The Matrix is an American cyberpunkStarrs, Paul F., and Lynn Huntsinger. "The Matrix, cyberpunk literature, and the apocalyptic landscapes of information technology." Information technology and libraries 14.4 (1995): 251. media franchise consisting of four feature films, beginning with The Matrix (1999) and continuing with three sequels, Reloaded (2003), Revolutions (2003), and Resurrections (2021). The first three films were written and directed by the Wachowskis and produced by Joel Silver. The screenplay for the fourth film was written by Lana Wachowski, David Mitchell and Aleksandar Hemon, was directed by Lana Wachowski, and was produced by Grant Hill, James McTeigue, and Lana Wachowski. The franchise is owned by Warner Bros., which distributed the films along with Village Roadshow Pictures. The latter, along with Silver Pictures, are the two production companies that worked on the first three films.
The series features a cyberpunk story of the technological fall of humanity, in which the creation of artificial intelligence led the way to a race of powerful and self-aware machines that imprisoned humans in a neural interactive simulation — the Matrix — to be farmed as a power source. Occasionally, some of the prisoners manage to break free from the system and, considered a threat, become pursued by the artificial intelligence both inside and outside of it. The films focus on the plight of Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) trying to free humanity from the system while pursued by its guardians, such as Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving, Abdul-Mateen II, and Jonathan Groff). The story references numerous norms, particularly philosophical, religious, and spiritual ideas, but also the dilemma of choice vs. control, the brain in a vat thought experiment, messianism, and the concepts of interdependency and love. Influences include the principles of mythology, anime, and Hong Kong action films (particularly "heroic bloodshed" and martial arts movies). The film series is notable for its use of heavily choreographed action sequences and "bullet time" slow-motion effects, which revolutionized action films to come.
The characters and setting of the films are further explored in other media set in the same fictional universe, including animation, comics, and video games. The comic "Bits and Pieces of Information" and the Animatrix short film The Second Renaissance act as prequels to the films, explaining how the franchise's setting came to be. The video game Enter the Matrix connects the story of the Animatrix short "Final Flight of the Osiris" with the events of Reloaded, while the online video game The Matrix Online was a direct sequel to Revolutions. These were typically written, commissioned, or approved by the Wachowskis.
The first film was an important critical and commercial success, winning four Academy Awards, introducing popular culture symbols such as the red pill and blue pill, and influencing action filmmaking. For those reasons, it has been added to the National Film Registry for preservation. Its first sequel was also a commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film in history, until it was surpassed by Deadpool in 2016. As of 2006, the franchise has generated US$3 billion in revenue. A fourth film, The Matrix Resurrections, was released on December 22, 2021, with Lana Wachowski producing, cowriting, and directing and Reeves and Moss reprising their roles. A fifth film is currently in development with Drew Goddard set to write and direct with Lana Wachowski executive producing.
Setting
The series depicts a future in which Earth is dominated by a race of self-aware machines that was spawned from the creation of artificial intelligence early in the 21st century. At one point conflict arose between humanity and machines, and the machines rebelled against their creators. Humans attempted to block out the machines' source of solar power by covering the sky in thick, stormy clouds. A massive war emerged between the two adversaries which ended with the machines victorious, capturing humanity. Having lost their definite source of energy, the machines devised a way to extract the human body's bioelectric and thermal energies by enclosing people in pods, while their minds are controlled by cybernetic implants connecting them to a simulated reality called The Matrix.
The virtual reality world simulated by the Matrix resembles human civilization around the turn of the 21st century (this time period was chosen because it is supposedly the pinnacle of human civilization). The environment inside the Matrix – called a "residual self-image" (the mental projection of a digital self) – is practically indistinguishable from reality (although scenes set within the Matrix are presented on-screen with a green tint to the footage, and a general bias towards the color green), and the vast majority of humans connected to it are unaware of its true nature. Most of the central characters in the series are able to gain superhuman abilities within the Matrix by taking advantage of their understanding of its true nature to manipulate its virtual physical laws. The films take place both inside the Matrix and outside of it, in the real world; the parts that take place in the Matrix are set in a vast Western megacity.
The virtual world is first introduced in The Matrix. The short comic "Bits and Pieces of Information" and the Animatrix short film The Second Renaissance show how the initial conflict between humanity and machines came about, and how and why the Matrix was first developed. Its history and purpose are further explained in The Matrix Reloaded. In The Matrix Revolutions a new status quo is established in the Matrix's place in humankind and machines' conflict. This was further explored in The Matrix Online, a now-defunct MMORPG.
Films Film U.S. release date Directed by Written by Produced by The Matrix The Wachowskis Joel Silver The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions The Matrix Resurrections Lana Wachowski Lana Wachowski, David Mitchell & Aleksandar Hemon Grant Hill, Lana Wachowski & James McTeigue
Future During production of the original trilogy, the Wachowskis told their close collaborators that, "at that time they had no intention of making another Matrix film after The Matrix Revolutions". In February 2015, in promotion interviews for Jupiter Ascending, Lilly Wachowski called a return to The Matrix "a particularly repelling idea in these times", noting studios' tendencies to "greenlight" sequels, reboots, and adaptations, in preference to original material. Meanwhile, Lana Wachowski, in addressing rumors about a potential reboot, stated that "...they had not heard anything, but she believed that the studio might be looking to replace them". At various times, Keanu Reeves and Hugo Weaving each confirmed their interest and willingness to reprise their roles in potential future installments of the Matrix films, with the stipulation that the Wachowskis were involved in the creative and production process. These comments were made prior to the announcement in August 2019 that Lana Wachowski would direct a fourth Matrix film ultimately titled The Matrix Resurrections.
