The Matrix is one of the most influential sci-fi movies of all time, but it’s often dragged down by the poor reputation of its sequels. Both The Matrix: Reloaded and The Matrix: Revolutions made drastic changes to the franchise that weren’t fully embraced by critics and audiences, and it’s widely agreed that the Wachowskis’ original film remains the strongest in the series. While there are certainly good things about the Matrix sequels, there’s a reason they didn’t fully work.

The true meaning of The Matrix is something that people have been discussing since before it came out, and that’s part of the reason why it’s aged so flawlessly. Despite meaning being essentially unsolvable, the film’s mysteries and questions make the audience think twice about every single character or decision. The Wachowskis struck gold with the story, and most would agree that it works best in isolation. The Matrix sequels have some great moments, and they spawned some of the franchise’s most iconic moments, but they only detract from the self-contained magic of the original.

The Matrix Sequels Didn’t Have The Element Of Surprise Of The Original

Once The Matrix Had Been Explained, The Mystery Was Gone

The reason why 1999’s The Matrix was so influential and revolutionary was because it had never been done before. From the storytelling to the technical craftsmanship, every aspect of the Wachowskis’ film was totally original and changed the trajectory of cinema forever. The same can’t exactly be said about the sequels, which all draw inspiration from the first movie but none of which push the genre forward as radically. From a technical perspective, it was difficult to come up with any slick camera tricks or filmmaking inventions that surprised audiences as effectively as The Matrix did.

Additionally, once the concept of the Matrix had been explained to the viewer and understood by the characters, this element of mystery was no longer present in the sequels. Much of the first movie centered around Neo and Trinity attempting to figure out exactly what the Matrix was, jumping between the real world and the simulated world. Once Neo figures everything out at the end of The Matrix and unlocks his true potential, it’s hard for the sequels to go anywhere new from there. Of all the Matrix movies, the first is the only one that benefits from this creative mystery.

Reloaded & Revolutions Were Too Worried About Explaining The Matrix Universe

The Sequels Were Too Detail-Oriented

There’s an unspoken rule in storytelling that a sequel should always expand upon the story of the original, raising the stakes and introducing new characters along the way. However, this dedication to making The Matrix even more complex and detail-oriented is ultimately what killed the franchise for many audiences. Reloaded and Revolutions are so committed to expanding this world in exciting new ways that they drift too far from the story we originally fell in love with, ditching the philosophical storytelling of the first movie for more sci-fi-infused action movies about intergalactic revolution.

What’s so brilliant about The Matrix is that audiences don’t really understand what’s going on for the majority of the story. It’s not until the ending of The Matrix that the details of this world become clearer – and there’s a reason it ends there. Once the mystery is gone, much of the film’s appeal disappears too. Reloaded and Revolutions seemingly forget this, going behind the curtain of this sci-fi world and attempting to explain every little detail in the process. The war on Zion is an effective storytelling device because it’s vague and unknowable, at least until Revolutions.

The Matrix Resurrections Didn’t Even Try To Match The Original Movie’s Tone

The Latest Movie Feels Like A Totally Different Franchise

There are several reasons why The Matrix Resurrections is seen as the worst movie in this franchise, but the most obvious is that it rarely feels like a Matrix movie at all. Audiences had been waiting so long for another adventure in the Matrix, but Resurrections took a much more radical approach and turned itself into a metatextual love story that comments on the nature of the film industry as a whole and leaves little room for large-scale sci-fi concepts like Zion and the machines.

Where The Matrix is a very serious and dark movie that always takes itself seriously, Resurrections almost makes fun of this approach by subtly breaking the fourth wall and changing aspects of Neo and Trinity’s story in unnatural and poorly-received ways. It certainly doesn’t feel like a sequel for those who grew up with The Matrix, and it’s not surprising that many long-time fans were disappointed by it. While Reloaded and Revolutions definitely have their flaws, at least they maintain a similarly dark and gritty tone as the first movie.

However, Resurrections’ decision to stylistically distinguish itself from the previous installments was an intentional one. Lana Wachowski used the project as a tool to comment on her relationship with the franchise over the years, weaving intricate metaphors about toxic fandom and the inequity of the movie business into her sci-fi screenplay. This certainly gives the film a unique angle, but it didn’t work as well for those who were simply expecting a new Matrix movie.

The Matrix 5 Is The Best Chance In Decades To Replicate The Original Matrix Twist

The Next Matrix Movie Could Be A Huge Surprise

Although The Matrix Resurrections wasn’t met with the reception we were hoping for, the upcoming Matrix 5 can steer the franchise back on track. Just like the original film, we have no idea what the story of the fifth Matrix movie is going to be about. It could be a sequel, a prequel, a spin-off, or even a reboot of the first movie. No details have yet been announced, which is an incredibly exciting prospect.

With Neo and Trinity’s story seemingly finished by the end of The Matrix Resurrections, it wouldn’t make sense for The Matrix 5 to bring these characters back for no reason. This could mean a totally new story in mind for her upcoming sequel, potentially introducing new characters and exploring the concept of the Matrix from a new angle. Whether we need another Matrix movie is debatable, but should it happen, a brand-new story with original characters is the best approach.

The Matrix

Movie(s)

The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections, The Matrix 5

First Film

The Matrix

Cast

Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Jada Pinkett Smith, Monica Bellucci, Lambert Wilson, Harold Perrineau, Gina Torres, Collin Chou, Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Character(s)

Neo, Trinity, Morpheus, Agent Smith, Niobe, The Merovingian, The Oracle, The Architect, Seraph, Persephone, Ramachandra, Sati, The Analyst, Bugs, The Keymaker

Video Game(s)

Enter the Matrix (2003), The Matrix: Path of Neo (2005), The Matrix Online (2005)

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