The Matrix 5 is coming at a hugely important moment for this long-running sci-fi series, with the future of the franchise potentially resting on the sequel’s success. The Matrix movies have been very divisive over the years, with some audiences loving the direction that the Wachowskis took following the 1999 original – and others believing that the series is steadily moving downhill.

The Matrix Resurrections was a major tipping point for the franchise, as Lily Wachowski demonstrated some even more ambitious storytelling that even took aim at Matrix fans through its self-aware social commentary. There’s no denying that the Matrix franchise looks very different today than it did in the ‘90s, and The Matrix 5 holds a very important responsibility to bring the series back to its roots.

The Matrix 5 Will Have A Lot Of Pressure On It To Be Great

The Movie Needs To Keep A Faltering Franchise Alive

There’s always been lots of pressure riding on the Matrix sequels to live up to the greatness of the original movie, but The Matrix 5 feels like the most important of them all. This is the sequel that will essentially decide whether The Matrix franchise even has a future, as Resurrections’ mixed reception has already soured a lot of long-time fans on the series.

The Matrix 5 simply can’t make the same mistake. If it’s another critical and commercial failure, it’s hard to imagine Warner Bros. agreeing to keep the sequels coming. They won’t keep returning to this $1.7 billion franchise if interest continues to decline, as has been the trend at the box office for the last two installments.

An argument could be made that Reloaded and Revolutions had the most pressure on them, because the franchise simply wouldn’t have continued if they’d been complete failures. But, they were also filmed back-to-back, guaranteeing that both films were coming out no matter how the second did. Revolutions‘ disappointing reception put the franchise on ice for nearly two decades then.

With Resurrections also failing to properly reignite the franchise, Matrix 5 has the responsibility of proving that the Matrix can continue to exist as a franchise. Prequels and spinoff projects are reportedly in the works, but any happening will surely depend on how the next movie does.

Though it’s excellent to see that Lily Wachowski was able to deliver on her bold ambition for The Matrix Resurrections, the next movie needs to be more accessible and digestible for general audiences, without all the complex self-aware satire that made Resurrections so hit-and-miss. A simple (but thoughtful) sequel is the only way to prove that The Matrix deserves to stay alive.

That job now falls to Drew Goddard, who was announced to write and direct a new installment in the franchise in April 2024. It’s been over a year since that announcement came, and there’s still not much clarity on what the movie will be. There’s no sign that Goddard or Warner Bros. is rushing this film, which is hopefully a good sign that they’re aiming to do it correctly.

Focusing on new characters and fresh locations would give The Matrix 5 enough room to distance itself from the controversial Matrix Resurrections, but there will still need to be some franchise Easter eggs and recurring characters to appease long-time fans. Gently rebooting the series and redirecting the narrative seems like the most reliable way for The Matrix 5 to redeem the franchise.

This would raise more questions about whether Keanu Reeves will return for The Matrix 5. Following a new group of characters is an appealing option, and leaving him out may be best for everyone. Neo’s story was brought to a satisfying conclusion in Revolutions, and it was the decision to bring him back in Resurrections that rubbed many long-time fans the wrong way.

Now, once again, Neo has a fulfilling ending that shouldn’t be disturbed just for the sake of another sequel. The franchise has already proved with movies like The Animatrix that it’s possible to make The Matrix work without relying on Keanu Reeves’ protagonist, and this kind of soft reboot is exactly what the franchise needs.

The Matrix 5 Needs To Be The First Sequel That Lives Up To The Original

The Matrix Is Still Comfortably Better Than Any Of Its Sequels

However, all of this speculation about how The Matrix 5 could shake up its narrative will ultimately prove useless if the movie simply isn’t good. Regardless of how you respond to the bold storytelling choices that have divided the Matrix fandom, it’s hard to argue that any of the sequels have matched the sheer quality and technical proficiency of the original.

The Matrix 5 needs to return to this level of high-quality filmmaking if there’s any hope of the franchise securing a future for itself. Audiences are getting sick of these repeтιтive sequels that try so hard to distance themselves from the original movie that they end up alienating the very fans they’ve been made for. The Matrix should be the blueprint for its sequels, not an idea to subvert.

With some skepticism existing about whether The Matrix 5 should even happen, there’s every reason for the franchise to make sure it gets this next movie right. Another lackluster installment may sink the sci-fi franchise for good. The movie needs to take a very bold swing (drifting away from Neo, for example) to remind viewers that there’s still plenty of creativity and originality left in this series.