Matthew McConaughey Returns in The Rivals of Amziah King, Hitting Theaters August 2026
Matthew McConaughey stars in the highly praised crime drama The Rivals of Amziah King, set for a U.S. theatrical release on August 22, 2026. The film, celebrated for its gripping story and standout performances, has already earned a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score after its festival premiere.
Independent studio Black Bear has made a bold entrance into the U.S. theatrical market, quickly lining up a slate of high-profile releases. After launching with the Jason Statham-led action flick Shelter, the studio is now gearing up for the much-anticipated release of a new crime drama that’s already making waves among critics and moviegoers alike.
Written and directed by Andrew Patterson, The Rivals of Amziah King features Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey in the lead role. He’s joined by a star-studded cast including Kurt Russell, Cole Sprouse, Owen Teague, Scott Shepherd, Rob Morgan, Tony Revolori, Jake Horowitz, and Angelina LookingGlass. The film is officially set to arrive in theaters nationwide on August 22, 2026, marking McConaughey’s return to the big screen after a six-year hiatus.
Backwoods Drama and High Stakes
Set deep in rural Oklahoma, the story centers on Amziah King, a charismatic, musically talented man who leads a bluegrass band of outcasts while running the town’s top honey business. When his estranged foster daughter unexpectedly comes back into his life, Amziah sees a chance to reconnect and build a family legacy. But the honey business is cutthroat, and his competitors are determined to take him down, threatening everything he’s worked for.
The official synopsis describes the film as follows:
“Deep within the backwoods of rural Oklahoma, charismatic and musically gifted Amziah King herds a bluegrass-playing band of misfits while overseeing the premier honey-making operation in town. When Amziah's estranged foster daughter unexpectedly returns, Amziah leaps at the possibility to renew connection and create a family business. But the honey game is ruthless, and Amziah's rivals threaten to destroy everything he has built.”
Critical Acclaim and Festival Buzz
The Rivals of Amziah King made its debut at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, where it quickly became a standout. With 31 reviews counted, the film boasts an impressive 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling widespread critical approval.
Reviewers have been effusive in their praise. Cinapse gave the film a perfect score, writing,
“The Rivals of Amziah King unfolds as a sprawling, intimate, and entirely unpredictable epic, the kind of movie that sets your heart on fire.”
Discussing Film also awarded it top marks, calling it
“an early contender for one of the best films of 2025.”
Variety highlighted McConaughey’s performance, noting,
“It’s been six years since Matthew McConaughey starred in a movie, and when you watch The Rivals of Amziah King, it’s easy to see why this was the one that lured him back. It gives him a role that fits his scraggly aging-bad-boy redneck charm like a glove.”
Collider praised both the cast and director, calling the film
“one of the very best and most crowd-pleasing movies of the year.”
Black Bear’s Expanding 2026 Lineup
The Rivals of Amziah King is just one highlight in Black Bear’s ambitious 2026 schedule. The studio is also set to release Tuner, directed by Daniel Roher and starring Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, and Leo Woodall, with a release date of May 22. Later in the year, Guy Ritchie’s dark comedy thriller Wife & Dog, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Rosamund Pike, Cosmo Jarvis, James Norton, Paddy Considine, and Anthony Hopkins, will hit theaters on October 23.
With such a strong lineup, Black Bear is quickly establishing itself as a major player in the world of independent film distribution, and The Rivals of Amziah King is shaping up to be one of the year’s most talked-about releases.