15 Movies Like ‘Matchbox: The Movie’ You Will Love

Directed by Sam Hargrave, Apple TV’s ‘Matchbox: The Movie‘ translates Mattel’s classic die-cast vehicle brand into an action comedy starring John Cena, Jessica Biel, and Sam Richardson. The narrative centers on former soldier Sean Walker as he reunites with his childhood friends, only to be framed by the CIA for the theft of a missing nuclear warhead and forced to pull off an audacious mission to retrieve it.

For audiences seeking similar high-octane vehicle stunts, lighthearted espionage, and brand-inspired adventures, cinema offers a wealth of compatible titles. These selections capture the same blend of precision driving, wrongful accusations, and tactical group missions.

‘Fast Five’ (2011)

Directed by Justin Lin, this fifth installment in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise shifts the series from street racing into a high-stakes heist format. Dominic Toretto and Brian O’Conner assemble an international team of drivers in Rio de Janeiro to steal one hundred million dollars from a corrupt businessman while evading federal agent Luke Hobbs. The production relied heavily on practical automotive stunt sequences, including a vault being dragged through city streets by two modified Dodge Chargers. The film shares narrative parallels with ‘Matchbox: The Movie’ through its reliance on tactical vehicular chases and a group of fugitives working together against government pursuers.

‘Extraction’ (2020)

Directed by Sam Hargrave, who also helmed ‘Matchbox: The Movie’, this action thriller stars Chris Hemsworth as black-market mercenary Tyler Rake. Rake is tasked with rescuing the kidnapped son of an Indian drug lord from Dhaka, Bangladesh, leading to relentless confrontations with local forces. Hargrave utilized his background as a veteran stunt coordinator to stage complex hand-to-hand combat and intricate vehicular pursuit sequences. The film gained prominence for its twelve-minute continuous take sequence that incorporates high-speed car crashes and tactical shootouts.

‘The Italian Job’ (2003)

Directed by F. Gary Gray, this American remake of the 1969 British film centers on a crew of thieves seeking revenge against a former ally who betrayed them in Venice. Mark Wahlberg stars as master planner Charlie Croker alongside Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, and Edward Norton. The narrative culminates in a synchronized heist across Los Angeles featuring custom-built, electric Mini Coopers navigating underground subway tunnels and storm drains. Like ‘Matchbox: The Movie’, the plot revolves around a tight-knit crew utilizing specialized vehicles and precision driving to reclaim stolen property.

‘The A-Team’ (2010)

Directed by Joe Carnahan, this feature adaptation of the 1980s television series follows an elite Special Forces unit framed for a crime they did not commit. Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson, and Sharlto Copley star as the four operatives working to clear their names from government custody. The storyline involves the team tracking down counterfeit plates and confronting rogue operatives while employing destructive vehicle stunts. The premise directly parallels the conflict in ‘Matchbox: The Movie’, where former military comrades must recover dangerous contraband to prove their innocence to intelligence agencies.

‘Transformers’ (2007)

Directed by Michael Bay, this sci-fi action film brought Hasbro’s popular toy line of transforming vehicular robots into a live-action cinematic franchise. The narrative follows teenager Sam Witwicky and a military team led by Captain William Lennox as they become embroiled in an interstellar war between the Autobots and Decepticons. The production highlighted elaborate automobile set pieces, real military hardware, and explosive highway pursuits showcasing vehicles transformed into combat machines. As a major studio effort translating a miniature vehicle and toy brand into an action blockbuster, it paved the way for toy-based cinematic adaptations like ‘Matchbox: The Movie’.

‘Baby Driver’ (2017)

Directed by Edgar Wright, this action thriller centers on Baby, a skilled getaway driver who relies on personal music playlists to guide his precision driving. Ansel Elgort portrays the title character alongside a supporting cast that includes Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Hamm, and Jamie Foxx. Wright choreographed the practical automotive stunts, drifting sequences, and police pursuits to sync rhythmically with the film’s soundtrack. The emphasis on automotive execution and high-energy escape tactics mirrors the vehicle-oriented action sequences featured in ‘Matchbox: The Movie’.

‘Speed Racer’ (2008)

Directed by the Wachowskis, this live-action adaptation of the classic anime series follows young automotive racer Speed as he challenges corrupt corporate executives. Emile Hirsch stars in the lead role alongside Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, and John Goodman. The film features hyper-stylized racing circuits and custom vehicles equipped with defensive gadgets and acrobatic maneuvering capabilities. It connects directly with ‘Matchbox: The Movie’ by bringing colorful vehicular design and fast-paced automobile combat to the screen.

