SXSW/Black Bear Pictures/Heyday Films
The Rivals of Amziah King, Matthew McConaughey’s first major film role since starring in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen in 2019, premiered at the South by Southwest Festival on Monday night and received a standing ovation. According to industry insiders, standing ovations at SXSW, unlike Cannes Film Festival, are rare.
The second major film festival of the year after the Sundance Film Festival, other headline-grabbing movies to premiere at South by Southwest so far this year are Another Simple Favor with Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, the A24 black comedy Death of a Unicorn with Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and The Accountant 2 starring Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal.
The premiere of The Rivals of Amziah King has wound up being one of the buzziest premieres of SXSW, however, as Deadline compared the McConaughey-starring western/musical/drama to Everything Everywhere All At Once, which premiered at SXSW in 2022 and went on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
“SXSW launched an Oscar Best Picture winner three years ago in A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once, and they could have another one on their hands if a buyer gets off their butt and takes this WME sales title. There’s been some deliberation and waiting by buyers when it comes to acquiring movies. No need to wait on this one, studios or streamers: This played in the heartland to rolling laughs, tears and cheers tonight.”
“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,” Deadline says of the film’s synopsis. “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.”
Alongside McConaughey, The Rivals of Amziah King also stars Kurt Russell, Cole Sprouse, Owen Teague, Catherine Dyer, Scott Shepherd, Rob Morgan, Angela LookingGlass, and Tony Revolori. The film was directed by Andrew Patterson, who had one directorial credit under his belt with 2019 feature film debut The Vast of Night.
In addition to Deadline, Variety‘s review was equally as glowing, saying the film is “different from anythng you’ve ever seen.”
Given the rave reviews out of South by Southwest, it won’t be long until a studio or streamer picks up The Rivals of Amziah King and schedules it for release.