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Which will it be, the blue pill, or the red pill?

In 1999, The Matrix hit theaters, and filmmaking has never been the same. The Wachowskis’ science fiction film stunned audiences with its experimental filmmaking. It wasn’t long before other television shows and films were paying homage to their ‘bullet time’ sequence. From the sleek costumes, iconic characters, and visually stunning world, The Matrix was a cinematic masterpiece unlike any other.

The film’s success spawned numerous sequels and an animated movie. In fact, Drew Goddard is currently developing a new film, which is set to revive the franchise. This means that it’s a good time to catch up on the Matrix saga. If you aren’t sure where to begin, Popverse has you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about watching The Matrix, its sequels, and where the video games and comics fit in.

How to watch The Matrix in release order

The Matrix franchise began in 1999 with The Matrix. If you’re a big fan, then 2003 was a great year for you because you got the second installment (The Matrix Reloaded), a third installment (The Matrix Revolutions), and an animated film released between the two (The Animatrix). Moviegoers got a chance to revisit the franchise in 2021 with The Matrix Resurrections. If you want to watch the films in release order, here’s how to do it…

• The Matrix (1999)
• The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
• The Animatrix (2003)
• The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
• The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
• Untitled Matrix sequel (TBA)

How to watch The Matrix in chronological order

Watching The Matrix in chronological order is the same as watching in release order, with the exception of The Animatrix. The anthology film contains a variety of animated sequences that take place in different parts of The Matrix timeline. If you’re looking to watch The Matrix in chronological order but aren’t sure how to split up The Animatrix segments, simply follow this list.

• The Animatrix (The Second Renaissance sequence)
• The Animatrix (The Miller’s Tale sequence)
• The Animatrix (A Detective Story sequence)
• The Matrix
• The Animatrix (Kid’s Story sequence)
• The Animatrix (Final Flight of the Osiris sequence)
• The Matrix Reloaded
• The Matrix Revolutions
• The Animatrix (Beyond sequence)
• The Matrix Resurrections
• Untitled Matrix sequel

(Note: The rest of The Animatrix sequences are placed in ambiguous time periods)

Are they making a new Matrix movie?

A new Matrix movie is currently in development. As of this writing, there is no confirmed release date, and the film is untitled. Drew Goddard, who is known for writing and directing  The Cabin in the Woods, will be handling the script and directing. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Lana and Lilly Wachowski won’t be directly involved, but Lana will receive an executive producer credit.  

Can someone explain The Matrix?

The premise of The Matrix is that the world we’re all living in is actually a computer simulation. Your home, your office, your favorite restaurants, and everything else aren’t real. In reality, humans are plugged into a computer network, which simulates the world. That program is called The Matrix.

The world is like this because years ago, technology advanced to the point where it conquered the human race. The machines are powered by human bodies, so humans are kept alive so the machines can continue to grow.

As you can imagine, when some humans learn the truth about The Matrix, they seek to escape and fight back against the machines.

If you’re still confused, this thread on Reddit has some posts that explain it well.

Where do The Matrix comics and video games fit in? Are they canon?

Like most popular franchises, The Matrix saga has expanded beyond film. Video games and comic books have allowed fans to dive deeper into the franchise. What’s the deal with these projects, and are they canon? Let’s dive in…

• The Matrix comics (1999-2003) – A series of webcomics was published on the official Matrix website from 1999-2003. The comics were anthology stories written by various creators, taking different tones, and set in different time periods. Some of them are canon, such as ‘Bits and Pieces of Information,’ which was adapted in The Animatrix. Other projects contradicted the film series or were obvious parodies. The webcomics were eventually collected as a trade paperback and released as physical media.
• Enter the Matrix (2003) – A video game set during the events of The Matrix Reloaded. The game features over 40 minutes of live-action cutscenes, which were filmed at the same time as The Matrix Reloaded. In terms of video game tie-in material, it doesn’t get more authentic than that. As such, Enter the Matrix is considered canon.
• The Matrix: Path of Neo (2005) – A video game that retells the first three Matrix films with new twists. Due to the overlapping chronology, contradictions, and some fourth-wall breaking, this game shouldn’t be considered canon.
• The Matrix Online (2005) – An MMORPG that ran from 2005 through 2009. The game is set at the end of The Matrix Revolutions, but The Matrix Resurrections contradicts the MMORPG’s storyline. As a result, it shouldn’t be considered canon.
• The Matrix Awakens (2021) – A video game and technology demonstration created as a tie-in to The Matrix Resurrections. While impressive, it’s not meant to have any storytelling ramifications, and shouldn’t be considered canon.
  
  

Where can I watch The Matrix?

As of this writing, none of the Matrix films or The Animatrix are available on any streaming services. However, each film is available to purchase or rent digitally from a variety of video-on-demand services, such as Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Apple TV. Please note, the availability of The Matrix films will likely change as new streaming deals are made. Given the popularity of the films, it’s likely they’ll find a home on a streaming service before long. 

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