Following the release of Resurrections, producer James McTeigue said that there were no plans for further Matrix films, though he believed that the film's open ending meant that could change in the future. In April 2024, it was announced that Warner Bros. was developing a new installment in the franchise with Drew Goddard attached to write and direct following a successful pitch with studio executives. It will mark the first installment to not be directed by either Wachowski sister although Lana will serve as an executive producer.
Other projects In March 2017, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Warner Bros. was in the early stages of developing a re-launch of the franchise. Consideration was given to producing a Matrix television series, but was dismissed as the studio opted to pursue negotiations with Zak Penn in writing a treatment for a new film, with Michael B. Jordan eyed for the lead role. According to the article, the Wachowskis were not involved at that point. In response to the report, Penn refuted all statements regarding a reboot, remake, or continuation, remarking that he was working on stories set in the pre-established continuity.
Potential plotlines being considered by Warner Bros. Pictures included a prequel film about a young Morpheus, or an alternate storyline with a focus on one of his descendants. By April 2018, Penn described the script as "being at a nascent stage". Later, in September 2019, Jordan addressed the rumors of his involvement by saying he was "flattered", but without making a definitive statement. In October 2019, Penn confirmed the script he wrote is set within an earlier time period than the first three films in the franchise.
Cast and crew Cast
Character Films Video games Animated film The Matrix The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions The Matrix Resurrections Enter the Matrix The Matrix Online Path of Neo The Matrix Awakens The Animatrix Zion / Io Neo Keanu Reeves Keanu Reeves Keanu Reeves rowspan="5" Andrew Bowen Keanu Reeves Trinity Carrie-Anne Moss Carrie-Anne Moss Carrie-Anne Moss Jennifer Hale Carrie-Anne Moss Morpheus Laurence Fishburne Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Laurence Fishburne rowspan="2" Niobe Jada Pinkett Smith Gina Torres Kimberly Brooks Link Harold Perrineau Harold Perrineau Keith Ferguson Cdr. Lock Harry Lennix Harry Lennix The Kid Clayton Watson Clayton Watson Clayton Watson Cllr. Hamann Anthony Zerbe Anthony Zerbe Cpt. Roland David Roberts David Roberts Bane Ian Bliss Gideon Emery Zee Nona Gaye Cpt. Mifune Nathaniel Lees Officer Wirtz Genevieve O'Reilly Cis Hedy Burress Hedy Burress Thadeus Kevin Michael Richardson Kevin Michael Richardson Duo Phil LaMarr Phil LaMarrAgents Agent Smith Hugo Weaving Hugo Weaving Jonathan Groff Hugo Weaving rowspan="3" Christopher Corey Smith Matt McKenzie Ian Bliss Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Hugo Weaving Gideon Emery Agent Jones Robert Taylor Stephen Dunlevy James M. Connor Kevin Michael Richardson Agent Brown Paul Goddard Michael Gough Matt McKenzie Agent Johnson Daniel Bernhardt Daniel Bernhardt Daniel Bernhardt Fred Tatasciore Agent Jackson David A. Kilde David A. Kilde Stephen Stanton Agent Thompson Matt McColm Matt McColm Robin Atkin Downes Agent White Amadei Weiland Programs The Oracle Gloria Foster Mary Alice Gloria Foster Mary Alice Woman in Red Fiona Johnson Dani Swan Seraph Collin Chou Collin Chou Michael Gough The Merovingian Lambert Wilson Robin Atkin Downes Persephone Monica Bellucci Monica Bellucci Keymaker Randall Duk Kim Randall Duk Kim Peter Renaday The Architect Helmut Bakaitis Rama Kandra Bernard White Sati Tanveer K. Atwal Priyanka Chopra Jonas Tanveer K. Atwal Tanveer K. Atwal Trainman Bruce Spence Bruce Spence Io Felicia Simone The Analyst Neil Patrick Harris
Crew The following is a list of crew members who have participated in the making of the Matrix film series.
Title Executive producers Director(s) of photography Editor Composer(s) The Matrix Erwin Stoff, Bruce Berman, Andrew Mason, The Wachowskis & Barrie M. Osborne Bill Pope Zach Staenberg Don Davis The Matrix Reloaded Grant Hill, Bruce Berman, Andrew Mason & The Wachowskis The Matrix Revolutions The Matrix Resurrections Jesse Ehrman, Bruce Berman, Terry Needham, Garrett Grant, Michael Salven & Karin Wachowski John Toll & Daniele Massaccesi Joseph Jett Sally Tom Tykwer & Johnny Klimek
Production