The　excellent　mechanical　and　lubricant　property　make　graphene　an　ideal　enhanced　phase　for　high-performance　composites.　Graphene　metal　matrix　composites　with　good　structural　mechanical　and　tribological　properties　have　a　wide　range　of　applications　in　aerospace,　automotive,　electronics,　and　biomedical　fields.　However,　some　problems　exist　in　preparing　high-performance　metal　matrix　composites　including　poor　wettability　between　graphene　and　metal　matrix,　and　weak　interfacial　bonding　strength.　Efficient　methods　for　preparing　graphene　metal　matrix　parts　with　high　performance　still　need　to　be　further　developed.　Meanwhile,　the　study　of　the　tribological　behavior　of　graphene-reinforced　metal　matrix　composites　is　rather　limited,　and　the　poor　wear　resistance　is　a　limiting　factor　for　a　wide　range　of　applications.　In　this　paper,　the　properties　of　graphene　are　reviewed　and　the　applications　of　graphene　are　discussed　with　specific　examples.　The　methods　of　preparing　high-performance　metal　matrix　composites　are　reviewed　and　the　main　challenges　were　analyzed,　and　the　mechanical　and　tribological　properties　of　graphene　metal　matrix　composites　are　discussed　with　emphasis.　The　research　directions　and　application　trends　of　graphene　metal　matrix　composites　have　been　prospected.　©　2023,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer-Verlag　London　Ltd.,　part　of　Springer　Nature.