The Matrix

R

Released Mar 31, 1999

2h 16m

Sci-Fi

Action

Mystery & Thriller

List

83%

Tomatometer

207 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question -- What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.

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Critics Consensus

Thanks to the Wachowskis' imaginative vision, The Matrix is a smartly crafted combination of spectacular action and groundbreaking special effects.

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Mike Clark

USA Today

Though The Matrix ultimately overdoses on gloom-and-doom grunge, over-elaborate cool and especially running time, it's just clever enough to enable [the Wachowskis] to nix the sophomore jinx following 1996's Bound.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 13, 2023

Full Review

Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

I know almost nothing of the intricate techniques that make The Matrix as eye-filling as it is brain-numbing, but I can tell you that... [its visuals] are wondrous to behold.

Jul 13, 2023

Full Review

Manohla Dargis

L.A. Weekly

There's more form than content in The Matrix, but Bill Pope's swooping, noir-inflected cinematography is wonderfully complemented by Owen Paterson's inventive production design, a great soundtrack and the best fight choreography this side of Hong Kong.

Jul 13, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

The Wachowskis proceed to turn the world as we know it into a virtual reality landscape with a 20th century tech-noir look (lit with a sickly green hue, like the glow of an old IBM computer screen) and the physics of a video game.

Sep 9, 2023

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

A $60 million, high-tech assault on the senses and a pretentious insult to the mind.

Jul 15, 2023

Full Review

Christopher Brandon

TNT's Rough Cut

A cyberpunk thriller that's so much fun to watch, it could single-handedly reboot the genre.

Jul 13, 2023

Full Review

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Daniel S

How is this movie not at 99 percent?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/19/24

Full Review

Terry C

This is a classic. When it first came out it was doing things that had never been done and got people really thinking. Great movie a must see

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/19/24

Full Review

zinger305 r

One of the best movies of our generation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/19/24

Full Review

Stef R

I think in retrospect it has become significant like a must-see classic. It blew our minds at the time and I still think it has relevancy and is enjoyable.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/18/24

Full Review

Andre S

Revisiting 'The Matrix' for its 25th anniversary feels like stepping into a cinematic experience that remains as relevant as ever. This film was ahead of its time, blending groundbreaking vfx with thought-provoking themes about reality, control, and technology. The Wachowskis crafted a world that feels more relatable today than ever, in an age where AI, virtual reality, and questions of individual autonomy are part of everyday conversation. The film's iconic action sequences, groundbreaking bullet-dodging effects, and philosophical tones make it a timeless piece of cinema. Watching it again, it’s clear 'The Matrix' was a blueprint for the now & future.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/18/24

Full Review

Michael A

This movie is steeped in philosophy and Kungfu.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/17/24

Full Review

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Lilly Wachowski

Director

Lana Wachowski

Director

Keanu Reeves

Thomas "Neo" Anderson

Laurence Fishburne

Morpheus

Carrie-Anne Moss

Trinity

Hugo Weaving

Agent Smith

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Synopsis

Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question -- What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.

Director: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Producer: Joel Silver
Screenwriter: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Village Roadshow Prod., Warner Bros., Silver Pictures
Rating: R (Sci-Fi Violence|Brief Language)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 31, 1999, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $171.4M
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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