The Matrix Resurrections

The Matrix Resurrections
Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	2021
Founder	Lana Wachowski
Products	Science fiction action film
Parent	Warner Bros. Pictures

The Matrix Resurrections is a 2021 American science fiction action film that Lana Wachowski co-produced, co-wrote, and directed independently, marking her solo debut in the Matrix series. Serving as a follow-up to The Matrix Revolutions (2003), it represents the fourth installment within The Matrix franchise. The film features an ensemble cast including Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Set six decades after Revolutions, the narrative centers on Neo, now a video game creator grappling with the blurred boundaries between illusion and reality. A rebel faction, supported by a programmed version of Morpheus, liberates Neo from a revamped Matrix to confront a new adversary holding Trinity captive.

Following Revolutions, the Wachowskis initially dismissed any plans for additional sequels. Nonetheless, Warner Bros. sought to revive the franchise and enlisted Zak Penn to develop a screenplay after the Wachowskis repeatedly declined involvement. By late 2019, the fourth film was officially announced with Lana Wachowski directing solo and Reeves and Moss reprising their roles. Production commenced in February 2020 but was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Wachowski contemplated abandoning the project, encouragement from the cast led to its completion by November 2020.

The Matrix Resurrections had its premiere at San Francisco's Castro Theater on December 16, 2021, followed by a simultaneous theatrical release and availability on HBO Max on December 22 through Warner Bros. Pictures. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, it underperformed at the box office, earning $160 million globally against a production budget of $190 million. The film received a nomination for Best Special Visual Effects at the 75th British Academy Film Awards. A continuation is underway with Drew Goddard attached as director and Lana Wachowski serving as executive producer.

Plot

Bugs uncovers that the Matrix is perpetuating a repetitive loop of old code that reenacts Trinity’s initial meeting with Neo. She encounters a program embodying Morpheus and assists in freeing him from this simulation.

Thomas Anderson, who designs a video game series titled The Matrix inspired by his vague recollections as Neo, frequently interacts with Tiffany, a married woman without memories of her past who served as inspiration for Trinity’s character. Anderson creates game characters using a simulation tool called a Modal but finds it increasingly difficult to differentiate between dreams and reality. His psychiatrist prescribes blue pills to suppress these episodes, which he eventually discontinues. Meanwhile, as Bugs and Morpheus endeavor to extract Neo, Anderson’s business partner begins recalling memories as Agent Smith.

Neo awakens inside a pod and notices Trinity nearby before being rescued aboard Bugs's hovercraft named Mnemosyne. He is transported to Io, a human settlement allied with machines and sister city to Zion. Niobe explains that sixty years have elapsed since the conclusion of the Machine War. Neo’s original comrades have passed away; although peace endured for many years, mass human departures from the Matrix caused energy shortages that reignited machine conflicts. Zion was targeted again for power resources; however, many machines loyal to Neo’s sacrifice protected humans, enabling most inhabitants to flee. Io was established through cooperation between humans and machines opposing hostile forces aiming to revive previous war conditions.

Niobe declines to endanger Io by assisting Neo in freeing Trinity and confines him instead. Bugs and her team liberate Neo and re-enter the Matrix intending to reach Trinity but are confronted by Smith and exiled programs including the Merovingian. Neo regains his powers; together they overcome their attackers and locate Trinity. Before Neo can communicate with her, his therapist immobilizes him by manipulating time—revealing himself as The Analyst, a program analyzing human psychology.

The Analyst reveals that following Neo’s and Trinity’s deaths, he studied Neo’s unique abilities as The One and persuaded his superiors to resurrect both of them. He discovered their connection generated immense energy for the Matrix when their memories were suppressed and they were kept close yet separated. This energy source elevated The Analyst above The Architect, enabling him to reconstruct the Matrix through emotional manipulation based on human cognitive biases. Neo’s escape destabilized the system and triggered an automatic reboot, which The Analyst delayed by threatening Trinity’s life to maintain control over Neo.

Back in Io, Neo consults Sati, an exiled program seeking vengeance against The Analyst for her parents’ demise. Together they devise a plan to free Trinity. Inside the Matrix, Neo negotiates with The Analyst: he agrees to return to his pod if he fails to persuade Trinity to leave. During their conversation, Tiffany reclaims her identity as Trinity. When The Analyst attempts to kill her, Agent Smith intervenes seeking revenge for his prior imprisonment after being restored by Neo’s resurrection.

Neo, Trinity, and their allies evade intense pursuits involving bot programs and attack helicopters. Cornered atop a skyscraper, they leap together; Trinity discovers she can fly and rescues them both. With her newfound command over the Matrix, they confront The Analyst—expressing gratitude for their second chance while condemning his methods. Neo and Trinity then soar away together with plans to reshape the Matrix anew.

