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The Return of Matthew McConaughey in ‘The Rivals of Amziah King’
After an extended break of six years, Matthew McConaughey is making a significant comeback with the mystery crime thriller The Rivals of Amziah King. Premiering at SXSW 2025, the film has garnered critical acclaim, positioning it as a top contender for the year’s best cinematic experiences. Early reviews highlight McConaughey’s captivating performance, contributing to the film’s impressive Rotten Tomatoes score.
Written and directed by Andrew Patterson, The Rivals of Amziah King features an ensemble cast that includes Kurt Russell, Cole Sprouse, Owen Teague, Scott Shepherd, Rob Morgan, Tony Revolori, Jake Horowitz, and newcomer Angelina LookingGlass in the role of Kateri. The movie currently holds a remarkable 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating widespread positive feedback.
In this intriguing narrative, McConaughey plays Amziah King, an Oklahoma beekeeper and folk musician who opens his home to Kateri, his former foster child, after the death of her mother. As Amziah takes on the role of her mentor, he gradually unveils his unique skills, leading to dramatic confrontations with the film’s antagonists.
‘The Rivals of Amziah King’: A Potential New Chapter for McConaughey
Critical response has been overwhelmingly positive. James Preston Poole from Discussing Film awarded The Rivals of Amziah King a perfect 5-star rating, declaring it “an early contender for one of the best films of 2025.” He praised its rich world-building and diverse character portrayals, singling out McConaughey’s performance as exceptional while also noting LookingGlass’s impressive debut.
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com called the film “a new classic of the American South,” highlighting its authentic portrayal of regional life and culture. Alan French from FandomWire described McConaughey as “brilliant,” emphasizing how the story captures a foster daughter’s journey to find her place in the world.
LookingGlass’s strong performance contrasts well with McConaughey’s seasoned presence, reminiscent of his acclaimed roles in True Detective and the Oscar-winning Dallas Buyers Club. Owen Gleiberman of Variety remarked that the film represents an ideal project for McConaughey’s long-awaited return to cinema.
Reflecting on McConaughey’s hiatus, he notes that it has been six years since he last took on a film role. The script of The Rivals of Amziah King ultimately drew him back, showcasing a character that aligns perfectly with his rugged charm, which he has become known for over the years.
Nate Richard of Collider scored the film 9/10 and identified Patterson as a director to watch, stating that McConaughey’s charisma shines brightly in this narrative. He believes the film has the potential to become a standout favorite for audiences.
The world premiere of The Rivals of Amziah King took place on March 10, 2025, at the SXSW Film & TV Festival.
Key Film Details:
Release Date: March 10, 2025
Runtime: 130 minutes
Director: Andrew Patterson
Writers: Andrew Patterson
Producers: David Heyman, Jeffrey Clifford, Teddy Schwarzman, John Friedberg, Will Greenfield, Michael Heimler
Source: DiscussingFilm, RogerEbert.com, Fandomwire, Variety, Collider
Source
movieweb.com