Universal International Studios (UIS) is shutting down storied Australian production house Matchbox Pictures after 18 years in business.
Sydney-based Matchbox is known for the likes of recent Netflix series The Survivors, ABC series Dog Park, Secret City and International Emmy winner Safe Harbour, but is being closed 12 years after UIS acquired the company.
UIS has been evaluating Matchbox and the wider Australia production landscape and has now come to the decision to shut the business.
“Following an extensive evaluation of the business and the broader production landscape, Matchbox will be closing after eighteen years, 12 years since its NBCU acquisition,” said UIS in a statement. “Universal International Studios maintains its commitment to Australia, but as strategic priorities shift the studio is evolving its operating model in the region. 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.”
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Australian production is currently in a state of flux following the introduction of a law requiring streamers to spend a portion of their local earnings on original Australian content. Whether the rules would help or hinder Australian production companies has been a key element of debate. UIS appears to have opted out.
Last year, UIS made redundancies to its bases in the U.S. and Australia, as we first reported at the time.
Tony Ayres Productions, the production house of Matchbox co-founder Tony Ayres, will also close as a result of the decision. He had exited Matchbox in 2018 to launch his own company with backing from his former business and UIS, and left Tony Ayres Productions last year.
Ayres, Penny Chapman, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon and Helen Pankhurst launched the business in 2008 and sold a majority shareholding to NBCUniversal’s international arm in 2011. Three years later, NBCU took full control. Previous senior staff have included Chris Oliver-Taylor and Matt Vitins.
“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,” said Matchbox Managing Director Alastair McKinnon in a statement to local trade IF. “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.”
Pillar of Australia production
Matchbox became a key pillar of Australia’s production sector during its 18 years in operation.
An abridged list of productions include The Survivors, which was Netflix’s biggest Australian original last year; Critical Incident; Series Mania contender House of Gods; Irreverent; Cate Blanchett co-production Stateless, Safe Harbour; Secret City; Wanted; and The Slap, which became an international seller for DCD Rights and is considered a watershed title for Australian drama distribution.
Also notable were kids series Mustangs FC and the BAFTA- and International Emmy-winning Nowhere Boys.
Industry body Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner praised the company in a statement released after the news: “The closure of Matchbox Pictures marks the end of a remarkable chapter in the modern Australian screen industry. Over nearly two decades, Matchbox helped redefine what Australian television and film could be – ambitious, internationally confident and unapologetically local in voice.
“The company’s creative and business leadership was widely recognised, including three SPA Media Super Production Business of the Year Awards and multiple honours across Drama Series, Miniseries, Telemovie and Children’s categories. Just as importantly, Matchbox’s impact extended beyond the screen. Chris Oliver-Taylor served as President of SPA during his time as CEO, and Matt Vitins contributed as a an Advisory Councillor.
“Many writers, producers and craftspeople built careers through its productions, and its legacy will continue through the people and projects it nurtured. Matchbox helped demonstrate that Australian stories could resonate far beyond our borders, and that contribution will endure across the industry.”
Matchbox produced the ABC’s new hit series Dog Park and The Survivors, which was Netflix’s most watched Australian show in the second half of 2025. Previous acclaimed works include House of Gods (Series Mania, Best Actor Award 2024), Critical Incident, Stateless starring Cate Blanchett and Yvonne Strahovski (Berlin Film Festival 2020), the International Emmy Award-winning Safe Harbour, political thriller Secret City featuring Jacki Weaver and Anna Torv, and the paranormal drama Glitch, named by The New York Times as one of the Best TV Shows on Netflix.