Monster trucks, massive jumps and thousands of fans: Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire makes KL debut

Rhinomite, driven by Darron Schnell, in action during the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire show at Unifi Arena yesterday, October 17. — Picture courtesy of MUSE Group Asia

By Ian Jeremiah Patrick

First Published: Sunday, 18 Oct 2026 10:53 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — For generations of Malaysians, Hot Wheels has been a familiar part of childhood, from collecting miniature die-cast cars and trucks to racing them along toy track sets.

Now, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire brings that childhood fascination to life with giant monster trucks, high-flying stunts, car-crushing action and spectacular lighting effects.

The show made its Asia debut in Kuala Lumpur, drawing thousands of fans across its first three performances.

First show was held on Friday, October 16, followed by two shows yesterday, October 17, with two more scheduled for today at Unifi Arena, Bukit Jalil.

Produced by Family Entertainment Live, MUSE Group Asia and Unik Squad co-organised the Malaysian leg of the tour, marking the return of a major monster truck event to the country after several decades.

The event also recorded the highest single-day ticket sales in Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live history, with 21,000 tickets sold on its opening day.

MUSE Group chief executive officer Riduwan Matni speaks to Malay Mail about bringing more family-oriented entertainment to Malaysian audiences through the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire show in an interview on October 15. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Speaking to Malay Mail, MUSE Group CEO Riduwan Matni said the company seized the opportunity to bring the popular show to Malaysia when the possibility of introducing it to Asia arose.

“We have always been looking for quality content to bring to Malaysia.

“The company has organised international events before, including Spartan Race and the Disney Marvel Run, so we have always been on the lookout for good-quality content for the Malaysian market.

“In one of our discussions with Mattel, we explored the possibility of bringing the live show here because we heard it was hugely popular in the US and Europe.

“It has also been a long time since a monster truck event was held in Malaysia, if I am not mistaken, about 30 years,” he said.

Malaysia was a natural choice for the show’s first Asian stop, given the strong brand recognition of Mattel and Hot Wheels among younger audiences and older generations who grew up with the toys.

Riduwan also highlighted the country’s long-standing ties with Hot Wheels, noting that Malaysia is home to Hot Wheels manufacturing operations.

Combined with its relatively young population, he said, this presented an opportunity to introduce more family-oriented entertainment to local audiences.

“We see an opportunity to bring an event catering to families to Malaysia,” he said.

Skelesaurus, driven by Nick Migues, performs a stunt on a pile of Proton cars during the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire show yesterday, October 17. — Picture courtesy of MUSE Group Asia

Show highlights: Seven monster trucks, freestyle motocross and a fire-breathing dinosaur

Seven Hot Wheels Monster Trucks took centre stage, each driven by experienced performers who have spent years behind the wheel of these powerful machines.

The lineup featured Rhinomite, driven by Darron Schnell; Skelesaurus, driven by Nick Migues; Gunkster, driven by Rick Steffens; Mega-Wrex, driven by Kristen Migues; Bone Shaker, driven by Cameron Tweedy; Tiger Shark, driven by Chris Walker; and BIGFOOT, driven by Rebecca Schnell.

The trucks competed in a series of challenges, with drivers earning points for their performances as they battled for the day’s trophy.

Among the stunts performed was the Long Jump, in which trucks weighing between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds accelerated up a ramp and soared through the air, aiming to cover the greatest possible distance before landing.

Fans gather at Unifi Arena on October 17 for the first Asian stop of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire show. — Picture courtesy of MUSE Group Asia

The Wheelies challenge saw drivers lift their trucks’ front wheels off the ground and balance on their rear tyres, while the Donut stunt involved spinning continuously in circles across the arena floor.

The show also featured a freestyle competition, where drivers had limited time to perform a series of jumps, wheelies, and other manoeuvres to impress the crowd.

Beyond the monster trucks, the two-hour production included freestyle motocross (FMX) riders performing high-flying stunts, alongside a fire-breathing, car-crushing robot dinosaur that added another spectacle to the arena.

Together, the attractions turned the event into a family entertainment experience that extended beyond the monster truck competitions themselves.

Behind the scenes and what comes next

Bringing the production to Malaysia for the first time required the combined efforts of an estimated 500 people, from marketing and design teams to ushers, marshals and security personnel.

Riduwan said one of the main challenges was educating the Malaysian public about the show, as it was making its Asian debut in the country.

With the production involving specialised equipment, experienced performers and a range of supporting attractions, MUSE Group relied on the expertise of Family Entertainment Live and Mattel to deliver the show, while focusing on providing the platform and attracting local audiences.

The strong turnout, particularly the record-breaking ticket sales on the opening day, demonstrated the potential for large-scale international family entertainment events in Malaysia.

For Riduwan, however, the show is only the beginning.

He indicated that Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire would not be the last major production the company hoped to bring to the country.

Announcements made during the shows on Friday and Saturday teased an upcoming Hot Wheels Stunt Show, offering a glimpse of another high-octane experience potentially heading to Malaysia, although an official date has yet to be announced.

Bigfoot and Rhinomite on display before the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire show begins October 16. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

More international entertainment on the horizon

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live made its debut in 2019 in Edinburg, Texas, and has since expanded beyond North America and Europe to reach audiences in Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.

The live-action production brings life-sized versions of the iconic Hot Wheels toy trucks into an arena setting, combining competitive stunts, high-speed jumps and family-friendly entertainment.

With its first Asian stop now in Kuala Lumpur, the show marks another step in the franchise’s international expansion, while opening the door for Malaysian audiences to experience more large-scale productions of its kind.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire 2026, the last show in Kuala Lumpur, takes place today at 1 pm and 8 pm