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Movie of the Week 

MOVIE OF THE WEEK August 14, 2026: THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING

Jennifer Merin , , , , , , , , , , ,
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If, at first, writer-director Andrew Patterson’s quirky, Oklahoma-set crime thriller The Rivals of Amziah King doesn’t seem like a very female-forward movie, just wait. Without risking any big spoilers, its safe to say that co-star Angelina LookingGlass more than holds her own against poster boy Matthew McConaughey in this twisty story of queen bees, unconventional family ties, revenge, and the toe-tapping power of roots music.

McConaughey plays the titular Amziah King, a hail-fellow-well-met rural musician and honey-making entrepreneur who treats his beloved bees with care and respect. When law enforcement officials ask for his help in a case involving stolen barrels of honey, he jumps right in, using both his familiarity with the community and some pretty fancy (and, it turns out, dangerous) machines to try to get to the bottom of things. A widower, Amziah also cultivates his own hive of found family, including Kateri (LookingGlass), his one-time foster daughter who’s now grown and recently back in town.

As the two reconnect amidst music, bees, and tables overflowing with potluck dishes, it’s clear that Amziah cares deeply for Kateri and sees her as the eventual heir to everything he’s spent a lifetime building. When that legacy is threatened by those who see bees as a commodity rather than esteemed partners in honey production, it’s ultimately up to Kateri to do everything she can to save it, with the help of a group of colorful characters who are as devoted as she is to Amziah. LookingGlass is excellent in the role, giving Kateri a will of iron and an unshakable loyalty to the best parent she’s ever known.

Taking time for moments of gentle beauty, startling humor, and excellent music (Quill, originally by Ben Hardesty of folk group The Last Bison, is a particular stand-out), Patterson builds a world that challenges assumptions about “backwoods Oklahomans” while simultaneously celebrating the things that make small-town rural life so appealing for many people: the history, the community, and the traditions. Like Amziah’s beloved bees, they make a home and dig in, working hard to help each other thrive. — Betsy Bozdech

Team #MOTW’s comments:

Leslie Combemale The script is well-crafted, taut, and heartfelt, but sharp and a bit twisted. Imagine Tarantino or Ritchie, but Southern, PG13, cozy, and with bees. There are some plot twists you might not expect, and it behooves viewers to just go with them. The Rivals of Amziah King goes through a number of head-turning stages before it reaches its conclusion, with some entertaining action set pieces that keep things exciting. It never loses its underlying message about community and tenacity in the face of adversity, all while maintaining the utmost respect for southern culture specific to Oklahoma. Best of all, when the lights come up, viewers will likely leave theaters with a smile, just as I did. This indie deserves to become the sleeper hit of 2026. Read full review.

Nell Minow:The Rivals of Amziah King is part family drama, part crime story, part heist story, part comedy, part revenge, part coming of age, part tragedy, part comedy, so, kind of like life, plus the heartbeat throughout is one of the most sublime soundtracks of the year. In a role that could have been custom made for his Southern charm, Matthew McConaughey gives one of his all-time best performances and newcomer Angelina LookingGlass shows remarkable screen presence in her first film role. Gorgeous cinematogaphy, shrewd editing, that magical music, and extraordinary cinematic storytelling from Andrew Patterson (Vast of Night) are a pleasure.

Sandie Angulo Chen: The Rivals of Amziah King is a genre-defying independent film that’s part bluegrass musical, part found-family dramedy, and part revenge thriller. An ebullient Matthew McConaughey stars in his first role in six years as the titular King: a beekeeper, honey farmer, musician, widower, and former foster parent who loves taking in people in need. In addition to the A-list star’s fantastic portrayal, the film, directed by Andrew Patterson, introduces Native American actor Angelina LookingGlass in a memorable breakout role as Amziah’s former foster child, who seeks vengeance against those who wronged him. The music is also terrific, with songs produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett. The supporting cast includes standout performances from Josh Horowitz, Scott Shepherd, Tony Revolori, Cole Sprouse, and Rob Morgan, plus a small but impactful turn from Kurt Russell.

