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The Matrix Revolutions

The Matrix Revolutions is a 2003 American science fiction action film written and directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski, serving as the third and final installment in The Matrix trilogy.^[1] The film continues directly from The Matrix Reloaded, following Neo (Keanu Reeves) as he grapples with his enhanced abilities and the escalating war between humanity and machines, while the last human city of Zion prepares for a massive invasion by machine sentinels, and the rogue Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) threatens to destabilize both realities.^[2] With a runtime of 129 minutes, it blends high-octane action sequences, philosophical themes of choice and destiny, and groundbreaking visual effects to conclude the saga's exploration of simulated reality and human freedom.^[1] The story centers on Neo's journey through limbo and into confrontation with his adversaries, as allies like Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) rally to support Zion's defense against the machine onslaught.^[3] Key supporting characters include Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith), the Oracle (Mary Alice, replacing Gloria Foster), and the Architect (Helmut Bakaitis), whose interactions deepen the trilogy's lore on control, prophecy, and rebellion.^[1] The film's narrative emphasizes Neo's messianic role, culminating in battles across the Matrix and the real world that resolve the long-standing conflict.^[4] Principal photography for The Matrix Revolutions occurred back-to-back with The Matrix Reloaded from March 2001 to August 2002, primarily at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia.^[5] Produced by Joel Silver under Village Roadshow Pictures and Silver Pictures, the film had a budget of $150 million and was released simultaneously in 108 countries on November 5, 2003, by Warner Bros. Pictures.^[6] It earned $427.3 million at the worldwide box office, though it underperformed compared to its predecessors.^[7] Critically, The Matrix Revolutions received mixed reviews, praised for its ambitious visuals and action but criticized for convoluted plotting and diminished philosophical depth, holding a 33% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes based on 215 reviews.^[1] The film's innovative effects, including the massive battle for Zion and Smith's viral spread, earned a nomination for Outstanding Visual Effects from the Visual Effects Society, solidifying the trilogy's influence on science fiction cinema.^[8] Despite initial divided reception, it has gained appreciation for providing closure to the franchise's themes and paving the way for later entries like The Matrix Resurrections (2021) and a fifth installment in early development as of 2025, with Keanu Reeves returning as Neo.^[5]^[9]

Story and characters

Plot

The film begins with Neo trapped in a subway station limbo controlled by the Trainman, a servant program of the Merovingian, following the events of The Matrix Reloaded where Neo entered a door to an unknown destination. Trinity and Morpheus locate Neo's body on the Logos hovercraft but his mind is held captive in the subway; they seek assistance from the Merovingian at his club in the Matrix, where he demands they obtain the eyes of the Oracle in exchange for freeing Neo. Meanwhile, in the real world, the human city of Zion prepares for an imminent invasion by machine sentinels, with Commander Locke organizing defenses as the population rallies for survival.^[3] Aboard the Logos, Bane—now possessed by the rogue Agent Smith after Smith copied himself into Bane's mind during a Matrix encounter—is overtaken and begins sabotaging the human resistance fleet by attacking other ships, including killing the crew of the Caduceus. Neo awakens on the Logos, but Bane ambushes him in the real world, burning Neo's eyes with electrical cables, leaving him blind; however, Neo discovers he can perceive the world through a new sense, seeing golden code-like auras around machines and people. Trinity pilots the Logos toward Machine City (01) to negotiate peace, navigating treacherous electromagnetic storms while Neo rests, grappling with visions of Trinity's death. In Zion, the machine army breaches the city's outer defenses, launching a massive drilling assault that forces the human defenders into a desperate ground battle using mechs and APUs against waves of sentinels.^[1]^[3] Upon arriving at Machine City, Trinity and Neo confront the machine leader, the Deus Ex Machina, a colossal entity, but their ship is shot down in a fierce aerial dogfight; Trinity sustains fatal injuries during the crash landing, and in her dying moments, she affirms her love for Neo, emphasizing themes of personal choice and sacrifice as she urges him to end the war. Blinded and grieving, Neo is taken inside Machine City for an audience with the Deus Ex Machina, where he offers to stop Smith—who has grown into a virus assimilating all entities within the Matrix, including programs and redpills—in exchange for a truce sparing Zion. Concurrently, the Oracle meets with Neo in the Matrix before being infected by Smith, revealing that Neo's previous rejection of the Architect's offer in Reloaded created an anomaly: Smith's unchecked replication as the opposite of Neo's power as The One, fulfilling her prophecy that choice would alter the cycle of Matrix reloads.^[3]^[10] As Smith's assimilation threatens to crash the entire Matrix system, destabilizing the machines' power source, Neo re-enters the Matrix for a final confrontation at the rainy Mega City ruins. Neo battles multiple Smith copies in an epic, rain-soaked fight, but ultimately allows the Oracle-Smith to assimilate him, overloading Smith with Neo's connection to the source; the machines then purge Smith from within Neo's body, deleting the virus and restoring balance. With Smith defeated, the machines honor the agreement, withdrawing from Zion and brokering peace with the human survivors, including Morpheus, Niobe, and the Oracle, who hints at ongoing cycles tempered by choice. The film closes with the Oracle and Architect discussing the truce's implications, while Sati—a young program—witnesses a machine-granted sunrise over the real world, symbolizing hope amid sacrifice.^[3]^[1]

