
In 1999, the Wachowski siblings blew our minds with a cyberpunk sci-fi movie series about how our day-to-day lives are a simulation intended to keep us compliant while our robot overlords used us as batteries. Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Carrie-Anne Moss led the cast through a trilogy of films including the original The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions.
The Warner Bros. films were wildly successful and we all thought the story was over back in 2003, but we always wanted more.
Fast forward to 2021 and here we are with a new reboot, a literal resurrection of the story with the long-awaited fourth installment of the franchise. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss are reprising their roles from the original trilogy while Yahya Abdul-Mateen II takes over the role of Morpheus along with an impressive cast including Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jada Pinkett Smith, Christina Ricci, and Jessica Henwick, just to name a few.
The Matrix Resurrections has already been screened to an elite few and the reactions are being shared all over social media. Here’s what critics are saying:
Emily VanDerWerff from Vox:
There was a point in the middle of The Matrix Resurrections where I briefly thought it was the best movie ever made, and, like, I haven’t convinced myself it’s NOT?
— Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw) December 17, 2021
I lovvvvvvved it. A lotta people are gonna haaaaaaaate. My favorite kind of movie!!
David Ehrlich from Indiewire:
The Matrix Resurrections, despite (and because of) its infinite goofiness, is the boldest & most vividly personal Hollywood sequel since The Last Jedi. a silly/sincere galaxy brain take on reboot culture that makes peace with how modern blockbusters are now only about themselves.
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) December 17, 2021
Liz Shannon Miller from Consequence:
It's not perfect. There are some moments that might be complete and utter nonsense. But while THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS broke my heart, #TheMatrixResurrections… did the other thing. And I'm just so happy about that.
— Liz Shannon Miller (@lizlet) December 17, 2021
Full review to come at @consequence next Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/nXX9sSevb1
Ethan Alter from Yahoo Entertainment:
Absolutely adored #TheMatrixResurrections, which builds on where the sequels left off in beautiful and unexpected ways, and presents a world that's entirely consistent with what came before and also opens it up to a host of new stories. My synapses have been firing for days. pic.twitter.com/X16TuKK6Vc
— Ethan Alter (@ethanalter) December 17, 2021
Nigel Smith from People:
#TheMatrixResurrections is more fun than I remember the sequels ever being. Yes it's bogged down in exposition like the previous two, but there's a knowing wink to it all now. Newcomers Neil Patrick Harris and Jonathan Groff are key to that. Oh and the climax ROCKS. pic.twitter.com/2aWXYI7YAi
— Nigel Smith (@nigelmfs) December 17, 2021
Matt Patches from Polygon
The Matrix Resurrections: best movie of the year? So angry, so joyous, so fun.
— Matt Patches (@misterpatches) December 17, 2021
Jeff Nelson from Screen Rant/Cheat Sheet:
#TheMatrixResurrections is an almost 2.5-hour exposition dump with choppy action scenes reminiscent of the Bourne movies. It reuses far too much footage from previous installments and is meta to a fault.
— Jeff Nelson (@SirJeffNelson) December 17, 2021
YouTuber Dimitri Kraus:
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS is a grandiose palate cleanser for the era of clinical nostalgia bait and sexless tentpoles: a totally earnest sci-fi romance with some of the most exuberant set pieces this side of Fury Road, empathetic and incisive in equal measure. Astonishing stuff. pic.twitter.com/tXgNubeF8g
— Dimitri Kraus (@simplykraus) December 16, 2021
Chris Evangelista from /Film:
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS is a total blast. Weird, romantic, *extremely.* meta, and consistently funny. I kind of loved it. (Also, everyone in this movie is ridiculously hot.) #TheMatrixResurrections
— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) December 17, 2021
Erik Davis from Fandango:
The first act of #TheMatrixResurrections is STELLAR. Smart, funny, weird, self-referential & unexpected. Add to it wildly inventive action sequences, lofty storytelling decisions & a TON of big ideas that will fuel lots of questions. Trust me, multiple viewings will be required pic.twitter.com/q4jt0KQqft
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) December 17, 2021
REELated: Major Character is back… sort of… in international Matrix Resurrections trailer
The Matrix Resurrections hits theaters and HBO Max on December 22.