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The Matrix
R, Now Playing, 2h 16m, Sci-Fi/ Action

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Rotten Tomatoes is Wrong About... The Matrix Sequels
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Rotten Tomatoes is Wrong About... The Matrix Sequels
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Tomatometer
207 Reviews
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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The Matrix
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The Matrix
What To Know
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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Critics Reviews
View All (207) Critics Reviews
Critic's profile
Critic's Name
Mike Clark
Publication
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
The review
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.
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Fresh score.
Rated: 2.5/4 •
Date
Jul 13, 2023
Full Review
Critic's profile
Critic's Name
Joe Morgenstern
Publication
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
The review
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.
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Fresh score.
Date
Jul 13, 2023
Full Review
Critic's profile
Critic's Name
Manohla Dargis
Publication
L.A. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The review
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.
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Fresh score.
Date
Jul 13, 2023
Full Review
Critic's profile
Critic's Name
Sean Axmaker
Publication
Stream on Demand
The review
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.
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Fresh score.
Date
Sep 9, 2023
Full Review
Critic's profile
Critic's Name
Dan DiNicola
Publication
The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
The review
A $60 million, high-tech assault on the senses and a pretentious insult to the mind.
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Rotten score.
Date
Jul 15, 2023
Full Review
Critic's profile
Critic's Name
Christopher Brandon
Publication
TNT's Rough Cut
The review
A cyberpunk thriller that's so much fun to watch, it could single-handedly reboot the genre.
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Fresh score.
Date
Jul 13, 2023
Full Review
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Audience Reviews
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Critic's Name
casearmitage
The review
Twenty five years later, it still holds up. You have to see it to believe it.
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Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Date
04/04/24
Full Review
Critic's Name
Nathanael
The review
Of course The Matrix is absolutely amazing, but the 4DX thing was pretty cool too!
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Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Date
12/14/21
Full Review
Critic's Name
Average P
The review
So good that you entirely forget the nutty premise that we're all being kept in suspended animation wired into some kind of giant mainframe which creates more energy than it requires. Oh well, whatever. Great adventure story.
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Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Date
05/23/24
Full Review
Critic's Name
First name L
The review
Event cinema in at it's best, it's often mocked, equally celebrated, for a reason.
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Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Date
05/14/24
Full Review
Critic's Name
Jace E
The review
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"
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Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Date
05/13/24
Full Review
Critic's Name
Antonio M
The review
Ha fatto la storia del cinema cyberpunk. Un cult intramontabile.
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Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Date
05/09/24
Full Review
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Cast & Crew
Lilly Wachowski thumbnail image
Lilly Wachowski
Director
Lana Wachowski thumbnail image
Lana Wachowski
Director
Keanu Reeves thumbnail image
Keanu Reeves
Thomas A. Anderson
Laurence Fishburne thumbnail image
Laurence Fishburne
Morpheus
Carrie-Anne Moss thumbnail image
Carrie-Anne Moss
Trinity
Hugo Weaving thumbnail image
Hugo Weaving
Agent Smith
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The Matrix Reloaded poster
Certified fresh score.
74%
Fresh audience score.
72%
The Matrix Reloaded

WATCHLIST
The Matrix Revolutions poster
Rotten score.
34%
Fresh audience score.
60%
The Matrix Revolutions

WATCHLIST
Demolition Man poster
Fresh score.
63%
Fresh audience score.
67%
Demolition Man

WATCHLIST
Universal Soldier: The Return poster
Rotten score.
5%
Rotten audience score.
24%
Universal Soldier: The Return

WATCHLIST
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines poster
Fresh score.
70%
Rotten audience score.
46%
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

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The Matrix
Rotten Tomatoes is Wrong About... The Matrix Sequels
51:31
Rotten Tomatoes is Wrong About... The Matrix Sequels
Content collapsed.
‘The Matrix’ Government Lobby Scene | Rotten Tomatoes’ 21 Most Memorable Moments
2:31
‘The Matrix’ Government Lobby Scene | Rotten Tomatoes’ 21 Most Memorable Moments
Content collapsed.
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The Matrix

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The Matrix photo 4

Anthony Ray Parker as Dozer, Keanu Reeves as Thomas A. Anderson/Neo, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, and Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus in Nebuchadnezzer's cockpit.

Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in Warner Brothers' The Matrix.

Laurence Fishburne in Warner Brothers' The Matrix

Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves in Warner Brothers' The Matrix

Carrie-Anne Moss in Warner Brothers' The Matrix

Keanu Reeves in Warner Brothers' The Matrix
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Movie Info
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
Silver Pictures , Village Roadshow Prod.
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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