Cast

Keanu Reeves reprises his role as Neo, the central figure who possesses unique abilities within the Matrix and leads the human resistance against machine oppression.^[11] Carrie-Anne Moss returns as Trinity, a proficient operative and pilot who serves as Neo's steadfast companion in both the simulated and real worlds.^[11] Laurence Fishburne portrays Morpheus once more, the resolute captain and prophet who guides humanity's fight for freedom.^[11] Hugo Weaving embodies Agent Smith, the relentless program that has evolved into a primary threat to both the Matrix and the human rebels.^[11] Mary Alice takes on the role of the Oracle, a wise and prophetic program offering cryptic counsel to key resistance members; she replaced Gloria Foster, who originated the character and passed away in 2001 due to complications from diabetes.^[11]^[12] In supporting roles, Jada Pinkett Smith plays Niobe, a skilled hovercraft commander pivotal to Zion's defensive strategies.^[11] Clayton Watson appears as the Kid, a devoted young Zion resident who contributes to the broader effort against the machines.^[11] Nona Gaye depicts Zee, a determined Zionite and communications officer supporting ground operations; she stepped in for Aaliyah, who was originally cast but died in a plane crash in 2001.^[11]^[13] Helmut Bakaitis portrays the Architect, the enigmatic program who oversees the Matrix's design and explains its cyclical nature to Neo.^[11] Lambert Wilson plays the Merovingian, an exiled program who controls shadowy elements of the Matrix and holds Neo captive in limbo.^[11]

Production

Development

The Wachowskis began developing the scripts for the Matrix sequels shortly after the release of the original film in 1999, drawing on philosophical and mythological influences to expand the narrative. By late 2000, they had finalized a draft for The Matrix Revolutions, envisioning it as the trilogy's climax that would resolve the ongoing conflict between humans and machines.^[14] To maintain narrative and production continuity, the siblings decided to shoot Revolutions back-to-back with The Matrix Reloaded, a strategy announced as early as 1999 and executed starting in March 2001 in Sydney, Australia.^[15]^[16] The production budget for Revolutions was initially allocated at $110 million, reflecting the ambitious scope of the concurrent filming with Reloaded. However, costs escalated to $150 million due to the complexities of simultaneous principal photography, extensive pre-visualization, and the integration of advanced digital effects across both films.^[7]^[6] Conceptually, the Wachowskis planned Revolutions to conclude the trilogy by centering Neo's messianic arc, portraying him as a Christ-like figure whose journey culminates in a sacrificial act to end the human-machine war and achieve a fragile peace. This arc built on themes of choice, destiny, and transcendence introduced in the first film, emphasizing Neo's evolution from hacker to savior through encounters with the Architect and Oracle.^[17]

