The Rivals of Amziah King backdrop
The Rivals of Amziah King poster
Drama Crime
Ain’t no one all bad or all good.

The Rivals of Amziah King (2026)

Runtime 131 min
Release date 13/08/2026
Country United Kingdom, United States of America
Production
Black Bear Pictures Black Bear Pictures
Heyday Films Heyday Films
G.E.D. Media G.E.D. Media
Overview
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.
Directors & Screenwriters
Default profile image
Andrew Patterson
Director
Cast
Matthew McConaughey profile photo
Matthew McConaughey
as Amziah King
Kurt Russell profile photo
Kurt Russell
as Dob McCoy
Angelina LookingGlass profile photo
Angelina LookingGlass
as Kateri
Cole Sprouse profile photo
Cole Sprouse
as Oat
Scott Shepherd profile photo
Scott Shepherd
as Chimmy
All trailers
Drama Crime

The Rivals of Amziah King

Now Playing Only in Theaters

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:28
Drama Crime

The Rivals of Amziah King

Savor

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:30
Drama Crime

The Rivals of Amziah King

Hive

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:26
Drama Crime

The Rivals of Amziah King

One Week

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:23
Drama Crime

The Rivals of Amziah King

Stolen

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:34
Drama Crime

The Rivals of Amziah King

Get Tickets

Video: YouTube
Duration: 00:24
Drama Crime

The Rivals of Amziah King

Official Trailer

Video: YouTube
Duration: 02:15
Did You Know?
‘The Rivals of Amziah King’ cements Patterson as a filmmaker to watch
Image via journalrecord.com,

Matthew McConaughey buzzes as a beekeeping outlaw in Andrew Patterson’s genre‑bending Oklahoma western

Andrew Patterson returns with a bold follow‑up to his breakout hit “The Vast of Night,” setting his new film “The Rivals of Amziah King” in the sun‑splashed towns of Oklahoma. The story fuses western grit, crime intrigue, off‑beat comedy and even musical numbers, creating a modern‑Western tapestry that feels both familiar and wildly inventive. At the center of the swirl is Matthew McConaughey as Amziah King, a born‑again Christian beekeeper who juggles rival businesses, impromptu jam sessions and a reunion with his former foster child, Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass). McConaughey’s performance balances his signature swagger with a surprising tenderness, while LookingGlass delivers a standout feature debut, gradually shedding a hard‑won guardedness as she learns the honey trade. The film’s third act is supercharged by a cameo from Kurt Russell, whose swagger‑laden presence adds a punch of star power just when the stakes turn dark. Miguel I. Littin‑Menz’s sun‑drenched cinematography, paired with Patrick J. Smith’s French‑New‑Wave‑inspired editing, gives the movie a lyrical flow, and the occasional musical interludes—where the cast breaks into song—infuse the narrative with an infectious joy. Critics are already likening “The Rivals of Amziah King” to Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” noting how Patterson stitches multiple genres into a striking whole. Even in its bleakest moments the film keeps a buoyant spirit, cementing Patterson as one of the decade’s most exciting new voices in cinema.