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IMDbPro

The Matrix

  • 19991999
  • RR
  • 2h 16m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
1.9M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
276
3
Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Joe Pantoliano, and Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix (1999)
A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.
Play trailer2:26
13 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionSci-Fi
When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
1.9M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
276
3
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Directors
      • Lana Wachowski
      • Lilly Wachowski
    • Writers
      • Lilly Wachowski
      • Lana Wachowski
    • Stars
      • Keanu Reeves
      • Laurence Fishburne
      • Carrie-Anne Moss
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Lana Wachowski
      • Lilly Wachowski
    • Writers
      • Lilly Wachowski
      • Lana Wachowski
    • Stars
      • Keanu Reeves
      • Laurence Fishburne
      • Carrie-Anne Moss
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4.8KUser reviews
    • 255Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
    Top rated movie #16
    • Won 4 Oscars
      • 42 wins & 51 nominations total

    Videos13

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer
    Trailer 0:32
    Trailer
    Home Video Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Home Video Trailer
    Keanu Reeves: See 'The Matrix Resurrections' 3 Times to Understand It
    Clip 2:46
    Keanu Reeves: See 'The Matrix Resurrections' 3 Times to Understand It
    Movie Scavenger Hunt: Can You Find These MCU Easter Eggs?
    Clip 3:45
    Movie Scavenger Hunt: Can You Find These MCU Easter Eggs?
    What We Know About 'The Matrix 4' ... So Far
    Clip 3:49
    What We Know About 'The Matrix 4' ... So Far
    Keanu's Endless Summer or Reeves Reloaded
    Clip 3:09
    Keanu's Endless Summer or Reeves Reloaded
    'Emperor' Star Kat Graham Was Inspired by This Hollywood Icon
    Full Episode 3:46
    'Emperor' Star Kat Graham Was Inspired by This Hollywood Icon
    What Roles Has Keanu Reeves Turned Down?
    Video 3:12
    What Roles Has Keanu Reeves Turned Down?
    The Matrix | 20th Anniversary Mashup
    Video 1:01
    The Matrix | 20th Anniversary Mashup
    Which Roles Did Samuel L. Jackson Turn Down?
    Video 2:31
    Which Roles Did Samuel L. Jackson Turn Down?
    What Jack From 'Titanic' Was Really Thinking, According to Phoebe Robinson
    Video 1:55
    What Jack From 'Titanic' Was Really Thinking, According to Phoebe Robinson

    Photos225

    Keanu Reeves and Gloria Foster in The Matrix (1999)
    Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix (1999)
    Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix (1999)
    Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix (1999)
    Joe Pantoliano in The Matrix (1999)
    The Matrix (1999)
    Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix (1999)
    Keanu Reeves in The Matrix (1999)
    Keanu Reeves and Hugo Weaving in The Matrix (1999)
    Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix (1999)
    Keanu Reeves as Thomas
    Keanu Reeves as Thomas

    Top cast

    Edit
    Keanu Reeves
    Keanu Reeves
    • Neo
    Laurence Fishburne
    Laurence Fishburne
    • Morpheus
    Carrie-Anne Moss
    Carrie-Anne Moss
    • Trinity
    Hugo Weaving
    Hugo Weaving
    • Agent Smith
    Gloria Foster
    Gloria Foster
    • Oracle
    Joe Pantoliano
    Joe Pantoliano
    • Cypher
    Marcus Chong
    Marcus Chong
    • Tank
    Julian Arahanga
    Julian Arahanga
    • Apoc
    Matt Doran
    Matt Doran
    • Mouse
    Belinda McClory
    Belinda McClory
    • Switch
    Anthony Ray Parker
    Anthony Ray Parker
    • Dozer
    Paul Goddard
    Paul Goddard
    • Agent Brown
    Robert Taylor
    Robert Taylor
    • Agent Jones
    David Aston
    David Aston
    • Rhineheart
    Marc Aden Gray
    Marc Aden Gray
    • Choi
    • (as Marc Gray)
    Ada Nicodemou
    Ada Nicodemou
    • Dujour (White Rabbit Girl)
    Deni Gordon
    • Priestess
    Rowan Witt
    Rowan Witt
    • Spoon Boy
    • Directors
      • Lana Wachowski
      • Lilly Wachowski
    • Writers
      • Lilly Wachowski
      • Lana Wachowski
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To prepare for the scene where Neo wakes up in a pod, Keanu Reeves lost fifteen pounds and shaved his whole body to give Neo an emaciated look.
    • Goofs
      When Neo opens fire from the helicopter, and the glass begins to break, none of the three agents is visible (though they should be) and the chair in which Morpheus should be sitting can be seen to be empty.
    • Quotes

      Spoon boy: Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth.

      Neo: What truth?

      Spoon boy: There is no spoon.

      Neo: There is no spoon?

      Spoon boy: Then you'll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of all the credits, the URL for the (now defunct) website of the film is given, www.whatisthematrix.com, along with a password, 'steak'. There's a 'secret' link on the page that requests a password.
    • Alternate versions
      Because 'The Matrix' was filmed in Australia the Region 4 (Australia) DVD release includes a more comprehensive Australian based list of credits.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Matrix: Path of Neo (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Dissolved Girl
      Written by Robert Del Naja, Grant Marshall (as Grantley Marshall), Andrew Vowles (as Andrew Vowles),

      Sara J., and Matt Schwartz

      Performed by Massive Attack

      Courtesy of Virgin Records LTD.

