Matthew McConaughey, Co-Star and Filmmaker Preview Critically Acclaimed 'The Rivals of Amziah King'
- The Rivals of Amziah King opens in theaters today, August 14, 2026. Directed by Andrew Patterson, the film follows folk hero Amziah—played by Matthew McConaughey—as he reunites with his foster daughter, Kateri, portrayed by newcomer Angelina LookingGlass.
- Filming proved challenging for McConaughey, who discovered he was severely allergic to bees while shooting scenes with the insects. He noted that a single sting would have required four days off-camera, whereas LookingGlass endured seven stings during production.
- Writer-Director Patterson, known for his 2019 debut The Vast of Night, expanded his vision with a large ensemble cast, including Kurt Russell and Rob Morgan. This sophomore effort blends quirky Southern pulp with bluegrass music and communal storytelling.
- To celebrate the release, McConaughey and The Last Bison performed songs from the film Thursday night at Nashville's Belcourt Theatre. This followed an August 10 screening at the newly named Matthew McConaughey Cinema in his adopted hometown of Austin, Texas.
- McConaughey described the film as a "communal experience," emphasizing shared storytelling's importance. He noted that the music, particularly "Quill," serves as the "soul DNA" of the story, reflecting the characters' triumph through difficult circumstances.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Matthew McConaughey on the Time He Helped Catch a Murderer
Matthew McConaughey is officially back. On Friday afternoon, the revered actor descended upon Filmland, an annual film festival in Little Rock, Arkansas, to receive the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award as well as present a screening of his latest film, “The Rivals of Amziah King,” wherein he stars as a honey-maker who finds himself roped […]
Matthew McConaughey In ‘The Rivals Of Amziah King’; Green Day-Inspired Road Trip Comedy ‘Nimrods’ — Specialty Preview
A magnetic Matthew McConaughey fiddles, sings and tends bees until things take a dark turn in The Rivals Of Amziah King from Black Bear opening at 500+ theaters. Nimrods, a Green Day-inspired, R-rated road trip comedy starring Mason Thames and Mckenna Grace debuts on 1,000+ screens. Neon’s The Wrong Girls with Kristin Stewart and Alia Shawcat; Angel Studios’ latest The Brink Of War; Will Poulter-starring Union County and nonfiction American Doct…
‘The Rivals Of Amziah King’: Matthew McConaughey, Angelina LookingGlass & Andrew Patterson Talk Live Bees, Alternate Cuts & ‘Yellowstone’ Spin-Offs
Trying to recommend “The Rivals of Amziah King” without sounding like you are making it up as you go along presents a real problem. It begins as a warmhearted Oklahoma bluegrass movie about beekeeping, honey production, and family. Then it takes a very sharp turn into a coming-of-age epic and crime story. Every description sounds slightly insane. Somehow, director Andrew Patterson (“The Vast of Night”) makes all of that work. Continue reading ‘T…
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