Filming

Principal photography for The Matrix Revolutions occurred concurrently with that of The Matrix Reloaded, spanning from March 2001 to August 2002. The majority of filming took place at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia, where elaborate practical sets were constructed to depict key environments. This back-to-back production approach allowed the Wachowskis to shoot scenes for both films in sequential narrative order, though it introduced significant logistical complexities in managing cast schedules, set transitions, and crew coordination across the two projects.^[18] A major focus of the Sydney shoot was the Zion battle sequences, which relied heavily on practical elements to ground the action. Full-sized Armored Personnel Units (APUs) were built and operated on the studio stages, enabling actors to perform in realistic mech suits during intense combat scenes. Coordinating these large-scale sequences presented substantial challenges, particularly in choreographing movements with hundreds of extras portraying Zion's defenders; the production demanded over 10,000 extra workdays to capture the chaotic defense against machine invaders. Motion-control rigs were employed to repeat and synchronize APU actions precisely, ensuring seamless integration of practical footage.^[18]^[19] Following the principal wrap in Sydney, all filming for The Matrix Revolutions was completed in Australia. The overall 12-month Sydney phase contributed approximately $110.6 million to the New South Wales economy and created around 800 full-time jobs, highlighting the scale of the runaway production.^[19] The production faced an unexpected adjustment when Aaliyah, originally cast as Zee, died in a plane crash on August 25, 2001, before filming her scenes for Revolutions. Although she had completed some work for Reloaded, the role was recast with Nona Gaye, requiring reshoots of Aaliyah's Reloaded footage and entirely new shoots for Zee's Revolutions appearances, such as her involvement in the Zion defense. This change occurred late in the concurrent schedule but was managed without delaying the overall timeline.^[20]

Visual effects

The visual effects for The Matrix Revolutions were produced by a consortium of leading studios, with ESC Entertainment serving as the primary coordinator and contributor, alongside Tippett Studio, Sony Pictures Imageworks, BUF, Giant Killer Robots, and Animal Logic, resulting in 804 VFX shots that comprised a significant portion of the film's runtime.^[21] These efforts built upon the groundbreaking techniques from the earlier Matrix films, emphasizing photorealistic digital environments and character interactions to enhance the trilogy's philosophical and action-driven narrative. A key sequence, the Zion dock battle, featured thousands of machine sentinels invading the human stronghold, simulated at ESC using Maya particle systems for swarm behaviors and procedural rigid-body dynamics for destruction effects, while Sony Pictures Imageworks handled supporting tunnel skirmishes with CG Armored Personnel Units (APUs).^[22] The climactic rain-soaked confrontation between Neo and the multiplying Agent Smiths, executed primarily at ESC, incorporated over 150 digital Smith variants created via universal motion capture and image-based lighting to achieve fluid martial arts choreography amid torrential downpours.^[18]^[23] Innovations in virtual cinematography allowed for dynamic camera movements within fully CG environments, enabling seamless integration of live-action plates with simulated architecture during high-speed pursuits and duels, an evolution from the original film's bullet time.^[22] Advanced cloth simulations, powered by tools like Maya, rendered realistic fabric dynamics for characters' garments and environmental elements such as cascading rain ribbons, adding tactile realism to the wet, urban showdowns.^[24]^[18] The final duel introduced "super-bullet time," an amplified rotation effect combining slow-motion photography with CG rain and soaring digital doubles to orbit the combatants in a 360-degree arc, heightening the sequence's intensity.^[22] Tippett Studio rendered the vast Machine City as a 100-mile-wide algorithmic metropolis, complete with intricate details like bug swarms controlled by 30,000 particles, establishing a dystopian aesthetic that underscored the machines' technological dominance.^[22]

