The Wachowski’s won big when they released The Matrix

in 1999, but not all of their movies have been nearly as successful, despite possessing similar innovation and ambition. The Matrix was a huge breakthrough in cinematic innovation. The movie explored concepts and ideas that resonated with audiences around the world, and the tense dystopian reality it explored has since been used as a case study from which new vocabulary has entered the mainstream.

However, the Wachowski’s, like any good directors, were not satisfied with only making one series of movies, and they opted to explore other ventures and projects. However, the success of The Matrix may have hindered them from seeing success with other projects. Regardless, one of their subsequent releases, Speed Racer, based on the popular manga series, was not nearly as well-received as their breakout film and the franchise it established.

Like The Matrix, Speed Racer Tried To Do Things That Had Never Been Done

Speed Racer Broke New Ground For Sci-Fi

The Speed Racer manga was originally released in 1966, and the series was quickly adapted into an anime series just a year after its release. However, beyond that, the incredible sprawling world of Speed Racer was restricted to just these mediums for decades. Unlike other racing franchises, Speed Racer blended racing with sci-fi. The world of racing was transformed into a high-tech futuristic sprawling reality that looked completely unique and different compared to anything else in cinema at the time.

And when adapted by The Wachowski’s the sisters went to work on making this vibrant, colorful, and rich story into something that would ignite imaginations and bring the world of Speed Racer into the mainstream. However, the movie may have been too different from other offerings at the time, as well as being a huge departure from their incredibly successful The Matrix franchise. And as a result, Speed Racer stalled at the starting line.

Why Speed Racer Was So Poorly Received (Was It Actually Bad?)

Speed Racer Was Unfairly Harshly Judged

The issue is, Speed Racer was actually a fascinating movie. Speed, the main character, was played by Emile Hirsch, who did a fantastic job taking this surreal parallel world, and making it into reality. He was joined by Christina Ricci, who plays the love interest Trixie, and John Goodman and Susan Sarandon as Speed’s parents, to name a few of the heavy hitters from the movie. The story also had a tense emotional narrative, as it’s revealed that Speed’s brother died on the racetrack, and Speed is gearing up to race on the same track while evil lurks around the corner.

Speed Racer was imaginative, innovative, visually stunning, and generally a solid movie that deserved to have a chance. However, with the movie looking like something for kids, and the complete detachment from a project as huge as The Matrix in tone, style, and story, the movie had an uphill climb in attracting audiences. Unfortunately, it failed to generate the necessary excitement, and instead of marking another notch of success for The Wachowski’s, the movie became a weird transitional blot that failed to live up to something as exceptional as The Matrix.

Speed Racer Has Aged Well – Why It Still Works 17 Years Later

Speed Racer Has Become A Cult Hit

And despite the movie being made and released in 2008, it stands up to scrutiny today. Just like The Matrix, the imaginative and innovative world-building allowed for the visuals to follow a somewhat uncanny style. It looks like something out of Mario Kart, but if it was played on a next-generation console instead of the Nintendo Wii. This hyper-stylized visual adds to the intrigue and excitement of the movie, elevating it beyond a simple racing movie or another sci-fi flick. Instead, it stands out as unique and distinct from the other entries within the same genre.

Speed Racer also benefits from the incredible talent of the actors, the writing from The Wachowski’s, and the visionary directing. For anyone who has yet to see the movie, it is a must-watch for both fans of The Wachowski’s and of sci-fi in general. It also hits all the right beats with fun, excitement, tension, a fight between good and bad, and even a dark underlying secret. Speed Racer is easily the most underrated entry in The Wachowski’s filmography, even on the back of the enormous success of The Matrix, but it does prove their incredible vision and ability to create captivating stories for the big screen.