The Matrix | Rotten Tomatoes

The Matrix

R

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2h 16m

Sci-Fi

Action

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83%

Tomatometer

207 Reviews

85%

Audience Score

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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casearmitage

Twenty five years later, it still holds up. You have to see it to believe it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

Nathanael

Of course The Matrix is absolutely amazing, but the 4DX thing was pretty cool too!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/14/21

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First name L

Event cinema in at it's best, it's often mocked, equally celebrated, for a reason.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/14/24

Full Review

Jace E

The Matrix is one of the most ambitious and captivating Sci-Fi films of all time. The action is electric, the characters are strong and there are legendary moments peppered throughout. Where the film is lacking is in the actual human aspect; the romance is underdeveloped and Neo's life in the Matrix is superficial (why do we need a scene of his boss disciplining him?). That being said, the fight sequences are incredibly entertaining and the entire idea of the Matrix plays with your mind. I honestly fell asleep multiple times watching the film and had to go back and watch it again. From the slow motion to the muted colors, it was easy to doze off. However, once the climactic moments hit, I was enthralled. The helicopter scene is great and the final fight sequences hit hard. I'm curious where the franchise will go from here, but this film is a brilliant start. Best Character: Tank Best Quote: "There's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path." - Morpheus Best Scene: The Bullet Dodge Best Piece of Score: "He's the One Alright"

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/13/24

Full Review

Antonio M

Ha fatto la storia del cinema cyberpunk. Un cult intramontabile.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/09/24

Full Review

Joe C

Absolutely loved it. Great concept, excellent execution. Got more out of it the second time I watched it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/06/24

Full Review

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Lilly Wachowski

Director

Lana Wachowski

Director

Keanu Reeves

Thomas A. Anderson

Laurence Fishburne

Morpheus

Carrie-Anne Moss

Trinity

Hugo Weaving

Agent Smith

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74%

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The Matrix Reloaded

34%

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The Matrix Revolutions

63%

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5%

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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: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, Bruce Berman, Andrew Mason, Barrie M. Osborne, Erwin Stoff
Screenwriter: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Village Roadshow Prod., Silver Pictures
Rating: R (Sci-Fi Violence|Brief Language)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 31, 1999, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 22, 2023
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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