Soundtrack

The musical score for The Matrix Revolutions was composed by Don Davis, who had previously scored the first two films in the trilogy, blending orchestral arrangements with electronic and choral elements to amplify the film's themes of conflict and redemption.^[25] Recorded in August 2003 at 20th Century Fox's Newman Scoring Stage with a 99-piece orchestra and an 80-member choir, the score emphasizes sweeping symphonic motifs interspersed with synthesized sounds, creating a tense atmosphere during action sequences and poignant emotional resonance in quieter moments.^[25] The soundtrack album, The Matrix Revolutions: Music from the Motion Picture, was released on November 4, 2003, by Maverick Recording Company and features 16 tracks totaling over an hour.^[26] Juno Reactor, the electronic music collective led by Ben Watkins, collaborated with Davis on several tracks, infusing techno and trance influences particularly suited to the film's underground club scenes and climactic sequences. Notable contributions include "The Trainman Cometh" and "Tetsujin," which drive the intensity of pursuit and confrontation scenes with pulsating rhythms and industrial textures, while "Navras"—featuring Sanskrit vocals inspired by ancient hymns—serves as the end credits theme, evoking a sense of resolution and transcendence.^[26] These pieces underscore key emotional beats, such as the characters' desperate alliances and sacrificial choices, heightening the narrative's philosophical undertones. The album also incorporates licensed music to enhance specific settings, including "In My Head" by the industrial group Pale 3, which plays during a tense encounter in the Merovingian's domain, adding a layer of brooding electronica to the intrigue. Overall, Davis's score and its integrations maintain continuity with the trilogy's sonic identity, using music to bridge the real and simulated worlds portrayed in the film.^[25]

Release

Marketing

The marketing campaign for The Matrix Revolutions leveraged the momentum from The Matrix Reloaded to position the film as the epic conclusion to the trilogy, aligning promotional efforts with its November 5, 2003, worldwide release. A teaser trailer debuted at the Reloaded premiere on May 7, 2003, appearing at the end of the film's credits to immediately tease the finale and sustain fan engagement during the six-month gap between sequels. The full theatrical trailer followed in late October 2003, intensifying anticipation with high-octane action sequences and philosophical undertones. This rollout was part of a broader global strategy that emphasized the trilogy's narrative arc, prominently featuring the tagline "Everything that has a beginning has an end," drawn from the film's script and used across posters, TV spots, and online promotions to underscore themes of closure and destiny.^[27] Merchandise tie-ins expanded the franchise's universe, including video games and comic books that bridged events from Reloaded to Revolutions. The video game Enter the Matrix, released on May 20, 2003, alongside Reloaded, featured original storylines involving supporting characters like Niobe and Ghost, directly connecting to the sequels' plot developments. Additionally, The Matrix: Path of Neo, announced during the promotional window for Revolutions and released in November 2005, allowed players to experience Neo's journey through the trilogy's events, serving as an extended narrative tie-in. Comic books, such as those collected in The Matrix Comics Volume 1 (released October 2003), included short stories by creators like the Wachowskis that filled gaps in the sequels' timeline, such as explorations of Zion and machine-human conflicts.^[28] Viral marketing efforts centered on the official website whatisthematrix.com, which hosted interactive puzzles, downloadable content, and fan challenges echoing the film's "free your mind" ethos to immerse users in the Matrix universe.

Theatrical release

The world premiere of The Matrix Revolutions occurred on October 27, 2003, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California.^[29] The film received a wide theatrical release on November 5, 2003, opening on more than 10,000 screens across 108 countries in a coordinated global rollout at 1400 Greenwich Mean Time.^[30]^[31] This release marked a pioneering effort as the first major Hollywood film to launch simultaneously in both standard 35mm and IMAX formats, with the IMAX version digitally re-mastered for giant screens.^[32] The motion picture runs 129 minutes and carries an MPAA rating of R for sci-fi violence and brief sexual content.^[7] International rollout incorporated time zone adjustments for the simultaneous premiere, leading to variations in local start times; for instance, screenings began at 2:00 p.m. in London, 5:00 p.m. in Moscow, and 11:00 p.m. in Tokyo on November 5, while some markets like New Zealand opened on November 6 local time.^[33]^[34]

