full titles

 · The Matrix (1999)
 · The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
 · The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

directors Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski

leading actors/actresses Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving

supporting actors/actresses Gloria Foster, Mary Alice, Joe Pantoliano, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, Harold Perrineau, Nona Gaye, Harry Lennix, David Roberts, Helmut Bakaitis, Collin Chou, Tanveer K. Atwal, Monica Belluci, Cornel West

type of work Motion picture

genre Science Fiction

language English

time and place produced

 · The Matrix: March 1998–August 1998, Sydney, Australia
 · The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions: Spring 2001–Winter 2002, Sydney, Australia; Oakland, California; and Alameda, California

selected awards

 · The Matrix:
 · Academy Awards, 2000:
 · Best Editing: Zach Staenberg
 · Best Effects–Sound Effects Editing: Dane A. Davis
 · Best Effects–Visual Effects: John Gaeta, Janek Sirrs, Steve Courtley, Jon Thum
 · Best Sound: John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, David E. Campbell, David Lee
 · Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films, 2000:
 · Best Science Fiction Film
 · Best Directors: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
 · American Cinema Editors, 2000:
 · Best Edited Feature Film–Dramatic: Zach Staenberg
 · BAFTA Awards, 2000:
 · Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects: John Gaeta, Janek Sirrs, Steve Courtley, Jon Thum
 · Best Sound: Dane A. Davis, John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, David E. Campbell, David Lee
 · BMI Film and Television Awards, 1999:
 · Film Music Award: Don Davis
 · Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, 2000:
 · Favorite Actor–Action/Science Fiction: Keanu Reeves
 · Favorite Supporting Actor–Action/Science Fiction: Laurence Fishburne
 · Cinema Audio Society, 2000:
 · Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Feature Film: John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, David E. Campbell, David Lee
 · DVD Exclusive Awards, 2003:
 · Artistic Achievement Award (for the DVD release)
 · Empire Awards, 2000:
 · Co-Winner, Best Debut: Carrie-Anne Moss
 · Best Film
 · Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards, 2000:
 · Best Visual Effects: John Gaeta
 · MTV Movie Awards, 2000:
 · Best Fight: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne
 · Best Male Performance: Keanu Reeves
 · Best Movie
 · Motion Picture Sound Editors, 2000:
 · Winner, Best Sound Editing–Effects and Foley
 · The Matrix: Reloaded:
 · Visual Effects Society Awards, 2004:
 · Best Single Visual Effect of the Year in Any Medium: John Gaeta, Dan Glass, Adrian De Wet, Greg Juby
 · Outstanding Visual Effects Photography in a Motion Picture: Kim Libreri, George Borshukov, Paul Ryan, John Gaeta

dates of release

 · The Matrix: March 31, 1999
 · The Matrix Reloaded: May 15, 2003
 · The Matrix Revolutions: November 5, 2003

producer Joel Silver

setting (time)  1999 and circa 2199

setting (place)  Unnamed cities in the Matrix, the ravaged real world, the underground human city (Zion), the Machine City

protagonist Neo (a.k.a. Thomas A. Anderson, a.k.a. the One)

major conflict Neo must find the faith in himself to assume his role as the One and lead the fight against the machines to save Zion and free human minds.

rising action When the Agents ambush the Nebuchadnezzar’s crew, kill half of it, and capture Morpheus, threatening the security of all of Zion, Neo must choose to have faith in himself and re-enter the Matrix against all odds to attempt to rescue Morpheus.

climax Neo and Trinity’s successful rescue of Morpheus directs his path toward a final confrontation with Agent Smith, which Neo initially appears to win heroically, but Smith surprises him by appearing out of nowhere and murdering him. When Trinity resurrects Neo’s dead body with a kiss, Neo fully believes he is the One and defeats Agent Smith.

falling action Having fully assumed his role as the One at the end of The Matrix, Neo can now lead the renegades throughout the two sequels on their quest to save Zion and free minds.

themes The blurred line between humans and machines; fate vs. free will in the Matrix and the real world; the relationship between body, brain, and mind

motifs Sexuality and sensuality; sunglasses, eyes, and mirrors; Biblical references

symbols Zion; the green light of the Matrix; three/the Trinity

foreshadowing In a trilogy about fate, free will, and the repeating cycles of a computer program, foreshadowing is embedded in the very structure of the plot, its characters’ words, and its visual system. Everything the Oracle says, for example, foreshadows something. Every piece of information Neo learns about previous cycles of the Matrix foreshadows a future event.

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