The Matrix (1999)
Believe the unbelievable.
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 31 March 1999 |
| Genre | Action, Science Fiction |
| Director | Lana Wachowski |
| Starring | Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss |
| Runtime | 136 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.8/10 · Roger Ebert 3/4 · Metacritic 73/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 83% · IMDb 8.7/10 · TMDB users 8.3/10 |
| Budget | $63 million |
| Box office | $467 million worldwide |
Where to watch The Matrix
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What kind of watch this is
The Matrix is a 1999 action film with a science fiction heart. It runs 136 minutes, which is enough time to realize the coffee cup is real, then not. The premise involves a hacker who joins a resistance against the machines, but the genre label is a bit generous. This is a philosophical puzzle wrapped in a bullet-hopping shell. It is for people who like their action sequences to come with footnotes. If you can handle the idea that reality is a construct, you are ready for the rest.
What the critics said
Critics mostly agreed the action was spectacular, even if the plot was messy. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 83% based on 210 reviews. Metacritic gives it 73, which lands in the generally favorable zone. Roger Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars, praising the visuals but noting the third act leans too hard on action. Ian Nathan of Empire called it "technically mind-blowing," arguing the plot doesn't matter because it's about pure experience. Jonathan Rosenbaum, however, found it bloated and tiresome. The film is a smartly crafted mix of spectacular action and groundbreaking special effects.
How it did with audiences
A $63 million budget returned $172 million in the United States and $467 million worldwide. That is a solid return, provided you enjoy counting zeros. It opened to $27.8 million, a figure that pushed past the marks set by Lost in Space and Indecent Proposal. For a while, it held the top spot, though Life eventually took the crown. Audiences on IMDb gave it an 8.7/10 in February 2026. TMDB users rate it 8.3.
Awards
The Matrix picked up 8 awards. The Academy recognized its craft, with wins for Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects. Zach Staenberg, Dane Davis, John T. Reitz, and John Gaeta shared in the technical triumph. It also took home BAFTA honors for sound and visual effects. Saturn Awards for Best Science Fiction Film and Best Director rounded out the haul. Beating established franchises in every technical category is a quiet kind of flex.
What came next for the cast
Keanu Reeves left behind Speed and The Devil's Advocate for a stretch defined by The Matrix Reloaded and the John Wick saga. Hugo Weaving swapped Priscilla for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Laurence Fishburne moved from Apocalypse Now to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Man of Steel, and John Wick: Chapter 2. The timeline places these titles after 1999. It does not prove the green-tinted action film caused any of it.
Where it left its mark
The bullet-time effect did more than cool down a gunfight. It rewrote the visual grammar of the superhero genre. John Kenneth Muir called it a revolutionary reimagination that made comic-book characters hip. Adam Sternbergh argues it set the template for the modern blockbuster, effectively launching the early 21st-century renaissance. Keanu Reeves’ line "Guns. Lots of guns" was cut from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 but found a home in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. Sometimes a quote just needs the right wrist action.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Matrix.
Read more: Avengers: Age of Ultron
Sources
- The Matrix on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q83495 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Matrix” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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