Jennifer Merin The Rivals of Amziah King is a thoroughly engaging thriller/drama/comedy in which a tightknit cohort of misfit rural Oklahoma beekeeper/honey producers sweeten their lives by frequently jamming bluegrass music at a local diner. And, they stick together to track and retrieve a swarm of bees kidnapped from the titular Amziah King. These folks consider honey as a commodity and integrity as a moral stand, Both are elements of the greatest value. Matthew McConaughey’s performance as Amziah, the roughneck rogue with a heart of gold, is a career highlight. Young Angelina LookingGlass is marvelously mystical as Amziah’s loyal protege. And, in addition to an excellent story embellished with a superb toe-tapping score, the film dazzles with a sense of authentic folksiness and an insider glimpse of what beekeeping looks like and why it is important.

Monique Jones Even though the film is listed as a contemporary western crime thriller, the thrills don’t really start until halfway into the film (not counting the very early shock of a brutal, but comical accident early in the film). Yes, the first half is setting up the sense of community and camaraderie that serves as a foundation for the second half. But the first half might come across as wandering as well as a little twee and precious when it comes to the “jovial southerner” stereotype the film really hangs its hat on. Read full review. Read full review.

Cate Marquis Director Andrew Patterson’s The Rivals of Amziah King takes us inside a hidden world, of cut-throat honey producing businesses in rural Oklahoma. Matthew McConaughey plays Amziah King, a charismatic musician, community leader and passionate owner of a honey business. Amziah takes on his former foster child Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass) as an apprentice after they re-connect, warning her about the ruthlessness of many competitors. Also starring Kurt Russell, the film starts out as a music-filled, warm-hearted comedy/thriller. although with some country accents thick enough to need subtitles, but then it morphs into a much darker film after a tragic event and an unexpected, unsettling character turn.

TRAILER

FILM DETAILS:

Title: The Rivals of Amziah King

Director: Andrew Patterson

Release Date: August 14, 2026

Running Time:

Language: English

Screenwriter: Andrew Patterson

Lead Performers: Matthew McConaughey, Angelina LookingGlass

Distribution Company: Black Bear

AWFJ Movie of the Week Panel Members: Sandie Angulo Chen, Betsy Bozdech, Leslie Combemale, Monique Jones, Loren King, Cate Marquis, Jennifer Merin, Nell Minow, Liz Whittemore

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Edited by Jennifer Merin

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Jennifer Merin

Jennifer Merin is the Film Critic for Womens eNews and contributes the CINEMA CITIZEN blog for and is managing editor for AWFJ.org, the online magazine of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, of which she is President. She has served as a regular critic and film-related interviewer for The New York Press and About.com. She has written about entertainment for USA Today, The L.A. Times, US Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Endless Vacation Magazine, NY Daily News, New York Post, SoHo News and other publications. After receiving her MFA from Tisch School of the Arts (Grad Acting), Jennifer performed at the O'Neill Theater Center's Playwrights Conference, Long Wharf Theater, American Place Theatre and LaMamma, where she worked with renown Japanese director, Shuji Terayama. She subsequently joined Terayama's theater company in Tokyo, where she also acted in films. Her journalism career began when she was asked to write about Terayama for The Drama Review. She became a regular contributor to the Christian Science Monitor after writing an article about Marketta Kimbrell's Theater For The Forgotten, with which she was performing at the time. She was an O'Neill Theater Center National Critics' Institute Fellow, and then became the institute's Coordinator. While teaching at the Universities of Wisconsin and Rhode Island, she wrote "A Directory of Festivals of Theater, Dance and Folklore Around the World," published by the International Theater Institute. Denmark's Odin Teatret's director, Eugenio Barba, wrote his manifesto in the form of a letter to "Dear Jennifer Merin," which has been published around the world, in languages as diverse as Farsi and Romanian. Jennifer's culturally-oriented travel column began in the LA Times in 1984, then moved to The Associated Press, LA Times Syndicate, Tribune Media, Creators Syndicate and Arcamax Publishing. She's been news writer/editor for ABC Radio Networks, on-air reporter for NBC, CBS Radio and for Westwood One's America In the Morning. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association in the Film, Documentary and TV branches and a voting member of the Black Reel Awards. For her AWFJ archive, type "Jennifer Merin" in the Search Box (upper right corner of screen).