John Cena’s ‘Matchbook’ Film Poster Accused of Copying Tom Hardy’s ‘Locke’

Fans have recently pointed out striking similarities between the promotional poster for John Cena’s upcoming film, Matchbook, and the poster for Tom Hardy’s 2013 film, Locke. The artwork for Matchbook features Cena behind the wheel of a car, surrounded by blurred lights, which closely resembles the iconic design of Locke.

Visual Comparisons Spark Controversy

When the Matchbook poster debuted, reactions exploded on Reddit. A thread titled “Matchbook movie poster (new John Cena film) is a blatant rip-off a poster released for Locke” prompted thousands of comments. Users shared side-by-side comparisons highlighting the nearly identical:

• Composition
• Color palette
• Lighting
• Typography

Both posters focus on a close-up of a man’s face with warm amber lighting. The background features out-of-focus streetlights, adding to the moody atmosphere. The font and placement of the titles are strikingly alike, further enhancing the parallels between the two artworks.

Public Reactions

Online commenters were quick to criticize the Matchbook marketing team for their apparent lack of originality. Terms like “carbon copy” and “lazy rebranding” surfaced frequently in the discussions. However, some viewers defended the design choice, suggesting it could be an homage to Locke. One Reddit user noted that if Matchbook also takes place primarily within a car, the similarities could be intentional.

Despite the defenses, many argued that the resemblance crosses the line from homage to imitation. Locke is known for its minimalist design and emotional impact, making the duplicate-style poster for Matchbook particularly contentious.

Industry Context and Implications

As of now, neither John Cena nor the production team of Matchbook has addressed these allegations. The studio has also not confirmed if the released poster is its final version. Such marketing similarities are not new to Hollywood, where trends often repeat across various genres. However, the distinct similarity in this case has reignited a broader conversation about originality in film promotion.

Similar controversies have previously arisen regarding posters for films like The Island and Oblivion, as well as Black Swan and Perfect Blue. Regardless of whether the resemblance is intentional or coincidental, the Matchbook poster has garnered significant attention. This controversy may ultimately enhance the film’s visibility ahead of its release, albeit for reasons that some may consider negative.