking in projects such as “John Wick” and “Atomic Blonde.” “Matchbox” director Sam Hargrave followed a comparable path, first working as Jensen Ackles’ stunt double on “Supernatural.”

The parallels continue in their deliberately cheesy action-adventure style, rooted in older forms of entertainment. “Matchbox” draws from the toy car brand that has existed since the 1950s, while “The Fall Guy” adapts a television series from the 1980s. Although “The Fall Guy” struggled at the box office, viewers who enjoy “Matchbox’s” playful approach to action may find that it deserves a second look.

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Plenty of movies inspired by “Matchbox” put sleek cars and elaborate driving scenes front and center. For a more distinctive take on the formula, however, audiences should turn to Edgar Wright’s 2017 crime thriller “Baby Driver.”

Ansel Elgort plays Baby, a getaway driver with tinnitus who has finally paid off a dangerous crime boss and begun building a new relationship. His hopes for a quiet future disappear when he is pulled back into the criminal underworld, placing both him and his girlfriend, Debora (Lily James), in serious danger. The film features spectacular driving, but Wright approaches the material in a way that sets it apart from conventional car movies.

Instead of treating roaring engines and shifting gears as simple background noise, Wright incorporates them directly into the film’s musical design. Songs are central to “Baby Driver,” making its soundtrack just as important as the muscle cars on screen. Each track is carefully synchronized with the editing and action, turning the movie into something resembling a musical while maintaining the visual energy of an expertly staged chase film.

A feature based on Matchbox cars may initially sound difficult to develop since the toys are, at their core, miniature versions of ordinary vehicles. The “Transformers” franchise, by contrast, has decades of mythology to draw from and remains a major cinematic property. Its strongest entry, at least according to Rotten Tomatoes, is 2018’s “Bumblebee.”

“Bumblebee” scales back the bombast associated with Michael Bay’s earlier “Transformers” movies in favor of a more intimate coming-of-age story. After arriving on Earth, the Autobot befriends Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), a teenager dealing with struggles of her own. As Charlie helps Bumblebee, he works to protect her and the planet from two hostile Decepticons. The film is steeped in 1980s nostalgia and still delivers plenty of driving action, thanks to the robots’ ability to transform into vehicles.

The two movies have another major connection: John Cena. He leads “Matchbox,” but delivers a memorable supporting performance in “Bumblebee.” His standout moment comes when he questions the Decepticons’ ominous name: “They literally call themselves Decepticons. That doesn’t set off any red flags?” The line highlights Cena’s comedic instincts, whether he is carrying a movie or making an impression in a smaller role.

“Barbie” may deserve the most credit for helping bring “Matchbox: The Movie” to life. A Matchbox adaptation was announced in 2022, before “Barbie” became a worldwide cultural phenomenon. Interest in the project grew in 2024 when Sam Hargrave signed on to direct. After “Barbie” shattered box-office expectations, studios saw renewed financial potential in movies built around familiar toys. They may also have recognized the value of giving distinctive writers and directors room to put their own stamp on established brands, but the simplest lesson was clear: toy movies could be major business.

In “Barbie,” the title character (Margot Robbie) leaves Barbieland for the real world before returning home after the Kens introduce patriarchy to her brightly colored universe. The film is not heavily action-oriented, though it does feature several driving sequences. Its real focus is sharp comedy about the Barbie brand, thoughtful observations about gender and relationships, and an unforgettable musical performance from Ken (Ryan Gosling).

“Matchbox” viewers may also enjoy an unexpected John Cena cameo in “Barbie,” where he briefly appears as a merman. Of all the movies on this list, “Barbie” is the furthest removed from “Matchbox,” yet it remains an entertaining and essential piece of recent pop culture. It is also worth watching to understand why audiences may be seeing many more toy-based movies in the years ahead.