More than 25 years ago, The Matrix made history as one of the most groundbreaking cyberpunk movies of all time and kicked off an iconic franchise — the latter movies of which are widely criticized. As far as the rest of the series is concerned, the first Matrix is maybe too good and sets the bar too high. Created and directed by the iconic Wachowski sisters, The Matrix and its sequels explore themes of destiny vs. free will when Keanu Reeves’ Neo discovers he has lived his life imprisoned in a simulated reality and embarks on a journey to becoming “The One.”

After a relatively contained adventure focusing on one crew of rebel humans — led by Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus and including Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity — The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions expanded the story to show the bigger picture of the conflict. Given its popularity and open ending, it was only natural that The Matrix led to a trilogy, yet people still tend not to give the other movies their due credit for carrying on the story and optics. Yet it is safe to say that The Matrix would not be what it is, for the better, without its sequels.

The Matrix Revolutions & The Matrix Reloaded Are Not Bad Movies At All

The First Two Matrix Sequels Do Justice To The World The Original Created

Reloaded and Revolutions get a lot of flack, but they actually build upon the original movie in a natural way. In The Matrix‘s ending, Neo apparently demonstrates his power as The One, and now the prophecy of him ending the machines’ regime is expected to come about in one way or another. The wider world comes into the picture with the on-screen introduction of Zion. A common complaint is that the sequels flout empty, convoluted dialogue, but when the philosophy and world-building of the original are already fairly complex, these elements getting more confusing in the sequels was perhaps inevitable.

The question of what amount of control Neo really has over the outcome is further emphasized with some additional prophecy elements, as he begins having visions of Trinity’s death. After the somewhat basic love story in the first movie, the sequels benefit from the implication that Neo and Trinity have spent more time together, facilitating their comfortable dynamic. Morpheus’ absolute faith in Neo also becomes a higher-stakes situation when the other leaders of the last bastion of free human civilization aren’t willing to believe so blindly.

Of course, Reloaded and Revolutions bring with them many of the factors that made their predecessor such a hit. Namely, the electric groundbreaking action, resulting in the famous highway chase, against the green-tinted techno backdrop. Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith is also doubtlessly a pillar of the original Matrix trilogy, with a riveting conviction in his actions and beliefs that creates his brilliant rivalry with Neo. Smith going rogue was also possibly always a forgone conclusion when his personality was simply too big for him to be an effective villain while still falling in life with the standards of the Matrix.

The Matrix Is Such A Perfect Movie, It Makes The Sequels Look Bad In Comparison

Everything About The Matrix Is Simply Flawless

However, The Matrix ruined the curve from the beginning, with its breathtaking dialogue and a dreadful slow-building cyberpunk mystery. In comparison to the others, The Matrix keeps the plot relatively straightforward, with Neo on a hero’s journey as he discovers the horrifying truth and comes into his powers as “The One” to end the Matrix. The Matrix‘s best quotes are deceptively simple while diving headfirst into weighty philosophical quandaries. It is also the movie that is credited with breaking the ground in terms of action and moments like “Bullet Time,” “Dodge this,” and the lobby shootout can’t be topped.

Morpheus’ measured, dramatic delivery of his offer to Neo captures what is at stake in a dark, otherworldly way, while the Oracle’s (Gloria Foster) cheery musings further confound Neo and the audience. While Zion has not been shown yet, the stakes of what is left of humanity being at risk are anchored in the personal story beats of Cypher’s (Joe Pantoliano) betrayal and Morpheus’ rescue. However, The Matrix succeeds in empowering its characters to combat the system with each new skill acquired, and quite frankly, just looking unbelievably cool, demanding that the audience learn the value of thinking outside the box.

Revolutions & Reloaded Are Drastically Different From The Matrix (& That’s Fine)

The Subsequent Matrix Movies Took On Bigger Plots & More Complex Rules

With the introduction of many more characters and settings, Reloaded and Revolutions are hugely different from the flagship installment. Jada Pinkett Smith’s Niobe is an excellent addition, but it was a hit or miss with the characters who are personified programs in the Matrix. The Merovingian (Lambert Wilson), Persephone (Monica Bellucci), and Seraph (Collin Chou) waltz onto the scene with their own lengthy philosophies. The sequels give the Matrix itself more character with these figures, as well as further develop the backstory of its overall structure, rather than it just being a hostile environment for the heroic rebel crew to survive.

This leads to the ultimate solution being to broker a deal with the machines, something that would have been unthinkable in the context of the first movie. The boundaries between the real world and the Matrix fall down in other ways, from more displays of Neo’s power to Smith’s impossible possession of a living person. Finally, while the first movie might have implied a more typical hero’s journey, Revolutions reveals the series to be a classic tragedy, as it ends with both Neo and Trinity’s controversial deaths as the price of saving Zion.

Some Of My Favorite Matrix Scenes Only Exist Because Of The Sequels

We Wouldn’t Have The Highway Chase Or The Final Battle Without The Matrix Sequels

Admittedly, one of the reasons that the Matrix sequels are criticized is several not-so-great moments: the weird rave in Zion, Persephone’s demand for a kiss, and the disappointing CGI of the “Burly Brawl.” But then there are the scenes that stand among the most iconic from the first movie that it seems futile to argue that the sequels weren’t worth it to add to the Matrix‘s library of such moments. The most obvious example would be the highway chase sequence, and even the dramatic reunion between Neo and Smith is fantastic until the CGI starts to distract from their verbal sparring.

The personal war between Neo and Smith reaches a whole new level with Neo’s horrified realization that Smith can access the outside world, while their final battle is as dramatic as I ever could have hoped for, with some perfectly executed final lines from both of them on artificiality and the simple act of choice. The trilogy ends with another powerful scene, part of the sweet dynamic between the Oracle (recast as Mary Alice) and Sati (Tanveer K. Atwal), conveying hope for a more peaceful world that wasn’t necessarily the point of The Matrix, and could only be exposited by its sequels.