The Matrix
The Matrix has been a groundbreaking franchise ever since the Wachowskis introduced us to Neo, Trinity, Morpheus, Agent Smith, and the others all the way back in 1999.
The Matrix Cast News
If The Matrix franchise had never expanded beyond the 1999 feature, that film would still stand as one of the most visually impressive and innovative movies of the twentieth century, as well as one of the best science fiction films ever.
But the story now goes far beyond Keanu Reeves as Neo’s first swallow of the red pill, including live-action and animated films, video games, comics, and more. So, especially if you’re looking to treat yourself to a marathon, it’s long overdue for us to talk about the best way to watch The Matrix.
If you are headed for a marathon of movies or just want to catch up on the franchise after the latest installment came out in 2021, here is the best way to watch The Matrix movies.
And just for good measure, we get into the comics and some of the video games as well seeing as how they all bring different elements to the story and the franchise.
The Matrix (1999)
The best way to watch, of course, is to start at the beginning with 1999’s The Matrix.
While the oblivious hacker Thomas Anderson aka Neo (Keanu Reeves) searches for the Matrix, Trinity (Carrie-Ann Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) — believing him to be The One who will free them from the bondage of the machines — risk everything to bring him into the real world.
Filled with doubt, Neo fights through betrayal, the deaths of most of the crew of The Nebuchadnezzar, and multiple throw-downs with the seemingly unkillable Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) before finally coming to believe.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Six months after the events of The Matrix, we finally visit the only human city left, Zion, just as it’s about to be assaulted by the machines’ monstrous sentinels.
Looking for guidance from the Oracle (Gloria Foster), Neo learns that the nature of the Matrix is not quite what he’s been told.
Meanwhile, Neo and his allies must once more face Agent Smith, who survives the first film but becomes disconnected from the Matrix in the process, and new villains representing dangerous rogue programs like the Twins.
The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
The Matrix begins as a conflict between humans and machines, but in The Matrix Revolutions, man and machine find common ground or, more precisely, a common threat — Smith. The rogue program now intends on bringing apocalypse to both the real world and the machine-built Matrix.
The film seems to end with a final sacrifice, but almost two decades later, the unexpected happens.
The Animatrix (2003)
Released the month after The Matrix Reloaded, the animated film The Animatrix is an anthology telling stories from different points of view. If you think the best way to watch The Matrix is chronologically, The Animatrix may present a challenge.
The stories take place at different points in the franchise’s history, with some chapters making it clearer than others when they occur.
For example, the two-part “The Second Renaissance” chronicles the final war between man and machine before most humans were driven underground. “Kid’s Story” takes place between the first two live-action films.
The rest of the stories are less clear about where they land in the timeline and cover subjects from a lost cat leading children in the Matrix to a house of glitches to humans in the real world creating their own version of the Matrix.
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Eighteen years after the final live-action Matrix film, The Matrix Resurrections finds Neo and Trinity living under their old identities in San Francisco and seemingly unaware of the Matrix or the events of the previous films.
But, of course, if that was the whole story, there would be no movie. Actors from the original trilogy, like Reeves, Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Lambert Wilson, reprise their roles from the original trilogy.
Other key roles have been recast. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II succeeds Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, Jonathan Groff replaces Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith, while Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays an older version of Sati than Tanveer K. Atwal played in The Matrix Revolutions.
Watching The Matrix at Home
Streaming-wise, the best way to watch The Matrix is with HBO Max. The different films find themselves on and off other streaming services occasionally, but all of the live-action features and The Animatrix are on HBO Max.
When it comes to physical media, any completist would want The Ultimate Matrix Collection on either HD DVD or Blu-ray, released in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
The collection includes the complete original live-action trilogy, The Animatrix, and tons of special features.
While a 9-disc Ultra HD Blu-ray edition of the trilogy was released in 2018, it ditched The Animatrix and some of the special features.
The Matrix Games
Along with the best way to watch The Matrix, there’s the best way to play The Matrix. Sadly, the most ambitious attempt to bring the franchise into a game world — the MMORPG The Matrix Online, which takes place after the events of The Matrix Revolutions — shut its doors in 2009 after four years of play.
IGN credited lackluster gaming reviews, the diminishing critical returns of the original Matrix trilogy, and the launch in the wake the much more successful World of Warcraft for The Matrix Online‘s demise.
Two other standalone games were released the same year as The Matrix Online. The events of Enter The Matrix run concurrent to those of The Matrix Reloaded while The Matrix: Path of Neo bounces all around the original trilogy.
Both games were released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox and PlayStation 2 formats. Additionally, Enter the Matrix was playable on the GameCube.
The Matrix in the Comics
And along with the best ways to watch and play The Matrix, there is the best way to read The Matrix (not counting through code). Between 1999 and 2003, acclaimed comic book writers and artists like Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Bill Seinkiewicz, Geoff Darrow, David Lapham, Peter Bagge,
Tim Sale and more contributed to The Matrix Comics. The webcomics were published online for free, and you can still find some if you dig hard.
But a better way to read the comics is through the printed editions. Two printed volumes were released in 2003 and 2005, but are currently out of print. You’d likely have an easier time getting your hands on The Matrix Comics: 20th Anniversary Edition, published in 2019.
