The Matrix
A disaffected hacker awakens inside a machine-built reality and joins a rebel struggle to free humanity from artificial intelligence.
Overview
A hacker discovers the shocking truth about his reality and must fight for humanity's survival.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- paranoid
- propulsive
- philosophical
- action movie night
- science fiction marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised its inventive science-fiction premise, kinetic action design, visual effects, and cultural impact, while finding its exposition and dialogue uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Neo discovers that his ordinary life is a simulated environment masking machine domination.
Neo moves from questioning his world as a hacker to confronting the systems controlling humanity.
The film repeatedly depicts impossible dodges, suspended bullets, and digitally extended martial-arts movement.
Morpheus and the rebel crew fight artificial intelligence systems that imprison and exploit human beings.
Films like The Matrix, and why
Dark City
shares cyberpunk world-building, simulated reality, machine intelligence, and sleek action spectacle
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
shares cyberpunk dystopia, human resistance against artificial intelligence, and philosophical science fiction
Inception
shares reality-bending science fiction, technological paranoia, and a protagonist awakening to hidden forces
Blade Runner
shares dystopian cyberpunk atmosphere, noir-inflected investigation, and questions about artificial beings
Movie Details
- Directors
- Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
- Release Date
- 1999-03-31
- Runtime
- 136 min
- Rating
- 8.3 / 10 (28836)
Cast
- Keanu Reeves
- Laurence Fishburne
- Carrie-Anne Moss
- Hugo Weaving
- Gloria Foster
- Joe Pantoliano
- Marcus Chong
- Julian Arahanga
- Matt Doran
- Belinda McClory
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV, VIX , ViX Premium Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Matrix about?
- A disaffected hacker awakens inside a machine-built reality and joins a rebel struggle to free humanity from artificial intelligence.
- What is The Matrix like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Matrix as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Matrix violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Matrix as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Matrix?
- Critics broadly praised its inventive science-fiction premise, kinetic action design, visual effects, and cultural impact, while finding its exposition and dialogue uneven.
- Which films are like The Matrix?
- Films with a similar feel include Dark City, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Inception, and Blade Runner.
- How long is The Matrix?
- The Matrix runs 136 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Matrix?
- In United States, The Matrix streams on YouTube TV, VIX , ViX Premium Amazon Channel.
