Film

The Rivals of Amziah King 2026

Thriller, Crime, Drama 131 min R

Rotten Tomatoes89%Metacritic74IMDb

Ain’t no one all bad or all good.

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.

Thriller Crime Drama Oklahoma Envy Atmospheric Foster home Runaway child Foster daughter Beekeeping Beekeeper Business rivalry Family bonds

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Character

Classical in form, raw, grave and earnest.

classical in formformally daring
raw

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Video reviews

From critics we follow, and from Buds here.

The Rivals of Amziah King | Movie Review (Best Film of SXSW 2025)
Sean Chandler Talks About · Aug 2026

Reviews

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From the critics

A few lines from each review; the whole review is on the critic's site. Not part of Taste Buds's numbers.

The GuardianAdrian Horton in AustinMar 2025★★★★★
The Rivals of Amziah King review – Matthew McConaughey returns with unwieldy misstep
SXSW film festival: The Oscar winner’s first film role for six years shows his undeniable magnetism but squanders it on a baggy mix of tones and genres
The New York TimesBrandon YuAug 2026
‘The Rivals of Amziah King’ Review: The Songs and the Bees
Matthew McConaughey is put to his best use in years in this somewhat messy, but often rollicking film about a beekeeper and the foster child who reappears in his life.

Pairings

Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.

Double bill withCountry StrongShana Feste2010

Similar in taste

Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Taste Buds. Other media included when they land close.

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Both contemporary, grave, classical in form.
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Both classical in form, contemporary, grave.
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Detlev Buck
Both classical in form, contemporary, grave.
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Both classical in form, contemporary, earnest.
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Robert J. Sawyer
Book · Both classical in form, contemporary, grave.
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Television · Both classical in form, contemporary, grave.

Often watched with

Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Taste Buds

Butterfly on a Wheel

Mike Barker · 2007

Above the Rim

Where do you stand?

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“Would a little humor have helped?”
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