The Matrix (Movie)

The Matrix
File:The Matrix poster.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	The Wachowskis
Written by	The Wachowskis
Produced by	Joel Silver
Starring	Keanu Reeves Laurence Fishburne Carrie-Anne Moss Hugo Weaving Joe Pantoliano
Cinematography	Bill Pope
Edited by	Zach Staenberg
Music by	Don Davis
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date	March 31, 1999 (1999-03-31) (US)
Running time	136 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$63 million
Box office	$467.2 million

The Matrix is a 1999 American science fiction action film written and directed by The Wachowskis. It stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano. Set in a dystopian future, the story follows computer hacker Neo (Reeves) as he discovers that reality as perceived by most people is a simulated construct called the Matrix, created by sentient machines to subdue the human population while using their bodies as an energy source.

The film combines cyberpunk, philosophy, and action in a visually innovative narrative that explores themes of artificial intelligence, simulated reality, control, and freedom. *The Matrix* became a critical and commercial success and is widely regarded as one of the most influential science fiction films of all time.

Plot

Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is a programmer by day and a hacker known as "Neo" by night. He is approached by mysterious figures who reveal that the world he knows is a simulated reality called "the Matrix," constructed by intelligent machines. Humanity has unknowingly become enslaved, living in a dream world while their bodies are harvested for energy.

Neo is freed from the simulation by a group of rebels led by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). Morpheus believes Neo is "The One," a prophesied figure who will free humanity. As Neo trains and explores his abilities, he confronts powerful Agents—self-aware programs designed to maintain order—led by Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving). In a climactic confrontation, Neo begins to manipulate the Matrix at will, symbolizing his awakening and fulfilling the prophecy.

Cast

• Keanu Reeves as Neo / Thomas A. Anderson
• Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus
• Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity
• Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith
• Joe Pantoliano as Cypher
• Gloria Foster as The Oracle
• Marcus Chong as Tank

Production

• The Matrix* was filmed primarily in Sydney, Australia, from March to August 1998. The Wachowskis, inspired by anime, cyberpunk literature, and philosophy, developed a unique aesthetic combining martial arts choreography, wire-fu, slow-motion photography ("bullet time"), and heavy use of green-tinted lighting.

The film drew influence from philosophical and religious ideas, including Plato's Allegory of the Cave, Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation, and Zen Buddhism.

The groundbreaking special effects were developed by visual effects supervisor John Gaeta. The "bullet time" sequences used custom camera rigs to capture still images from multiple angles, later compiled into motion.

Reception

Critical response

• The Matrix* received widespread critical acclaim. Critics praised its innovative visual style, action choreography, and complex philosophical themes. It holds a high approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, and was a frequent subject of academic analysis.

Box office

The film grossed over $467 million worldwide against a $63 million budget. It was the highest-grossing R-rated film of 1999 and helped establish Keanu Reeves as a leading action star.

Awards

• The Matrix* won four Academy Awards:
• Best Film Editing
• Best Sound
• Best Sound Effects Editing
• Best Visual Effects

It also won numerous BAFTA and Saturn Awards, and was added to the National Film Registry in 2012 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Themes

The film incorporates numerous themes:

• **Reality vs illusion** – questioning the nature of perceived reality
• **Artificial intelligence** – control and autonomy of sentient machines
• **Free will and destiny** – philosophical determinism vs choice
• **Rebirth and awakening** – spiritual and psychological transformation

Legacy

• The Matrix* has had a profound impact on popular culture. It influenced filmmaking, fashion, video games, and academic discourse. The film’s visual style, particularly the use of "bullet time," was widely imitated. Its philosophical content has led to discussions in scholarly fields ranging from metaphysics to political theory.

The film spawned a multimedia franchise that includes:

• The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
• The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
• The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
• The Animatrix (2003) – animated anthology
• Multiple video games and comic books

Soundtrack

The soundtrack featured electronic, industrial, and rock music, with tracks by Rage Against the Machine, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Propellerheads, and others. Composer Don Davis provided the original score.

See also

• Cyberpunk
• Simulated reality
• Artificial intelligence in fiction
• Science fiction films of the 1990s
• Plato's Allegory of the Cave
• Baudrillard's hyperreality

External links

• The Matrix at IMDb
• Rotten Tomatoes – *The Matrix*
• Library of Congress – *Matrix* added to National Film Registry
• Warner Bros. official *Matrix* site