Home media

The Matrix Revolutions was first released on DVD in a two-disc edition on April 6, 2004, by Warner Home Video, featuring the widescreen presentation of the film along with supplemental materials.^[7] This edition included behind-the-scenes documentaries detailing the production process, visual effects creation, and stunt choreography, such as featurettes on the filming of the Zion battle sequences and the "Super Burly Brawl" fight scene with multi-angle breakdowns.^[35] Later that year, on December 7, 2004, the original trilogy was compiled in the ten-disc "The Ultimate Matrix Collection" DVD set, which included The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix, The Animatrix anthology, and extensive extras exceeding 35 hours, including additional production documentaries, philosophical audio commentaries by critics and scholars, and career profiles of key cast and crew.^[36] The collection served as a comprehensive tie-in for the trilogy's home viewing, emphasizing thematic depth and filmmaking insights.^[37] The film received a Blu-ray release on October 14, 2008, as part of "The Ultimate Matrix Collection" in high definition, carrying over the original DVD's special features with enhanced audio-visual quality in 1080p.^[38] A standalone 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition followed on October 30, 2018, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, presenting the movie in 2160p with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound, though it retained a limited selection of extras focused on key visual effects breakdowns.^[39] In the digital era, The Matrix Revolutions became available for streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max) as part of Warner Bros.' catalog, with options for rental or purchase on platforms including Apple iTunes and Amazon Prime Video as of 2025.^[40]

Reception

Box office

The Matrix Revolutions had a production budget of $150 million.^[2] The film ultimately grossed $427.3 million worldwide, earning $139.3 million in North America and $288 million internationally.^[41] This performance represented a solid financial return, though it fell short of fully recouping expectations given the franchise's prior success. The film opened domestically on November 5, 2003, with a mid-week debut that influenced its initial rollout by capturing early audience interest ahead of the holiday season. Its opening weekend from November 7 to 9 generated $48.5 million from 3,502 theaters, securing the number-one position at the North American box office.^[7] Internationally, it launched simultaneously in over 100 markets, contributing to robust early earnings. Compared to The Matrix Reloaded, which earned $741.8 million worldwide earlier that year, Revolutions achieved roughly half the total, reflecting diminished momentum for the trilogy's conclusion. Factors such as competition from family-oriented releases like Elf, which debuted the same weekend and quickly overtook the top spot in subsequent weeks, limited its domestic legs.^[42] Despite this, the film demonstrated strong international appeal, with notable earnings in markets including Germany ($16.2 million) and Australia ($13.0 million).^[41]

Critical response

Upon its release, The Matrix Revolutions garnered mixed to negative reviews from critics, who often praised its technical achievements while lamenting narrative shortcomings. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 33% approval rating based on 215 reviews, with the critics' consensus describing it as "a disappointing conclusion to the Matrix trilogy as characters and ideas take a back seat to the special effects."^[1] Metacritic assigns it a score of 47 out of 100, derived from 41 critic reviews categorized as mixed or average, reflecting broad agreement on its visual spectacle but frustration with its convoluted plotting and unsatisfying resolution.^[43] Prominent reviewers highlighted these divides. Roger Ebert awarded the film 2 out of 4 stars, commending its "sights here to stir the sense of wonder" and status as a "terrific action achievement" through seamless integration of live action and effects, yet he critiqued the lack of emotional stakes, noting, "I don’t much give a damn what happens to any of the characters" due to plot issues that undercut the action's reality.^[10] Similarly, A. O. Scott of The New York Times offered a mixed assessment, applauding the "bright light and big noise" of sequences like the machine assault on Zion and Neo's showdown with Agent Smith, but implying a shortfall in philosophical depth amid the bombast.^[44] In the wake of The Matrix Resurrections (2021), retrospective analyses have begun to reappraise Revolutions more positively for its thematic closure. Some commentators now view it as ahead of its time in exploring acceptance, sacrifice, and existential peace, with the Neo-Smith confrontation praised for its intimacy and philosophical resonance, even as Resurrections reframes trilogy interpretations.^[45]^[46]

