Matrix (1999)
"The Matrix" (original title)

A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.

Directors:

Andy Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers) , Lana Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers)

Writers:

Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss

Top 250 #19 | Won 4 Oscars. Another 34 wins & 39 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keanu Reeves	...	Neo
Laurence Fishburne	...	Morpheus
Carrie-Anne Moss	...	Trinity
Hugo Weaving	...	Agent Smith
Gloria Foster	...	Oracle
Joe Pantoliano	...	Cypher
Marcus Chong	...	Tank
Julian Arahanga	...	Apoc
Matt Doran	...	Mouse
Belinda McClory	...	Switch
Anthony Ray Parker	...	Dozer
Paul Goddard	...	Agent Brown
Robert Taylor	...	Agent Jones
David Aston	...	Rhineheart
Marc Aden Gray	...	Choi (as Marc Gray)

Storyline

Thomas A. Anderson is a man living two lives. By day he is an average computer programmer and by night a hacker known as Neo. Neo has always questioned his reality, but the truth is far beyond his imagination. Neo finds himself targeted by the police when he is contacted by Morpheus, a legendary computer hacker branded a terrorist by the government. Morpheus awakens Neo to the real world, a ravaged wasteland where most of humanity have been captured by a race of machines that live off of the humans' body heat and electrochemical energy and who imprison their minds within an artificial reality known as the Matrix. As a rebel against the machines, Neo must return to the Matrix and confront the agents: super-powerful computer programs devoted to snuffing out Neo and the entire human rebellion.

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Plot Keywords:

artificial reality | simulated reality | matrix | computer | computer hacker | 

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Taglines:

The World's population thinks it's real. On March 31st, they will see the "Real World".

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

U

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 June 1999 (France)

Also Known As:

Matrix

Filming Locations:

AON Tower, Kent Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$63,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$646,184 (Germany) (23 May 2003)

Gross:

$653,151 (Europe) (23 May 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures, Groucho II Film Partnership

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Carrie-Anne Moss was a cast member of the short-lived television show Matrix (1993).

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Goofs

The second time Morpheus calls Neo, he tells Neo the line is tapped, and asks him to go to meet Trinity at the Adams St. bridge. If the line was tapped, the agents should have had plenty of time to get to the bridge themselves.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[phone rings]
Cypher: Yeah.
Trinity: Is everything in place?
Cypher: You weren't supposed to relieve me.
Trinity: I know, but I felt like taking a shift.
Cypher: You like him, don't you? You like watching him.
Trinity: Don't be ridiculous.
Cypher: We're gonna kill him. You understand that?
Trinity: Morpheus believes he is the one.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits beyond the production logos and the title.

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Connections

Referenced in The Nostalgia Critic: Top 11 Strangest (Yet Best) Couples (2014)

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Soundtracks

Minor Swing
Written by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli (as Stephanie Grappelli)
Performed by Django Reinhardt
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label of BMG Entertainment

User Reviews

What is the Matrix? Well, one of the best films ever, for one thing...

The Matrix...when I first heard about it, I expected just another sci-fi action thriller. Good and filled with insane stunts, but not terribly intelligent.

Boy, was I wrong. Oh, the stunts are there in spades, all right, and yes, they are awesome. And the special effects are absolutely amazing (even if similar ones have been used in other movies as a result- and not explained as well).

But the movie has plot as well. It has characters that I cared about. From Keanu Reeves' excellent portrayal of Neo, the man trying to come to grips with his own identity, to Lawrence Fishburne's mysterious Morpheus, and even the creepy Agents, everyone does a stellar job of making their characters more than just the usual action "hero that kicks butt" and "cannon fodder" roles. I cared about each and every one of the heroes, and hated the villains with a passion. It has a plot, and it has a meaning...and lo and behold, a plot does help the fight scenes! Just try it, if you haven't seen the movie before. Watch one of the fight scenes. Then watch the whole movie. There's a big difference in the feeling and excitement of the scenes- sure, they're great as standalones, but the whole thing put together is an experience unlike just about everything else that's come to the theaters. Think about it next time you're watching one of the more brainless action flicks...think how much better it COULD be.

All I can say is WATCH THIS MOVIE. If you haven't, you're missing out on one of the best films of all time. It isn't just special effects, folks.