Latest The Matrix News
Why Keanu Reeves Is Back In The Matrix Resurrections
Keanu Reeves is back in the new Matrix movie. How is Neo still around?
The Matrix Online Holds The Key To The Fate Of Morpheus
Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus was long written out of the Matrix, Zack Zwiezen of Kotaku alleges. The character responsible for grooming …
Continue reading “The Matrix Online Holds The Key To The Fate Of Morpheus”
The Matrix Resurrections Trailer Arrives, Has Keanu Reeves Follow The White Rabbit
See Keanu Reeves in The Matrix Resurrections trailer here.
Exclusive: Matrix 5 Setup At The End Of Matrix Resurrections Revealed
We’ve exclusively learned how The Matrix 5 will be setup at the end of Resurrections.
See The Matrix Resurrections First Look By Choosing The Red Or Blue Pill
The Matrix Resurrections marketing is here, and it’s as fun as when the first movie first came out. Check it out here.
Marvel Confirms Keanu Reeves Is Coming To The MCU?
Keanu Reeves might finally be making his way to the MCU.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Talks About His Role As Young Morpheus
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II recently spoke about his role in The Matrix 4,
The Matrix 4 Trailer Debuts And Reveals The Official Title
The Matrix 4 has gotten its first major reveal.
Keanu Reeves Never Got A Raise For Making The Matrix
Here’s what’s happening with the paycheck Keanu Reeves is getting for The Matrix 4.
The Matrix 4: All About The Keanu Reeves Starring Sequel
So, who’s in? Who’s out? When does this all happen? What’s it about? Here’s everything we know about The Matrix 4 so far.
Exclusive Matrix 4 Spoilers: Neo’s Ending Revealed
The ending for The Matrix 4 will see Neo in a whole new playing field.
Exclusive: Christina Ricci’s Matrix 4 Role Revealed
Finally, we have exclusive information on Christina Ricci’s role in The Matrix 4. It’s surprising.
Exclusive Matrix 4 Spoilers: The Sequel Goes Meta In The Most Shocking Ways
The Matrix 4 has a big job ahead. We’ve exclusively learned of meta details in the plot that will manage to surprise fans.
Studio Execs Want To Change The Matrix So It’s More LGTBQ Oriented
Is the future of The Matrix going to be more LGBTQ friendly?
Matrix Animated Series Happening At Netflix?
A new rumor says Netflix wants to create a Matrix animated series for fans.
Exclusive: The Matrix Is Becoming A Big Budget TV Series
The Matrix is getting an HBO Max series. Here is all we know about it.
WB Announces All Movies Will Release On Streaming: Includes Dune, Matrix 4 And More
Warner Bros just announced that all of their upcoming major releases will time their theatrical releases will simultaneously be available to stream on HBO Max at the same time they release in theaters.
Keanu Reeves And The Matrix 4 Under Fire For Faking Filming To Cheat on COVID Restrictions
In the age of COVID, rumor has it Keanu Reeves and the cast of The Matrix faked filming in order to avoid COVID restrictions for their wrap party.
The Matrix 4 Isn’t A Prequel But It Might Be Something Even Worse
The Matrix 4 could signal a brand new start for the series.
Dark City: Why This Sci-Fi Mindbender Is Unfairly Overlooked
Dark City is one of those movies that people seem to either love or have never seen.
Keanu Reeves: Taking Action To Save His Girlfriend From A Stalker
Keanu Reeves stunned fans when he arrived with artist Alexandra Grant on the red carpet
The Best Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time According To Viewers
What is the best sci-fi movie of all time? Is it one chapter of a larger saga, like The Empire …
Continue reading “The Best Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time According To Viewers”
7 Sci-Fi Movies To Watch After You See Edge Of Tomorrow
This weekend saw the release of mega-star Tom Cruise’s latest science fiction actioner, Edge of Tomorrow. From the box office …
Continue reading “7 Sci-Fi Movies To Watch After You See Edge Of Tomorrow”
Neil DeGrasse Tyson Counts Down His Top Ten Sci-Fi Movies
Neil deGrasse Tyson is the closest thing modern science has to a rock star. To call him this generation’s Carl …
Continue reading “Neil DeGrasse Tyson Counts Down His Top Ten Sci-Fi Movies”
The Matrix Wins Lawsuit, Wasn’t Actually About Jesus Fighting Nazis
It appears writer Thomas Althouse took the red pill this week, or rather was force-fed a red pill and told …
Continue reading “The Matrix Wins Lawsuit, Wasn’t Actually About Jesus Fighting Nazis”
Dreamworks Animator Spruces Up His Son’s Home Movies With Lightsabers And Rocketships
As the father of a pair of young kids, I’m often grateful that technology has advanced to the point where …
The Best Female Characters Of Sci-Fi Film And Television
Hell hath no fury…
Laurence Fishburne Becomes Morpheus Again For Kia Super Bowl Spot
Laurence Fishburne has played a lot of different roles over the years, but the role that they’ll probably carve into …
Continue reading “Laurence Fishburne Becomes Morpheus Again For Kia Super Bowl Spot”
