Matthew McConaughey is finally back. Honestly, it’s been a minute. While everyone’s been busy watching his Lincoln commercials or scrolling through his "Greenlights" wisdom on Instagram, the big screen has felt a little empty without that specific Texas drawl.
But 2024 and 2025 are changing that.
If you’ve been looking for The Rivals of Amziah King, you’re probably seeing a lot of conflicting dates. Some people say it’s already out. Others say it’s stuck in some kind of Hollywood limbo. The truth? It’s a bit of both. The movie officially wrapped production in Alabama a while back, navigating the 2023 strikes like a pro, and it just had a massive world premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival on March 10.
The Rivals of Amziah King: The McConaughey Renaissance
This isn't your typical blockbuster. It’s a crime thriller, but with a weird, beautiful soul. Directed by Andrew Patterson—the guy who gave us that trippy indie hit The Vast of Night—this film casts Matthew as Amziah King.
Basically, Amziah is this charismatic, musically gifted guy living in the backwoods of Oklahoma. He spends his days herding a band of bluegrass misfits and running a high-stakes honey-making operation. Yes, honey. It sounds peaceful until you realize the "honey game" is apparently ruthless.
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The story kicks into high gear when Amziah’s estranged foster daughter, Kateri (played by newcomer Angelina LookingGlass), shows up. Suddenly, it’s not just about bees; it’s about family, redemption, and protecting a business from rivals who want to burn it all down. One of those rivals? None other than Kurt Russell. Seeing McConaughey and Russell face off in a rural thriller is the kind of cinema we’ve been missing.
The vibe is very "American Western meets crime drama." Critics who saw it at SXSW are already raving about the editing. It uses freeze-frames and a soundtrack that people are comparing to O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
What’s the deal with The Lost Bus?
While Rivals is the "cool indie" project, The Lost Bus is the heavy hitter. This one is directed by Paul Greengrass, the master behind United 93 and Captain Phillips. If you want a "white-knuckle ride," this is it.
The movie is based on the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California—the deadliest wildfire in the state's history. Matthew plays Kevin McKay, a school bus driver who has to navigate 22 terrified kids and their teacher (played by America Ferrera) through a literal wall of fire.
What’s wild about this movie is the family connection. Matthew didn’t just show up to work alone. His 17-year-old son, Levi McConaughey, plays his on-screen son, Shaun. And get this: his 93-year-old mother, Kay McCabe, plays his character’s mother.
"For my character, I was too late as a son," McConaughey told AARP during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. "And I think I'm maybe too late as a dad. But sometimes you get a second chance."
It’s personal. It’s raw. It premiered at TIFF on September 5, 2025, and hit Apple TV+ on October 3, 2025. If you haven't seen it yet, it’s sitting right there on your streaming app.
The 2024 Narrator Era
You might have heard his voice more than seen his face in 2024. McConaughey took a bit of a detour into the documentary world. He narrated Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels, which hit IMAX screens earlier in 2024.
He’s also been leaning hard into tech. He recently partnered with ElevenLabs to create an AI version of his voice. Don't worry, he’s not being replaced by a robot. He’s using it to translate his newsletter, Lyrics of Livin', into Spanish so he can reach more people. It’s a weird move, but very Matthew. He’s always been about "the frequency" and connecting with folks.
Release Dates You Actually Need to Know
Let’s get the timeline straight because Google search results are a mess right now.
- The Lost Bus: Premiered Sept 2025. Currently streaming on Apple TV+.
- The Rivals of Amziah King: Premiered at SXSW in March 2025. It’s set for a limited theatrical release on August 14, 2026, with a wide release on August 21, 2026.
- Superhuman Body: Released in 2024. Check your local science center or IMAX museum.
- Deep in the Heart: This wildlife doc came out a bit ago (2022), but it’s still making the rounds on streaming if you need a McConaughey fix.
Why it matters
McConaughey is at a point where he doesn't need to do anything. He could just sit on a porch in Austin and play the bongos. But he's choosing roles that feel "lived-in." Whether it's a beekeeper in Oklahoma or a bus driver in a wildfire, he's chasing stories about ordinary people in extraordinary, often terrifying, situations.
He’s moving away from the "McConaissance" era of Dallas Buyers Club and into something more... patriarchal? Community-focused? Whatever you call it, it feels authentic.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on Black Bear Pictures for more Rivals trailers. They’re handling the distribution themselves through a new U.S. division, which means the marketing is going to be unique.
Next Steps for the Fans:
Go watch The Lost Bus on Apple TV+ tonight if you want to see him in "hero mode." It’s a tough watch because of the fire scenes, but the chemistry between him and America Ferrera is top-tier. Then, mark your calendars for August 2026. That’s when we finally get the "Honey War" movie with Kurt Russell. Honestly, that's the one I'm most hyped for.