Matchstick Men

Roy Waller is a meticulous, anxiety ridden con artist whose life runs on ritual, routines, and a safe amount of fear. His partner Frank Mercer handles the actual work while Roy keeps a tight control on every detail. When they scheme a big payday, an abrupt wrench is thrown into the plan: Roy's teenage daughter Angela arrives unannounced. The encounter forces him to juggle deception with responsibility, and Frank must decide how far he will let a daughter disrupt a long built system. As the con tightens, loyalties fray, and Roy finds himself balancing a growing need for honesty against a history of manipulation. The film blends sharp dialogue with visual humor and a quiet, morally aware payoff for viewers.

Ridley Scott directs this caper drama from a screenplay by Ted Griffin inspired by an idea from Nicholas Griffin and Ted Griffin, 2003. The cast centers on Nicolas Cage as Roy, Sam Rockwell as Frank, and Alison Lohman as Angela.

With a budget of 62,000,000, the film earned about 65,565,672 worldwide, delivering a modest but respectable return for a character driven crime story. Its financials reflect a niche hit rather than a blockbuster genre smash. It cements its midrange standing.

Critics welcomed Cage and Rockwell, praising the pair's chemistry, the film's dry wit, and patient pacing. The themes probe deceit and family ties, showing how a con man's rules collide with genuine care and the price of living with lies. Scott keeps the mood controlled and sharp and leaves impressions.

Over time Matchstick Men has earned a reputation as a tightly crafted character study within a thriller framework. It’s noted for Cage's nuanced performance, Rockwell's dry foil, and Lohman's grounded Angela. The film is often discussed in early 2000s crime cinema for blending humor with moral ambiguity and emotional weight.