      By Arrangement with Virgin Records America, Inc.

    User reviews4.8K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Immensely entertaining, intriguingly philosophical and just about one of the best films ever made!
    Writing a review of The Matrix is a very hard thing for me to do because this film means a lot to me and therefore I want to do the film justice by writing a good review. To tell the truth the first time I saw the film I was enamored by the effects. I remember thinking to myself that this was one of the most visually stunning films I had ever seen in my life. Also having always been a comic book fan and a fan of films that were larger than life, the transitional element of the story was very appealing to me and this probably heightened my enjoyment of the film very much. It wasn't until some time later (and after having seen the film a few times more) that I started to think about the film. I recognized the Christian elements quite quickly but it wasn't until I wrote an actual 15-page essay on the film that I tapped into some of the philosophical and religious elements and that made me appreciate the film even more. I won't say that I have recognized all elements because the film is quite literally packed with them.

    Acting wise the film works excellently. I won't say that there aren't any issues because there are but overall the acting is pretty flawless. Keanu Reeves plays the main character, Neo, or Thomas A. Anderson and while he is not the perfect actor I think he does a pretty good job in The Matrix (and the sequels). He doesn't have the longest of lines which was probably a deliberate choice from the directors and it works because this gives him a better opportunity to work on posture and facial expressions and I must say that overall his body language is very good. Very clear and well defined. Laurence Fishbourne plays Neo's mentor Morpheus and he does an excellent job of it. His lines flow with a certain confidence and style that makes his character somewhat unique and interesting. Carrie-Anne Moss does a good job as well and succeeds in looking both cool and sexy in her leather outfit. Joe Pantoliano, a critically underrated actor does a brilliant job of bringing his character, Cypher, to life. I can't say much about him because his character is pretty essential to the plot and I certainly don't wan't to spoil it for anyone. Gloria Foster appears in a relatively small role that will have greater significance in the following films and she does a very good job. The best acting is provided by Hugo Weaving, however, in his portrayal of Agent Smith. It is really something to watch him act out the changes in his character. Agent Smith gains some human traits like anger, sense of dread, hate and eventually even a sly sense of humor (mostly in the sequels). Two thumbs way up to Weaving who has created one of the finest screen villains of all time.

    Effects wise the film is simply stunning and it deservedly was awarded the Oscar for best effects (and was regrettably cheated out of a nomination in the Best Film category) ahead of even Star Wars. The reason that I think The Matrix deserves the Oscar for best effects is simply that the effects in The Matrix are more innovative than the ones in Star Wars. Just take a look at how many times the effects have been spoofed and you'll probably agree. The effects also help in the symbolism of the film and in creating a very dystopian atmosphere not unlike the one seen in Blade Runner and this works brilliantly. The film looks beautiful at all times and today 6 years later (my God has it already been 6 years?) the effects still hold their ground against new science fiction films. Add the effects to the brilliant editing and you have a visual masterpiece on your hands. Very well done.

    The reason that I think The Matrix is more reviewable than pretty much any other film is the story and the philosophical and religious elements of the story because with every viewing I catch something I didn't see the previous time I watched it. Without spoiling the film I think I can mention a few of the more obvious elements. Obviously the film draws on the Messiah myth as Neo is a clear reference to Jesus with the analogy of his name (Neo = one, as in The One) but also hidden in his other name, Thomas A. Anderson. The first part of his last name, Anderson comes from the Greek Andros meaning "man" and combine this with the second part of his last name "son" and add a little creativity you will come up with the combination "son of man" which was a title Jesus came up with about himself. Also the first time we meet Neo a man calls him (and I quote): "You're my Saviour man. My own personal Jesus Christ." It doesn't get any more obvious than that. Aside from the Christianic elements the film also gets its inspiration from Budhism, Gnosticism (Gnosis = knowledge) but is also inspired by Plato and his analogy of the Cave and Jean Baudrillard's essay, Simulacra and Simulations. Explaining these elements would make this review go on forever so aside from mentioning them I will not comment on them further.

    To all the people who doubt the profound nature of The Matrix I can only give one advice: Free your mind and watch the film again. You won't regret it. If I had to choose a favorite all time film my choice would probably fall on either The Matrix (obviously I don't expect people to agree but if they do thats great) or The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and I recommend it to all fans of sci-fi and people who like philosophy.

    10/10 - on my top 3 of best films.
    helpful•635
    185
    • MinorityReporter
    • Dec 2, 2005

    FAQ38

    • How did Morpheus realize that Neo is the "One"?
    • What exactly is Oracle?
    • Why does the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar have to answer payphones to get back from the Matrix? Why can't they use their cell phones?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 31, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Australia
    • Official sites
      • HBO Max (United States)
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ma Trận
    • Filming locations
      • Nashville, Tennessee, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Village Roadshow Pictures
      • Groucho Film Partnership
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $63,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $172,076,928
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $27,788,331
      • Apr 4, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $467,222,728
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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