Matthew McConaughey Film Shot in Alabama Hits Theaters

Whether you like University of Texas alumnus and Longhorn sideline regular Matthew McConaughey or not, it might be worth taking in his new film The Rivals of Amziah King at the movies this weekend. It opened yesterday and has a distinct Alabama connection, although it's supposed to take place in Oklahoma.

The movie with the odd name was filmed in Birmingham and the surrounding area and had an Irondale technical advisor on bees. So you can say the movie has a cast of thousands. It wrapped on-site filming in the summer of 2023, with post-production being completed last year.

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According to the release's press packet, the Andrew Patterson-written and directed film centers around Amziah King, played by McConaughey, "...a charismatic beekeeper, musician, and central figure in his Oklahoma community. He oversees a thriving honey-making operation and leads a bluegrass-playing band of local misfits. When his former foster daughter, Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass), unexpectedly returns, Amziah sees an opportunity to reconnect and create a family business. However, his honey empire attracts rivals who threaten to sabotage his livelihood, forcing both Amziah and Kateri to confront these challenges and seek justice."

The bad guys in the film are led by another Hollywood megastar, Kurt Russell.

A second Alabama connection in the film involves Adam Hickman, a beekeeping expert from Foxhound Bee Company in Irondale. He was the film's lead bee wrangler and advised the production on how to safely use real bees during filming. He worked closely with McConauhey after the actor was stung by one of the bees and found out he is actually allergic to bee stings.

A brief third Alabama connect took place in Walker County at The Frosty Mug in Jasper, a nostalgic 1950s eatery on the banks of the Warrior River.

The film had its world premiere in Austin, Texas, during the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival. The U.S. theatrical release of the movie was yesterday.

Alabama is experiencing one of its busiest production years ever this year, on the heels of several movies being shot in recent years. The Alabama State Entertainment Office credits lower production costs, diverse film locations, strong production crew personnel availability, and supportive state and local film offices.