John Cena’s Latest Nostalgia-Fueled Action Movie Is a Hit on Apple TV

John Cena has carved out an unexpectedly various profession as a number one man, bouncing between raunchy comedies, superhero blockbusters, and the occasional offbeat household journey. He’s performed a hard-partying dad in The Trip Buddies, joined the plastic-fantastic world of Barbie as a mermaid, and suited up because the unhinged Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad earlier than taking that character to HBO.

Now, the previous WWE star is main a brand new movie primarily based on a well-recognized childhood favourite, and it’s already racing to the highest of the streaming charts.

Matchbox: The Film debuted on Apple TV on Oct. 9, and it’s off to a powerful begin. In response to FlixPatrol’s streaming rankings, the action-adventure film claimed the No. 1 spot on Apple TV’s U.S. film chart over its opening weekend, suggesting there’s nonetheless an viewers for big-budget nostalgia performs.

What’s Matchbox: The Film about?

Impressed by Mattel’s traditional Matchbox toy vehicles, Matchbox: The Film follows Sean, performed by Cena, an undercover CIA agent who returns to his hometown and reconnects along with his childhood buddies. Their reunion takes a harmful flip when the group turns into caught up in a world conspiracy, forcing them right into a globe-trotting mission to avoid wasting the world.

Directed by Sam Hargrave (Extraction 2), the movie delivers high-speed automotive chases and spy-movie spectacle. Jessica Biel co-stars as Aimee, alongside Sam Richardson (Veep), Teyonah Parris (The Marvels), Arturo Castro (Broad Metropolis), and Danai Gurira (Black Panther).

The movie is one other try to show a well-recognized Mattel property into a serious leisure franchise following the success of Barbie. However whereas that film turned a cultural phenomenon, Matchbox is getting a a lot cooler response from critics.

Early critiques have been largely unfavorable. Variety criticized the film for feeling like a placeholder between Quick & Livid installments, arguing that its motion overwhelms its makes an attempt at emotional storytelling. The Wrap was more forgiving of the ensemble, describing the film as a genial time-waster, but in addition took purpose at its toy-commercial sensibilities. The film has only a 25% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

That unfavorable reception hasn’t stopped Matchbox from discovering an viewers in its first few days on Apple TV. For followers of high-octane automotive chases, globetrotting spy adventures, and a wholesome dose of childhood nostalgia, Matchbox: The Film should be price a watch regardless of its tough important reception.