Cast

Keanu Reeves portrays Neo / Thomas Anderson: The foretold "One" from the initial Matrix, restored and reintroduced into a new version with erased memories. Although six decades have elapsed since his sacrifice, Neo has only visibly aged two decades due to alterations by the machines. Steven Roy represents the original Neo's form in reflections and supplementary scenes.
Carrie-Anne Moss plays Trinity / Tiffany: Neo’s love interest, who was liberated from the Matrix during the first film and died at the conclusion of the Machine War. She was later recovered and modified by machines, now living as Tiffany, a suburban mother with suppressed memories, aging only twenty years over sixty.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II acts as Morpheus / Agent Smith: A program engineered by Neo that merges characteristics of both the original Morpheus and Agent Smith. Laurence Fishburne previously portrayed Morpheus; his portrayal appears through archival footage.
Jessica Henwick embodies Bugs: Captain of the hovercraft Mnemosyne, described as "the audience’s perspective," recognized for her gunslinger persona and distinctive White Rabbit tattoo.
Jonathan Groff plays Smith: Thomas Anderson’s business associate and former adversary, now functioning as an Agent within the Matrix. Hugo Weaving originally performed as Smith; his presence is included via archive footage. Groff underwent extensive preparation, earning the nickname "The Savage" during training.
Neil Patrick Harris is the Analyst: The architect behind the current iteration of the Matrix who masquerades as Thomas’ therapist to exert control over him within the system.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas portrays Sati: An exile program without a defined purpose who previously encountered Neo before the Machine War ended; this character was earlier played by Tanveer K. Atwal in The Matrix Revolutions.
Christina Ricci plays Gwyn de Vere: An executive at Thomas Anderson’s video game company.
Jada Pinkett Smith reprises her role as Niobe: General of Io and former captain of the Logos; prosthetic makeup was applied to age her character by six decades.
Telma Hopkins appears as Freya: Head of botany on Io.
Chad Stahelski portrays Chad: Tiffany’s husband as well as Keanu Reeves’ former stunt double and coordinator.
Lambert Wilson returns as The Merovingian: An information broker seeking vengeance on Neo after losing his purpose when the previous Matrix was destroyed; reprising his role from earlier installments.
Brian J. Smith plays Berg: A member of the Mnemosyne crew who researches Neo.
Toby Onwumere acts as Sequoia: Operator of the Mnemosyne.
Max Riemelt portrays Sheperd: Niobe’s trusted captain at Io.
Eréndira Ibarra appears as Lexy: A crew member aboard the Mnemosyne who idolizes Trinity.
Freema Agyeman plays Astra

Additional cast includes Andrew Lewis Caldwell and Ellen Hollman as Jude and Echo; Julian Grey and Gaige Chat portraying Tiffany’s sons Brandon and Donnie; San Francisco mayor London Breed as Calliope, a Resistance fighter; Daniel Bernhardt returning as Agent Johnson, though his scenes were removed. Tom Hardy made an uncredited background cameo filmed simultaneously with Venom: Let There Be Carnage in San Francisco.

Development

Originally, the Wachowskis had no intention of extending the Matrix saga beyond The Matrix Revolutions (2003), although they supported continuing the narrative through the video game The Matrix Online (2005). Speculation about additional films arose in 2011 and 2014 but was subsequently refuted. In 2015, Lilly Wachowski expressed hesitation about revisiting the franchise amid a Hollywood climate dominated by sequels and reboots, while Lana Wachowski remained uncertain about the studio's plans. Both Keanu Reeves and Hugo Weaving indicated willingness to return to their characters, provided the Wachowskis were involved.

Producer James McTeigue revealed that Warner Bros. had ongoing conversations regarding a fourth installment, yet no concrete concept was developed until later. In 2017, Warner Bros. considered rebooting the franchise with Zak Penn drafting story treatments and potentially casting Michael B. Jordan, but this effort excluded the Wachowskis and was ultimately set aside in favor of Lana Wachowski’s sequel proposal.

Pre-production

In 2019, Lana Wachowski devised the concept for The Matrix Resurrections after experiencing personal bereavements, finding solace in revisiting Neo and Trinity’s stories. Warner Bros. supported her creative direction and formally announced the project in August 2019, with Lana directing and both Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising their roles. The script was co-written by Wachowski alongside David Mitchell and Aleksandar Hemon. Lilly Wachowski did not take part due to other obligations but gave her endorsement to the film.

John Toll was initially appointed as cinematographer but departed during filming due to family health concerns; Daniele Massaccesi succeeded him later in production. This installment marked a return to the franchise’s foundational creative approach, with Lana Wachowski personally directing all action scenes.

Casting

Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss were confirmed to reprise Neo and Trinity. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II assumed the role of Morpheus, replacing Laurence Fishburne, who was not contacted for the part and later disclosed that an offer to return had been declined. Neil Patrick Harris joined in an undisclosed capacity.

