The sequels toThe Matrixwere never universally liked, but they were never bad, and the original film shows why. Theranking of every movie inThe Matrixfranchiseis fairly easy: the original stands well above the rest. After three additional movies and 25 years, none of the Wachowski sisters' films have managed to recapture the magic that made the first so special. The sequels toThe Matrixcertainly aren’t as good as the original, but they’ve also received a much harsher backlash than they deserve.The Matrix Reloaded,The Matrix Revolutions, andThe Matrix Resurrectionsaren’t bad, andThe Matrixproves it.
A big reason the sequels toThe Matrixwere so controversial is because the original movie was so beloved.The Matrixintroduced sci-fi fans to a world unlike any other in film, and it had such limitless potential that its sequels could have gone in any conceivable direction. It was almost inevitable that the sequels would step on the toes of fans, as most viewers had a different idea of how Neo’s (Keanu Reeves) story would play out. Despite it all, however, theMatrixsequels still have something to offer the franchise, and they’re far from bad movies.
The Matrix (1999) Remains A Perfect Movie Regardless Of The Sequels
The Matrix’s Sequels Haven’t Diminished The Original At All
Even though some people claim thatReloadedandRevolutions"ruined"The Matrixas a franchise, the original movie is still a timeless classic. Even after 25 years and three sequels, the first film in the series is still a classic sci-fi movie, and it’s still one of thebest movies ever made.The Matrixhas a truly unimpeachable legacy, and that’s because all of its sequels added to the original movie, rather than retroactively changing it.The Godfatherwasn’t ruined byThe Godfather Part IIIandThe Terminatorwasn’t ruined byTerminator Genisys, and in the same way,The Matrixwasn’t ruined byThe Matrix Revolutions.
Neo’s Powers In The Matrix Movies Explained Fully
Neo has a plethora of powers in The Matrix movies, but what are these powers exactly? How did he get them, and how does he control them?
Knowing how Neo’s story ends and all the convoluted steps it took to get there doesn’t weaken the beginning of his journey.The Matrixis still a groundbreaking, eye-opening film, regardless of how cerebral the series got in later years.The sequels simply added to the legacy ofThe Matrixby acting as, essentially, optional supplemental material for people who wanted to learn even more about the film’s world. Viewers don’t have to know who the Architect was or how Neo navigated the Machine War to enjoyThe Matrix, but the ideas the sequels presented help enrich the world for those fans who do want more.
The Matrix Sequels Weren’t Necessary But Added To The First Movie’s Legacy
The Matrix Sequels Established The Franchise As One Of The Most Thoughtful & Philosophical Sci-fi Stories Ever
The sequels toThe Matrixweren’t entirely necessary, but they did help establish the franchise as a pillar of the science fiction genre.While viewers may disagree with how the sequels approached the questionsThe Matrixset up, it can’t be denied that they furthered the conversation.The MatrixReloaded, for example, strengthened the franchise’s focus on free will and choice even more than the original did.Revolutionsalso dove much deeper into the machines themselves, and unearthed new questions about Neo’s role as a savior. The sequels helped establishThe Matrixas a thoughtful and philosophic sci-fi franchise.
The sequels helped The Matrix remain in pop culture for the better part of two decades, and they added just as many interesting components to the franchise as they did things that didn’t work as well.
If anything, the sequels' greatest mistake was focusing too much on the more cerebral parts of the world ofThe Matrix. Even that, however, helped turn the franchise into an enduring part of sci-fi history.Fans have been discussing all the themes and moral questions ofThe Matrixfranchise for decades, and those conversations likely would have ended years ago if there was only a single movie in the series. The sequels helpedThe Matrixremain in pop culture for the better part of two decades, and they added just as many interesting components to the franchise as they did things that didn’t work as well.
Some Of The Matrix’s Most Iconic Scenes Came From Reloaded & Revolution
The Matrix’s Sequels Created Some Awesome Moments That Enhanced The Entire Franchise
One of the most noticeable waysReloadedandRevolutionshelped cementThe Matrix’s legacy is through a handful of iconic scenes. Even viewers who didn’t like the sequels likely admit that there were a few truly iconic moments that came out of them. Several ofNeo and Agent Smith’s best fightshappened in the sequels. Their “super-burly brawl” in the rain inThe Matrix Revolutions, for example, is still one of the franchise’s best. Likewise,Morpheus and Trinity’s truck sequence inThe Matrix Reloadedis often cited as one of the most impressive stunts in sci-fi history.
1999
83%
2003
74%
33%
2021
63%
While the sequels aren’t as good on the whole asThe Matrix, those impressive high-water marks prove that they weren’t bad. There were certainly missteps, from theArchitect’s speech inReloadedto Trinity’s death at theend ofRevolutions, but they didn’t completely ruin their respective movies.The best scenes inThe Matrix’s sequels show that those movies had something worthwhile to contribute to the franchise, even if they weren’t great on their own.
How The Matrix Resurrections Will Age Compared To The First Sequels Remains To Be Seen
It Will Take Time To See If The Matrix Resurrections Fares Better Than The Earlier Sequels
The most recent sequel toThe Matrix,The Matrix Resurrections, is a bit more odd among the franchise. Since it was released in 2021, it’s not yet clear how it will age.A big reason it’s so hard to predict howResurrectionswill fit in with the rest of the franchise is that it’s so reliant on the original movie. While there are certainly some new features at play, from better visual effects to a heavier emphasis on the love between Trinity and Neo,Resurrectionsis almost entirely beholden toThe Matrix, right down to thecast ofResurrections.
Where To Watch The Matrix Movies Online
The Matrix franchise is one of the most famous in sci-fi history, and here’s where all of the live-action movies can be watched online.
The other sequels toThe Matrixwere mostly disliked because of how they deviated from the original, so it’s hard to say whetherResurrectionswill be looked on more favorably for being essentially a soft remake.The Matrix Resurrections' reviews were fairly average, but there’s a chance its meta-narrative and commentary on the state of legacy sequels will only get more applicable with time.The Matrix 5will also have a big impact on howResurrectionsages, as it will have a chance to either double down on its similarities toThe Matrixor take the franchise in a completely different direction.
The Matrix
Cast
The Matrix, released in 1999, is set in the 22nd century and follows a computer hacker, Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves. He joins a group of underground insurgents led by Morpheus to combat the domineering computers that control the earth, in a battle that blurs the lines between reality and illusion.
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Reloaded is the second film in the Matrix trilogy directed by the Wachowskis. The movie follows Keanu Reeves as Neo, who continues his quest to free humanity from the oppressive control of intelligent machines. Laurence Fishburne returns as Morpheus, along with Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, as they lead their rebellion against the system while uncovering deeper layers of the Matrix.
The Matrix Revolutions
The Matrix Revolutions is the third installment of the Wachowskis' famous sci-fi saga. The movie picks up where the previous film “The Matrix Reloaded” left off, with Neo (Keanu Reeves) trapped in between the simulation and the real world. Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Monica Bellucci, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Lambert Wilson reprise their roles once again for the threequel.
The Matrix Resurrections
Set sixty years after The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections is a sci-fi action movie that sees the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne moss nearly twenty years after the release of the previous film. Neo has become a game developer who struggles to grasp reality, and his concerns are validated when a new visage of Morpheus arrives to free him from his prison - a newly created Matrix. Learning that Trinity is alive and being held prisoner, Neo will join a new rebel force to save her and confront a new, dangerous foe known as the Analyst.