Accolades

The Matrix Revolutions received several nominations and awards from genre-specific organizations, particularly recognizing its technical achievements in science fiction filmmaking. At the 30th Saturn Awards in 2004, the film won Best Science Fiction Film and Best Visual Effects, with the visual effects award going to supervisors John Gaeta, Kim Libreri, George Murphy, and Craig Hayes for their innovative work on sequences such as the large-scale Zion battle. It was also nominated for Best Director for the Wachowskis and Best Actor for Keanu Reeves' portrayal of Neo. In the science fiction community, the film earned a nomination for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) at the 2004 World Science Fiction Convention, where it received 18 votes but did not win, with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King taking the award.^[47] The film's visual effects were further acknowledged by the Visual Effects Society at its 2nd Annual Awards in 2004, with a nomination in the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture category for the overall effects supervision by Gaeta, Libreri, Murphy, and Hayes; this highlighted contributions to key action set pieces, including the Zion battle sequence.

Legacy

Cultural impact

The Matrix Revolutions has significantly influenced philosophical discourse, particularly in explorations of free will, determinism, and the nature of reality, building on the trilogy's themes of simulated existence and human agency. The film's depiction of Neo's ultimate choice to confront Agent Smith and the Architect underscores a Hegelian dialectic between individual choice and systemic inevitability, where free will emerges not as absolute autonomy but as a negotiated force within a predetermined cycle. This resolution in Revolutions has prompted academic analyses that contrast it with Platonic ideals of enlightenment and Cartesian skepticism about reality, arguing that the trilogy culminates in a synthesis where reality's illusions are transcended through ethical action rather than mere awakening.^[48]^[49] In popular culture, the film's ending has generated enduring memes and references, notably the Oracle's line, "Everything that has a beginning has an end," which has been repurposed in online humor to comment on cycles of life, media, and technology. This phrase, delivered during Neo's pivotal conversation, encapsulates the trilogy's philosophical closure and has permeated social media, often paired with visuals of Neo's sacrifice to signify inevitable conclusions in personal or cultural narratives. Beyond memes, The Matrix Revolutions contributed to the trilogy's broader impact on sci-fi visuals, influencing films like Inception (2010), where Christopher Nolan drew on the blurring of simulated and real worlds, as well as the high-stakes action sequences involving altered physics, to craft dream-invasion mechanics and reality-questioning plots.^[50]^[51] As the capstone of the original trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions has seen renewed cultural relevance in the 2020s, amid advancements in artificial intelligence and virtual reality that echo its simulation theory. Discussions of the film's machine-human truce have resurfaced in debates over whether our world mirrors the Matrix's constructed reality, with experts noting how AI-driven simulations make the trilogy's warnings about digital dependency more pertinent today. This legacy has fueled contemporary analyses linking the film's themes to modern tech ethics, positioning Revolutions as a prescient commentary on the balance between human choice and algorithmic control.^[52]^[53]

Franchise developments

The Matrix Revolutions served as the direct sequel to The Matrix Reloaded (2003), forming the conclusion to the original trilogy directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski. Released on November 5, 2003, it resolved the central conflict between humanity and the machines, providing narrative closure to the storyline initiated in The Matrix (1999).^[54] The film tied into the broader franchise through The Animatrix (2003), an anthology of nine animated shorts produced by the Wachowskis that expanded the universe's lore. These shorts, including "The Second Renaissance" parts I and II, provided backstory on the war's origins and bridged gaps between the live-action films by exploring side stories and character origins, such as the Kid's arc referenced in Reloaded and Revolutions. All shorts are considered canon, with the Wachowskis writing five and overseeing production to maintain thematic consistency.^[55] The franchise continued with The Matrix Resurrections (2021), a soft reboot and sequel that revisited the original characters in a meta-narrative framework, directed solely by Lana Wachowski. Production began in February 2020, with principal photography starting that month in San Francisco and later moving to Berlin amid COVID-19 restrictions. The film premiered simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max on December 22, 2021, grossing $159.2 million worldwide against a $190 million budget, impacted by the ongoing pandemic and hybrid release model. It featured returning cast members including Keanu Reeves as Neo, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, and supporting roles by Jada Pinkett Smith and Lambert Wilson, alongside new additions like Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.^[56]^[57]^[58] The expanded universe included The Matrix Online (MxO), a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in collaboration with Sony Online Entertainment. Launched on March 22, 2005, in the United States and April 15, 2005, in Europe, the game continued the storyline post-Revolutions, allowing players to inhabit the Matrix as Zion operatives, Exiles, or other factions in an evolving narrative driven by player choices and developer episodes. It maintained an active community until its shutdown on July 31, 2009, due to declining player numbers and licensing issues, marking the end of official interactive extensions at the time.^[59]^[60] In April 2024, Warner Bros. announced development of a fifth Matrix film, described as a new installment in the franchise with Drew Goddard attached to write and direct, and Lana Wachowski serving as executive producer. This project, the first without directorial involvement from the Wachowskis since the original trilogy, aims to explore fresh takes on the universe while honoring its legacy. As of November 2025, the film remains in early development stages, with no confirmed release date or casting announcements beyond speculation, though Warner Bros. has reaffirmed commitment to the IP amid broader studio restructuring. The ending of Revolutions, with Neo's apparent sacrifice, sets up resurrection themes revisited in Resurrections and potentially in future entries.^[61]^[62]^[63]