Jada Pinkett Smith returned as Niobe following negotiations influenced by Wachowski’s vision, while Jessica Henwick was cast as Bugs, opting for this role over a Marvel audition. Jonathan Groff took over as Agent Smith from Hugo Weaving; Weaving appeared only through archival footage due to scheduling conflicts.

The supporting cast featured Eréndira Ibarra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Sati, Lambert Wilson reprising Merovingian, Andrew Caldwell, Brian J. Smith, Ellen Hollman, Daniel Bernhardt as Agent Johnson, Christina Ricci, Telma Hopkins, and a potential cameo by Tom Hardy filmed simultaneously but not confirmed in the final edit.

Filming

Principal photography commenced in San Francisco on February 4, 2020, under the working title "Project Ice Cream," with additional filming locations including Chicago and Studio Babelsberg in Germany. Production encountered local grievances related to property damage during shooting and required substantial payments to municipal authorities for use of city spaces.

Filming was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; it resumed in August 2020 under strict safety measures and wrapped on November 11, 2020. Lana Wachowski directed all scenes without employing a second unit; stunt coordination was managed by Scott Rogers.

Post-production featured cutting-edge visual effects utilizing volumetric capture technology developed collaboratively at Studio Babelsberg. Upon completion, Studio Babelsberg honored the Wachowskis by naming its largest sound stage "Rainbow Stage," acknowledging their commitment to diversity advocacy.

Music

The film's score was crafted by Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer, who took over from Don Davis, the composer of the earlier installments. The soundtrack prominently includes Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit," paying homage to the franchise's connection with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland motifs and the San Francisco club that inspired the original movie’s title. Additionally, it features cover versions of Rage Against the Machine’s "Wake Up."

The official soundtrack album was made available on December 17, 2021, following the release of a single remix centered on the "Neo and Trinity Theme."

Marketing

On August 24, 2021, the film's title, The Matrix Resurrections, was officially announced along with a trailer debut at CinemaCon showcasing main characters Neo and Trinity. The full trailer premiered on September 9, accompanied by an interactive website experience launched beforehand.

A related technological demonstration in the form of a video game called The Matrix Awakens: An Unreal Engine 5 Experience, developed by Epic Games for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, was unveiled during The Game Awards 2021 to highlight advancements in next-generation gaming technology.

Theatrical and streaming

The Matrix Resurrections held its premiere at San Francisco’s Castro Theater on December 18, 2021. Originally planned for release on May 21, 2021—coinciding with John Wick: Chapter 4—the launch was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, it opened in theaters on December 22 with a concurrent 30-day streaming window on HBO Max, marking Warner Bros.' final implementation of this dual-release approach.

According to Samba TV, the film was streamed in approximately 2.8 million U.S. households within its first five days and was reported as the most pirated movie during that timeframe. The Chinese market saw its release on January 14, 2022.

Home media

The digital version became available on January 25, 2022, while Blu-ray, DVD, and Ultra HD Blu-ray editions were released on March 8, featuring additional behind-the-scenes footage.

Box office

Produced with a $190 million budget, The Matrix Resurrections earned $159.2 million globally—$40.5 million domestically and $118.7 million internationally. Initial forecasts anticipated up to $70 million in domestic revenue during its first five days; however, actual receipts totaled $21.2 million, placing third behind Spider-Man: No Way Home and Sing 2. Contributing factors included its simultaneous availability on HBO Max and mixed audience feedback.

The international debut saw strong openings in Japan and Russia but overall financial performance fell short of expectations. Village Roadshow filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros., claiming that HBO Max streaming negatively impacted box office results and diminished franchise value; Warner Bros. rejected these allegations.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating reflecting generally positive reviews; Metacritic's score aligns with this consensus at 63 out of 100. Audience polling via CinemaScore assigned a "B−," marking it as the lowest rating among series entries.

Reviewers commended the visual aesthetics and acting performances but were divided over the storytelling quality. Favorable critiques emphasized Lana Wachowski’s direction and thematic depth, whereas detractors pointed to a lack of originality and inconsistent narrative pacing.

In June 2025, IndieWire ranked The Matrix Resurrections at number 49 in its list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far)."

Awards and Honors

The movie garnered several nominations, such as the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Visual Effects; Houston Film Critics Society nods for Best Stunt Coordination and Visual Effects; a Screen Actors Guild nomination recognizing Outstanding Stunt Ensemble; a BAFTA nod for Best Special Visual Effects; multiple Visual Effects Society nominations in Outstanding Visual Effects categories; and acknowledgment from the Set Decorators Society of America for excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy design.

Upcoming Developments

Producer James McTeigue has stated there are currently no confirmed plans to continue the Matrix series, though he noted the possibility remains open due to the ambiguous ending of Resurrections. In April 2024, Warner Bros. revealed that a new entry in the franchise is in development, with Drew Goddard serving as writer and director, while Lana Wachowski will act as executive producer.

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