Matthew McConaughey Crime Thriller Hits Theaters August 2026

Black Bear Pictures just launched its theatrical distribution division and scored big with its first major acquisition. The independent studio announced that Matthew McConaughey's crime drama will arrive in theaters nationwide this August.

Festival Darling Gets Wide Release

The Rivals of Amziah King earned massive praise during its festival run last year. Critics called Andrew Patterson's directorial effort one of 2025's finest films. The movie currently holds a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 reviews.

McConaughey stars as the title character alongside Kurt Russell, Cole Sprouse, Owen Teague, Scott Shepherd, Rob Morgan, Tony Revolori, Jake Horowitz, and Angelina LookingGlass. Patterson wrote and directed the project.

Rural Oklahoma Honey Business Drama

The story follows charismatic Amziah King, who runs a successful honey operation in rural Oklahoma while leading a bluegrass band. His world shifts when his estranged foster daughter returns home unexpectedly. King sees a chance to rebuild their relationship and expand his business empire.

But the honey trade proves cutthroat. Competitors threaten to destroy everything King has built over the years.

Critics Praise McConaughey's Return

Cinapse gave the film a perfect score, calling it "a sprawling, intimate, and entirely unpredictable epic, the kind of movie that sets your heart on fire." Discussing Film also awarded top marks, labeling it "an early contender for one of the best films of 2025."

Variety praised McConaughey's performance after his six-year absence from cinema. "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 highlighted the performances from McConaughey, LookingGlass, and Patterson's direction, calling the film "one of the very best and most crowd-pleasing movies of the year."

Black Bear's Expanding Slate

The studio's 2026 lineup includes several high-profile releases. Daniel Roher's Tuner, starring Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu and Leo Woodall, arrives May 22. Guy Ritchie's black comedy Wife & Dog features Benedict Cumberbatch, Rosamund Pike, Cosmo Jarvis, James Norton, Paddy Considine and Anthony Hopkins. That film opens October 23.

Black Bear kicked off its distribution efforts with Jason Statham's action thriller Shelter earlier this month. The Rivals of Amziah King debuts August 22, 2026.