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The Matrix Revolutions had a zero-hour release, for example, Argentina at 11:00 on Nov 5, Australia at 1:00 on Nov 6, and Japan at 23:00 on Nov 5.
[31]
DVD Review - The Matrix Revolutions - The Digital Bits
Apr 13, 2004 · A multi-angle feature dissects the climactic Super Burly Brawl in Revolutions, offering the choice between the final scene, storyboards, and ...
[32]
The Ultimate Matrix Collection (The Matrix / The Matrix Reloaded ...
The definitive ten-disc DVD set, The Ultimate Matrix Collection features all three films in the trilogy together for the first time ever with a newly ...
[33]
The Ultimate Matrix Collection - Blu-Ray - High Def Digest
Oct 8, 2008 · The Ultimate Matrix Collection presents the complete adventures of machine battling truth-seekers Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus ( ...
[34]
The Ultimate Matrix Collection Blu-ray
Rating 9/10 · Review by Ben WilliamsOct 14, 2008 · The Ultimate Matrix Collection Blu-ray Release Date October 14, 2008 (The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, ...
[35]
The Matrix Revolutions 4K Blu-ray
Rating 7/10 Nov 4, 2018 · The Matrix Revolutions 4K delivers superb audio and video of a disappointing sequel, accompanied by poor authoring choices and inexplicable omissions of extras.
[36]
How & Where to Watch The Matrix Movies in 2025 - Cloudwards.net
Apr 29, 2025 · Alternatively, you can get an Amazon Prime Video with Max free trial in the U.S., though only The Matrix and The Matrix Reloaded are available.<|control11|><|separator|>
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The Matrix Revolutions - Box Office Mojo
- **Release Date**: November 5, 2003 (earliest release in 13 markets)
[38]
An Elf and a Bear Trip Up the Final 'Matrix' - The New York Times
Nov 10, 2003 · The release of ''Revolutions'' was good, ''but compared to 'Reloaded' anything is going to pale,'' said Paul Dergarabedian, president of ...
[39]
The Matrix Revolutions Reviews - Metacritic
Absolutely amazing trilogy, love it. Highly recommended movie. Great cast and acting, amazing special effects. Report. 60 · The New Yorker. At its best, the ...The Matrix Revolutions user ...The Matrix Revolutions critic ...
[40]
FILM REVIEW; The Game Concludes With Light And Noise
Nov 5, 2003 · There is plenty of bright light and big noise in ''Revolutions'' -- a ferocious machine assault on battered Zion, a rain-swept showdown between Neo and his ...
[41]
Accepting The Matrix Revolutions, 20 Years Later | Film Obsessive
Nov 27, 2023 · On its 20th anniversary, @professorsuarez looks back on The Matrix Revolutions and comes to accept the film on its own terms.Missing: merchandise | Show results with:merchandise
[42]
The Most Polarizing Matrix Sequel Was Ahead of Its Time - Inverse
Nov 5, 2023 · The Matrix Revolutions followed Reloaded by just a few short months, but by then, the saga had swerved into unrecognizable territory. It didn't ...
[43]
[PDF] 2004 Hugo Nomination Results
Matrix Reloaded – 21. The Triplets of Bellville – 20. Matrix Revolutions – 18. Peter Pan – 18. Terminator 3 – 16. Battlestar Galactica – 15. Big Fish – 14.
[44]
Platonism, Cartesianism and Hegel's Thought in The Matrix Trilogy
Aug 10, 2025 · The article analyzes Matrix film trilogy of Wachowski brothers from the aspect of the history of philosophy and presence of ideas of Plato, ...
[45]
