Jackie Keast· IF magazine. February 17, 2026
Alastair McKinnon.
Universal International Studios has announced that Matchbox Pictures will cease operations, marking the end of one of the most prominent and prolific production companies in Australia.
In a statement provided to IF, the studio said the decision to close the company followed “extensive evaluation of the business and the broader production landscape.”
“Universal International Studios maintains its commitment to Australia, but as strategic priorities shift the studio is evolving its operating model in the region,” it said.
“Moving forward the company will evaluate production opportunities and engage with local producers and talent on a case-by-case basis as new projects emerge.”
The studio added Matchbox had “a long and distinguished history” and had played a significant role in elevating Australian creative talent.
Matchbox Pictures was founded by Tony Ayres, Penny Chapman, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon and Helen Pankhurst in 2008. In 2011, NBCUniversal International took a majority stake, its first investment in a company outside the UK, and assumed full ownership in 2014.
In 2018, Ayres launched his own company Tony Ayres Productions (TAP), backed by Matchbox and Universal International Studios; it will also cease operations as part of this decision. Ayres is currently focused on writing.
Matchbox’s most recent project is ABC comedy Dog Park, currently airing on the ABC, starring Leon Ford and Celia Pacquola. The Survivors, produced by TAP and starring Yerin Ha, was Netflix’s most watched local series in 2025, garnering 19.7 million views in the first half of the year and 8.3 million views in the second.
Across its history, Matchbox produced more than 55 projects, working with every network in Australia and a variety of international partners. While best known for high-end scripted drama, its slate spanned both film and television across a variety of genres, including children’s, comedy, documentary and reality. It won Screen Producers Australia’s production company of the year award three times.
2011’s The Slap was widely regarded as a turning point for the international perception of Australian drama. International distributor DCD Rights sold it around the world, including to the BBC, Arte, SundanceTV and DIRECTV, as well as a format deal in the US. DCD RIghts CEO Nicky Davies Williams has previously said the series helped convince global buyers that Australian scripted television could be world class.
Other key successes included Safe Harbour, which won an international Emmy; Stateless, produced with Cate Blanchett’s Dirty Films, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, and House of Gods, whose star Kamel El Basha won a best actor award at Series Mania. Children’s series Nowhere Boys won a BAFTA and an International Emmy, while Glitch was one of the first Australian series to ever be co-produced by Netflix, and Clickbait hit the no.1 spot on Netflix in more than 20 countries.
In recent years Matchbox also provided production services for a variety of Universal projects in Australia, such as La Brea and All Her Fault.
“Matchbox has made an enormous contribution to the Australian film and television landscape with groundbreaking programs that have defined our industry and captivated audiences here and around the world. I’m immensely proud of the achievements of the entire Matchbox team and the quality of work that the company has produced over the past 18 years,” said managing director Alastair McKinnon in a statement.
In addition to its founders, Matchbox Pictures has been home to many prominent industry names, with current and past staff including Amanda Higgs, Debbie Lee, Louise Fox, Kylie Washington, Chris Oliver-Taylor, Que Minh Luu and Matt Vitins.
The company has been committed to diversity and inclusion, as recognised by the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network in 2018 for projects such as serial The Heights and drama Hungry Ghosts. It has also been a leader in environmental sustainability and was one of the founding members of Sustainable Screens Australia.