‘Central Intelligence’ (2016)

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, this action comedy pairs Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart as high school acquaintances who unexpectedly reconnect twenty years later. Hart portrays an accountant drawn into a rogue espionage operation when Johnson’s CIA agent character is accused of treason and needs help recovering stolen satellite codes. The plot mixes comedic banter with gunfights and vehicle escapes as the duo runs from federal authorities while attempting to locate the true conspirators. This narrative structure strongly resembles ‘Matchbox: The Movie’, which similarly features old friends reuniting only to be thrust into a national security conspiracy.

‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’ (2009)

Directed by Stephen Sommers, this military action blockbuster adapts the iconic Hasbro toy line into a live-action international espionage thriller. Channing Tatum and Marlon Wayans play soldiers who join the elite G.I. Joe unit to recover high-tech nanomite warheads stolen by the villainous Cobra organization. The movie showcases armored pursuit vehicles, accelerator suits, and city-wide chases through Paris designed around tactical gadgetry and vehicle warfare. The premise shares core elements with ‘Matchbox: The Movie’, specifically the adaptation of a major toy brand alongside a race to intercept stolen weapons of mass destruction.

‘The Fall Guy’ (2024)

Directed by former stunt performer David Leitch, this action comedy stars Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who becomes caught in a criminal conspiracy. Seavers is hired by producer Gail Meyer to find an eccentric movie star who has disappeared, only to be framed for murder by powerful figures. The production served as a celebration of practical stunt work, setting a Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls performed in a car. With its blend of vehicular stunts, comedic timing, and a protagonist clearing his name, it reflects the action-comedy tone established in ‘Matchbox: The Movie’.

‘Need for Speed’ (2014)

Directed by Scott Waugh, this adaptation of the Electronic Arts video game franchise focuses on Tobey Marshall, a custom car builder and street racer. After being framed for manslaughter by a wealthy rival, Marshall secures parole and embarks on a cross-country sprint to enter a high-stakes supercar race. Waugh, a former stuntman, committed to capturing practical vehicular crashes and high-speed driving without reliance on extensive computer-generated imagery. Like ‘Matchbox: The Movie’, the film channels an existing automotive franchise into a story about framed drivers evading capture while pursuing vindication.

‘Red Notice’ (2021)

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, this globe-trotting action comedy stars Dwayne Johnson as FBI profiler John Hartley alongside Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot. Hartley is framed by an international art thief and must partner with rival criminal Nolan Booth to track down three jewel-encrusted artifacts known as Cleopatra’s eggs. The film features escape sequences across several international locations involving sports cars, armored vehicles, and an underground bunker showdown. The buddy dynamic, humorous dialogue, and mission to recover stolen contraband mirror the comedic spy elements found in ‘Matchbox: The Movie’.

‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ (2015)

Directed by Guy Ritchie, this action spy film adapts the 1960s television series of the same name and takes place during the height of the Cold War. Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer star as CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin, who must overcome national rivalry to stop a criminal syndicate from building a nuclear weapon. Ritchie incorporates stylized vehicle chases, including an opening pursuit through East Berlin in a Wartburg and a tactical buggy sequence over rugged terrain. The mission to locate and neutralize a stolen nuclear warhead aligns directly with the central crisis Sean Walker faces in ‘Matchbox: The Movie’.

‘Battleship’ (2012)

Directed by Peter Berg, this military science fiction film adapts the classic Hasbro naval board game into an action spectacle. Taylor Kitsch stars as Lieutenant Alex Hopper, a naval officer who must lead the crew of the USS John Paul Jones against an armada of extraterrestrial invaders off the coast of Hawaii. The production highlights maritime combat tactics, naval artillery, and vehicular maneuvers designed to translate tabletop mechanics into large-scale warfare. Much like ‘Matchbox: The Movie’, the film serves as a high-budget effort by a major studio to construct an original military action story out of an established physical toy property.

‘Gran Turismo’ (2023)

Directed by Neill Blomkamp, this sports action film is based on the popular PlayStation racing video game series by Polyphony Digital and the true story of driver Jann Mardenborough. Archie Madekwe portrays Mardenborough, a teenage gamer whose simulation skills earn him a spot in Nissan’s GT Academy to compete in professional motorsport. David Harbour and Orlando Bloom co-star in supporting roles as Mardenborough trains on real-world circuits under rigorous conditions. Blomkamp utilized specialized drone cameras and real race cars to bring vehicular brand entertainment to audiences, echoing the automotive focus of ‘Matchbox: The Movie’.

Share your favorite vehicle-heavy action comedies and thoughts on these selections in the comments.