Nate At The Movies

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Color me absolutely shocked that the best movie that I’m seeing during Coyote vs. Acme Week may not be Coyote vs. Acme! I had middling interest in The Rivals of Amziah King—I like Matthew McConaughey as much as the next guy—but then I kept seeing people rave about the story and the music on Instagram and I thought I should check it out. I wasn’t expecting to get swept off my feet by this film, but that’s exactly what happened. The people on Instagram were right—the story and music were amazing—but the ways in which this movie dazzled me numbered more than two.

What impressed me most about The Rivals of Amziah King was how novel it felt in almost every aspect. The edit was the easiest novelty to pick up on early, and while I was a bit thrown off by the random freeze frames at first, I got used to them and ended up really liking them. Most shots were highly engaging and dynamic and inclusive; I felt very immersed in this rural Oklahoma town from the first scene at the drive-in. A movie with a super boring story would’ve been made captivating by this edit, so imagine what resulted when the story of Amziah King was wild and gripping on its own. The synopsis on Letterboxd had so many twists and turns as it was, but luckily that synopsis only scratched the surface. It really is too bad this movie won’t be in theaters long; I bet it could’ve stretched its shelf life by using the slogan, “Crime. Bees. Mandolin.” What intrigue that could’ve engendered!

The first hour of The Rivals of Amziah King played like the first hour of I’m Still Here (hear me out), featuring some of the most joyous sequences I’ve ever seen in film. Between the touching family and community relationships, the impressive original folk songs, and one of the funniest sequences of 2026 (as a teacher, I was crying laughing), this movie’s first act won me over quickly and repeatedly. Since I knew so little about this movie coming in, I wasn’t expecting the midpoint vibe change, but unlike I’m Still Here, the story pivoted to intense and thrilling instead of increasingly depressing. The two halves of The Rivals of Amziah King functioned completely differently from each other while still preserving the film’s themes, momentum, and technical and dramatic craft. That’s impressive stuff.

Through the music and the beekeeping and the revenge, the importance of community in this movie was crystal clear, and what a delightful message to send. Community was the root of all of this story’s joys and the catalyst for its most dramatic moments, and I left the theater not only wanting to grow my Fort Worth friend circle, but wanting to go get some bees, too. I couldn’t contain my praise for or befuddlement at The Rivals of Amziah King to Morgan when I got home; I was just that impressed and surprised by this absolute winner on a random Tuesday afternoon in August. Equally charming, thrilling, hilarious, and warm, The Rivals of Amziah King was the biggest surprise of my 2026 so far, and it’s a frontrunner for the Natey award that honors such an unexpected delight. Between this movie and Bugonia, bee movies are so back, baby!