The Matrix franchise is set to expand the franchise even further with The Matrix 5

, but I can’t help the feeling that every new entry dilutes the series to the point of being unrecognizable. The original The Matrix movie transcends genre and rapidly became one of the most thought-provoking and impactful films of all time. More than simply being a cool and slick action flick, the movie had depth, with an exploration into the human condition, reality, and the dangers of over-reliance on technology. And in the course of just one movie, it cemented itself into the social tapestry.

The Matrix has literally contributed to language, and it launched an already successful Keanu Reeves into a whole new era in his career, as the actor took on bigger and more intense action roles. It also took the Wachowski’s out of obscurity, and made the filmmaking duo into a global sensation. Today, The Matrix, a movie that originally premiered in 1999, continues to hold up, both because of the quality graphics, and the story that has only become more and more prescient as time has gone by. But not a single sequel in the franchise has come anywhere close to being as good, or powerful and groundbreaking as the original, so why put out another mediocre entry?

The Matrix Resurrections Always Looked Like A Bad Idea After The Past 2 Sequels

The Matrix Was A Perfect Standalone Movie

Of course, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions added to the landscape of the stories, and it did a solid job at building out Neo’s story and the legacy of The One. Despite this, there is no denying that these movies were a step-down from the original. And while I understand that a lot of people want to see more of these worlds being explored, I just think there was a magic to the first movie that could and should have been preserved. Yes, it ends with Neo flying off to save the day, realizing his newfound potential, but I think there is a reason why the next movie had to take steps back before it could move forward, the original movie worked as a standalone feature film.

Enter the sequels, and because it continued to build on the narrative surrounding Neo, instead of taking a look at some other part of this world, it couldn’t help but diminish a near perfect story. Had the sequels gone to some other part of the Matrix, or to the original events that led to the machines taking over, or to some prequel story that follows the Oracle, or an instance of the Matrix where the chosen one loses, I think there was room to dig in to that rich world, but instead, it built up toward a flawed ending that did not match the original’s intensity and quality.

The Matrix Resurrections Ultimately Proved The Doubters Right

Resurrections Did Not Bring The Franchise Back To Life

Then, decades later, The Matrix Resurrections began to make noise, and the response was a mixed bag. Fans were excited to see Keanu Reeves and Carrie Anne-Moss return, but there was some confusion about how, and perhaps even more important, why there would be another movie. Spoiler alert, but Neo died at the end of The Matrix Revolutions. And this wasn’t just a tragic death, or one that amounted to nothing, it was literally a sacrifice that allowed humans to break free of their machine overlords, and leave the Matrix behind.

Of course, it only opened the gates, and there was potential for things to go wrong, but placing Neo back in a new iteration of the Matrix feels somewhat like a way of disrespecting his journey, and his sacrifice. And then the movie came out, and it was a shadow of the former trilogy that failed to generate nearly the same excitement, enthusiasm, or praise as the original. But maybe it’s not fair to place the bar so high for the sequels, and they should be afforded the opportunity to be a little worse, but still add to the franchise overall.

The Matrix 5 Is An Even Worse Idea Than Making A Fourth Movie

Neo’s Story Should Not Continue Any Further

Unfortunately, even if that’s true, it feels desperate and bizarre to milk this franchise for everything it’s worth after the reaction that The Matrix Resurrections generated. Fans of the series had mixed feelings, with some praising the return of Neo and Trinity, enjoying the action, and even the meta humor. On the other side, people were devastated to see such an incredible story becoming a farce, parodying itself and becoming the meta ʙuтт of a joke. At some point, milking the story feels like disrespecting the story that came before, rather than building on it.

Now, with yet another The Matrix sequel in the works, it feels like that point is in the rear view. There is some degree of hope that it can shift away from the central Neo/Agent Smith narrative, and do something new with this world, thanks to Drew Goddard stepping in as the writer and director, but it also feels like it’s too little too late. The Matrix had it’s time to shine, and the sequels have continually tarnished the reputation that the original movie held. All things considered, I just do not want to see this story get butchered, ravaged, and violated any further with needless repeтιтion and half-baked ideas.

Maybe It’s Time To Accept The Matrix Never Needed Sequels

The Original Remains The Very Best Entry In The Series

The Matrix introduced the world to a rich and expansive new reality hidden beneath a dark, murky lie. The collision between this world where machines harvested the energy and life force of humans, and the false reality where humans believed they were the ones in control made for an epic sci-fi story that immediately lit imaginations on fire. It also lent itself to more storytelling, with diverse branches to follow, including the Neo storyline, and several spin-off narratives that take place in the world around these machines and how it all came to be.

But, having watched the first movie, and seeing the perfect ending that that movie has, as Neo accepts and embraces his destiny, it makes me nostalgic for a time when that was the end of the story. Yes, spin-offs like The Animatrix work to build on the wider world, but as far as the Neo storyline goes, it would have been perfectly fine to conclude his narrative in the original and let him do his thing in the background. The continued release of sequels, trying to juice out a few more drops of the story, feels tired and unwelcome, and it leaves me with no excitement at all for The Matrix 5.