The Matrix and Plato's Cave: Why the Sequels Failed (Essay #7)
Jan 10, 2023 · The Matrix and its sequels—The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions—embody many deep connections to philosophy. ... Book: Essays on ...<|separator|>
[46]
How 'The Matrix' influenced culture: From film to fashion
and modern cinema and pop culture would never be the same.
[47]
Red Pill, Blue Pill Review: 10 films influenced by 'The Matrix'
Mar 24, 2019 · While making 'The Matrix', The Wachowskis had a whole slew of influences, like 'Ghost in the Shell', 'Akira', 'Blade', 'The Crow' and 'Tron'. It ...
[48]
25 years after the Matrix: Simulation theory more relevant than ever
Dec 7, 2024 · The film popularised the notion that we are all actually lying in fluid pods, acting as feedstock for machines, and that reality is an illusion.
[49]
It's increasingly likely we're living in the Matrix. Just ask this MIT ...
Aug 12, 2025 · In short, when we reach the simulation point, we would be capable of building something like the Matrix ourselves, complete with realistic ...
[50]
What each Animatrix short brings to the world of The Matrix - Polygon
May 12, 2022 · The Matrix Resurrections, Lana Wachowski's return to the universe of the Matrix nearly 18 years since the conclusion of the original trilogy ...<|separator|>
[51]
Every Animatrix Short Explained: Matrix Connections & Are They ...
Jul 25, 2022 · All nine Animatrix shorts are indeed part of Matrix canon. Not only did the Wachowskis produce the animated anthology movie, but they also wrote five out of ...
[52]
The Matrix Resurrections (2021) - IMDb
Rating 5.6/10 (298,011) Box office · Budget. $190,000,000 (estimated) · Gross US & Canada. $37,686,805 · Opening weekend US & Canada. $10,749,011; Dec 26, 2021 · Gross worldwide.Matrix Resurrections · Full cast & crew · The Matrix Recalibrated · Release info
[53]
The Matrix Resurrections (2021) - Box Office and Financial Information
Financial analysis of The Matrix Resurrections (2021) including production budget, domestic and international box office gross, DVD and Blu-ray sales ...
[54]
Neil Patrick Harris Joins 'Matrix 4' - Variety
Oct 15, 2019 · Warner Bros. announced in August that a fourth “Matrix” movie is officially in the works, with Reeves and Moss returning and Lana Wachowski ...
[55]
The Matrix Online - PCGamingWiki
Aug 27, 2025 · MxO was officially released exclusively on Windows on March 22, 2005 in the United States and on April 15, 2005 in Europe. It was announced in ...
[56]
Matrix Online to shut down July 31 | GamesIndustry.biz
Jun 1, 2009 · Sony Online Entertainment's massively-multiplayer RPG The Matrix Online will be shut down on July 31, the game's online community lead has confirmed.
[57]
New 'Matrix' Movie In Works At Warner Bros From Drew Goddard
Apr 3, 2024 · Drew Goddard, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of The Martian, has been set to write and direct a new Matrix movie at Warner Bros.
[58]
Matrix 5 in the Works With Lana Wachowski as Executive Producer
Apr 3, 2024 · The studio announced that a fifth “Matrix” movie is in development. It'll be the first installment without Lana or Lily Wachowski as directors.
[59]
Will Smith Isn't Starring in New 'Matrix' Movie, So What Neo ... - Variety
Jan 6, 2025 · Will Smith may be choosing between the red and blue pill, but the Oscar-winning actor isn't entering the Matrix for a movie.Missing: plot summary