The Matrix

Name: The Matrix
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: March 31, 1999
Duration: 136 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Carrie-Anne Moss, Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne

1999

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 1995 Ratings

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8.9

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8.9	User Score Universal acclaim based on 1995 Ratings

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The Matrix

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: March 31, 1999 | R

Starring: Carrie-Anne Moss, Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne

Summary: A computer hacker (Keanu Reeves) learns that his entire life has been a virtual dream, orchestrated by a strange class of computer overlords in the far future. He joins a resistance movement to free humanity from lives of computerized brainwashing.

Director: Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 136 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

The metaphorical properties of The Matrix are part of what makes it so seductive, along with the no-filler-all-killer action. Read full review

TNT RoughCut Christopher Brandon

The Wachowski Brothers have created some of the most unrivaled and imaginative sci-fi in years. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Kinetic, atmospheric, visually stunning, and mind-bending. Read full review

Ray Conlogue

For those who have been waiting for movies to catch up with the graphic possibilities of comic books, wait no longer: The Matrix is among us. Read full review

Mark Caro

The writing remains more intelligent than most thrillers, and the action is executed with such panache that even if you don't buy the reality of The Matrix, it's a helluva place to visit. Read full review

Richard Schickel

Given a budget that encourages their kinesthetic skills, the filmmakers tend to go on a bit, but it's mostly a kind of quick, glancing hipness that's being indulged here. Read full review

Bob Graham

It's astonishing that so much money, talent, technical expertise and visual imagination can be put in the service of something so stupid. Read full review

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User Reviews

Falling_Hammer

Jul 10, 2011

An excellent movie with tons of special effects, fight scenes, etc., and the best thing is that they are all done perfectly. A really good film with an interesting story behind it. YOU'LL ENJOY IT.

58 of 63 users found this helpful585

Jared

Dec 12, 2006

WOW! The special effects were amazing and the stunts in the movie were really cool and fun to watch.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

jacobshoff

Dec 22, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Matrix is an awesome movie. I mean it's really the thinking man's action movie. What the wachowski brothers did with this film was amazing. The Kung-Fu action sequences were incredible, done to perfection. plus the bullet time sequences were so cool, nothing else compares. I just loved this awesome man's movie. Love it, Love it.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

PeterParker2479

Jan 1, 2020

I went into this movie expecting an overrated, underwhelming, dull action flop, but in the end, I was left with my mind blown. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s an instant sci-fi classic. The effects are legendary, the premise is mind bending, the casting was great, I just love this movie.I went into this movie expecting an overrated, underwhelming, dull action flop, but in the end, I was left with my mind blown. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s an instant sci-fi classic. The effects are legendary, the premise is mind bending, the casting was great, I just love this movie. Better than Star Wars.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

iffyguy

Dec 11, 2013

A mind-bending movie. The story of Neo, a computer hacker who learns that the entire world is simply a dream created by machines to keep human's minds occupied so they can be harvested for energy, is incredible, simply because one day it may actually happen. The fights are incrediblyA mind-bending movie. The story of Neo, a computer hacker who learns that the entire world is simply a dream created by machines to keep human's minds occupied so they can be harvested for energy, is incredible, simply because one day it may actually happen. The fights are incredibly choreographed, and the special effects were revolutionary for their time, and still hold up today. Buckle up and prepare for The Matrix! (and its crappy sequels).… Expand

8 of 9 users found this helpful81

IntelliCritic

Oct 17, 2015

This is a film of serious philosophical depth and insight. The Matrix also overflows with religious allusions and parallels from Christianity and Buddhism. Although The Matrix may seem loaded with stunning visuals only for the sake of visceral enjoyment at first, there is a profoundThis is a film of serious philosophical depth and insight. The Matrix also overflows with religious allusions and parallels from Christianity and Buddhism. Although The Matrix may seem loaded with stunning visuals only for the sake of visceral enjoyment at first, there is a profound interplay between the action and the underlying meanings of the film. The infrastructural visuals also give us a glimpse of this duality. While the world of the Matrix is portrayed as homogeneous, predictable, and tinted a sickly green, the real world is portrayed as dark, earthy and tinted a mysterious indigo.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

PaulK

Oct 10, 2007

One of the worst movies of the last 10 years. Horrible acting by Reeves, a stupid script and an even dumber plot. Nothing more than a special effects display disguised as a movie.

0 of 14 users found this helpful

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44	#44 Best Movie of 1999
3	#3 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
5	#5 Most Shared Movie of 1999