Star Wars, Star Trek,andAlienmay have been often considered to be the greatest science fiction franchises of all-time, but the stakes of the argument in 1999 changed thanks to the masterpiece directed byLillyandLana Wachowski.The Matrixwas unlike anything that audiences had ever seen before, as it merged classical philosophy with a disturbing message about putting faith in technology; that isn’t even mentioning the stunning action choreography, which invented the “bullet time” effect that would be used consistently in ripoffs for several decades after.The Matrixsaga has stood the test of timeas one of the most culturally impactful, influential franchises that still feels like an “event” any time that a new installment is released.
There is a misconception that the first film is the only good entry in the series, as some critics and fans were overly harsh in their reception to the sequels. While there were understandably massive expectations for anything that followed the original classic, it is unfair to treat the sequels as a huge disappointment in the vein ofStar Wars: Episode I- The Phantom MenaceorBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.In fact, time has been very kind to all four films, as they look even better whencompared to the generic crop of blockbustersthat have topped the global box office in recent years. Here are all fourThe Matrixfilms, ranked by how great they are.
4‘The Matrix Revolutions’ (2003)
The Matrix Revolutionshad a difficult task of ending the original trilogy on a high note, as while it wouldn’t be the last time that Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie Anne-Moss) would be on screen with one another, it did complete the messianic journey that had been initiated by the first film. Although the previous entries in the series had focused on more intimate, personal battles between Neo and Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving),The Matrix Revolutionsturned into a massive spectacle, and realized the full potential ofa battle between mankind and machines.
The Matrix Revolutionsembraces the ensemble better than any other installment in the series, as it offers a firm explanation for what Neo is fighting for as “The One.” AlthoughLaurence Fishburnehas always been excellent as Morpheus,The Matrix Revolutionsoffered him a chance to say goodbye to the character that defined his career in a very profound way. Although some aspects of the conclusionmay be confusing on a first watch, many of the questions thatThe Matrix Revolutionsraised about how “permanent” death was in the Wachowskis' universe were answered by the time that the fourth film was released.
3‘The Matrix Resurrections’ (2021)
The Matrix Resurrectionsis easily the mostambitious film in the franchisesince the first, as it attempted to construct a meta commentary on how creatively inert most sequels tended to be. By inserting Neo and Trinity into a version of the Matrix that mirrored reality, Wachowski was able to take back the legacy of the first film, even though it had been misappropriated and misinterpreted by bad faith critics. Despite the fact that Neo is a character with godlike abilities, he’s stood the test of time as an amazing cinematic hero because he is so relatable; for those that have ever struggled with their own mental health, seeing Neo cope with depression and then become a hero once more was a very powerful experience. It’s a surprisingly optimistic film, and while that hopefulness may not have been appreciated in 2021, it is a major standout when compared to how cynical many studio-mandated sequels tend to be.
The Matrix Resurrectionsoffers the most profound love storyof any entry in the series, as the film centers on the profound message that Neo and Trinity are much more powerful together than they were separated. Even if much of the film is reliant on nostalgia,The Matrix Resurrectionsincluded many exciting new cast members, includingJonathan GroffandNeil Patrick Harris. While many have used the film’s poor box office as an argument against it, it’s worth remembering that it was released on HBO Max the same day it was dumped in theaters, which also happened to be the same week thatSpider-Man: No Way Homedebuted. Had circumstances been different,The Matrix Resurrectionscould have been a far more popular film. IfThe Matrix Resurrectionsis truly the final entry in the series that ends up coming directly from one of the Wachowskis, than reinserting Neo and Trinity as the captains of their own future couldn’t have been a better way to close this chapter of the story.
2‘The Matrix Reloaded’ (2003)
The Matrix Reloadedhad a seemingly impossible task ahead of it, as it had to recapture the “lighting in a bottle” magic of the first film without being completely derivative. Impressively, the Wachowskis made no apologies for how weird their universe would end up becoming; in addition to getting highly technical with its description of the Matrix itself and its origins, the film included more allusions tostories and figures within Christian mythology. It’s rare to see a blockbuster film produced at this scale that forces its audience to pay attention so much, asThe Matrix Reloadedisn’t for fans who only appreciated the first film on a surface level. However, it’s also one of the most impressive achievements in the history of action filmmaking, making it approachable for those that needed multiple viewing to understand what exactly was going on.
The Matrix Reloadedincludes an incredible car chase in its third act, which may be the single most memorable vehicular action sequence sinceThe French Connectionback in 1971. It was very impressive how radically technology had evolved in just four years, asThe Matrix Reloadedwas able to pull off impressive feats that wouldn’t have been possible during the first film’s release. Despite being a massive financial success, some audiences rejectedThe Matrix Reloadedbecause it wasn’t what they expected; this isn’t surprising, because the Wachowskis wanted to create another film that was bold and groundbreaking, and didn’t just play thenostalgic notes necessary for a legacy sequel.Although some fans may have left the theater with a bad taste in their mouth because of the cliffhanger, it’s a very minor piece of manipulative storytelling that does not in any way invalidate the two hours of imagination and momentum that preceded it.
1‘The Matrix’ (1999)
The Matrixis one of the most important films ever made, as it reenergized Hollywood’s interest in science fiction, provided an astoundinglyprescient warning about artificial intelligence, kickstarted a new phase of Reeves’ career, and proved that there was a market for smart, savvy genre films made for an adult audience. 1999 was one of the most important years in film history, as it saw the debut of such beloved classics asFight Club, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Sixth Sense, Magnolia, Office Space, Rosetta,andSouth Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncutamong many others. While it would be tough to determine if it is actually a better film thanEyes Wide ShutorAmerican Beauty,The Matrixhas been homage, parodied, and cited as an influence more than anything else that was released in 1999. Ironically, none of the jokes made at the expense ofThe Matrixhave diminished its legacy, as its key collaborators have gone on to find great success. Reeves certainly wouldn’t have landed the titular role in theJohn Wickseries had he not already earned a legion of fans for playing Neo, and the Wachowskis uses the hubris they earned fromThe Matrixto find experimental, future cult classics likeSpeed RacerandCloud Atlas.
Although the style and visuals were unlike anything that American audiences had seen before,The Matrixfulfilled the fundamental story beats that were inherent to any great works of mythology.Similar to a character like Luke Skywalker inStar Wars,Aragorn inThe Lord of the Rings, or a folktale hero like King Arthur, Neo is a reluctant hero who answers the call, fulfilling his greater destiny. Reeves is perfectly cast as a brilliant, if misunderstood character who accepts that his “otherness” is something to be celebrated, as it is what distinguishes him from the machines that have taken over reality. The Wachowskis also weren’t afraid to experimentwhen it came to the film’s visceral qualities, as many of its most memorable sequences would have previously only been possible if they were brought to life using animation.The Matrixwas an alternative to the hubris of ‘90s action films that had a remarkably independent streak, as it has subsequently earned praise for its anti-capitalist themes and groundbreaking LGBTQIA representation. Although every film in the franchise is worth celebrating and rewatching,The Matrixis a film that has already been established as an all-time classic, and will continue to inspire imaginative storytellers for the rest of its existence.
