The Matrix (1999)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A disillusioned hacker discovers his reality is a digital deception and joins a rebellion against the machines.
The story
In an unnamed city in 1999, a computer programmer known as Neo investigates the mystery of the 'Matrix'. He is targeted by agents and eventually contacted by a woman named Trinity, who introduces him to Morpheus. Morpheus offers Neo a choice: a red pill to uncover the truth about their reality or a blue pill to remain in an illusion. After choosing the truth, Neo is taken to the real world, where he learns that humanity is being oppressed by machines in a simulated reality. He joins a group of rebels to fight back against the system and the sentient programs that protect it.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Neo, a hacker, is offered a choice between a red pill and a blue pill. Choosing the red pill, he awakens in the real world, a wasteland where humans are kept in pods as a power source for machines. He joins Morpheus and Trinity in the resistance. They enter the Matrix to find the Oracle. During a mission, they are betrayed by Cypher and ambushed by Agents. Morpheus is captured, and Neo and Trinity must re-enter the Matrix to rescue him. During the confrontation, Neo faces Agent Smith. After a series of battles and a moment of death, Neo is revived by Trinity's actions and realizes his potential as 'the One'. He gains the ability to manipulate the Matrix's code, defeats Smith, and ultimately communicates with the system to offer humanity a world of limitless possibilities.
- First release year
- 1999
- Runtime (minutes)
- 136
- Production countries
- United States; Australia
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- The Wachowskis
- Writers
- The Wachowskis · writer
- Cast and characters
- Keanu Reeves · Neo; Laurence Fishburne · Morpheus; Carrie-Anne Moss · Trinity; Hugo Weaving · Agent Smith; Joe Pantoliano · Cypher; Gloria Foster · The Oracle; Marcus Chong · Tank; Paul Goddard · Agent Brown
- Genres
- science fiction; action
- Themes
- reality vs. illusion; humanity vs. machines; choice
- Tone and mood
- serious; action-packed
- Setting
- A dystopian future where humanity lives in a simulated reality (the Matrix) while the real world is a wasteland.
- Premise and plot tags
- cyberpunk; simulation; rebellion
- Franchise connections
- Matrix
- Reception
- The film received widespread critical acclaim for its innovative visual effects, action sequences, and cinematography. It was a significant box office success and is considered one of the greatest science fiction films of all time.
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Visual Effects · 1999 · Win; Academy Award · Best Film Editing · 1999 · Win; Academy Award · Best Sound · 1999 · Win; Academy Award · Best Sound Effects Editing · 1999 · Win; British Academy Film Award · Best Sound · 1999 · Win; Saturn Award · Best Science Fiction Film · 1999 · Win
- Production trivia
- The film's action scenes were influenced by anime and martial arts films.; The term 'bullet time' was popularized by the film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…