One of the greatest and most influential sci-fi films of all time is currently dominating on a completely free streaming platform. There are countless films that could be considered all-time greats in the sci-fi genre. Ridley Scott’sBlade Runner(adapted from Philip K. Dick’sDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep) andAlien, James Cameron’sThe Terminator, Stanley Kubrick’s2001: A Space Odyssey, and even Katsuhiro Otomo’sAkira, are all considered to be all-time greats. But the film in question comes from a more recent line-up of phenomenal sci-fi movies. During the late ’90s and early ’00s, sci-fi fans were obsessed with finding the “White Rabbit,” as they desperately unpacked the meaning of the Wachowski Sisters’The Matrix.
The Matrixis currently streaming for free on Pluto TV, and it’s proving Neo’s status as The One by racing up the streaming charts. The film is the most popular movie on the free streaming platform this week. Released in 1999,The Matrixchanged the sci-fi genre and the cinematic landscape in a major way. Written and directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski, the film follows Neo, a computer hacker who is pulled from his virtual reality into the real world, where humans are used as batteries by an advanced robotic civilization. Only through the program known as The Matrix can he grasp the true extent of his prophetic powers and save humanity.
The Best ‘Matrix’ Sequel Is One Almost No One Watched
Not only is this the best ‘Matrix’ sequel, it’s also among the best Japanese animation.
Keanu Reeves was already a household name by the time he starred inThe Matrix, but the film helped to cement him as a martial arts and action star. Alongside Reeves, the film also stars Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Gloria Foster, and Marcus Chong. While its Rotten Tomatoes critics rating sits at 83%, IMDb users adore the modern classic sci-fi film, as it is the 16th highest-rated movie of all-time on the platform. It also won a total of four Oscars in 2000, including Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects, and Best Visual Effects. It was even nominated in the now-defunct Oscars Cheer Moment forNeo’s iconic bullet-dodging scene.
‘The Matrix’s Place as a Sci-Fi Classic
It’s hard to argue withThe Matrix’s status as one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. Even if the sequels didn’t live up to the same standard, the film’s mind-bending plot, visual effects, incredible action scenes, and Eastern and anime influences had a big impact on the Hollywood landscape following its release.
There are many iconic moments fromThe Matrixthat fans still hold dearly to this day, like Trinity’s floating kick from the opening scene, the building jump, Neo getting red-pilled before it became hijacked as a political statement, and, of course, the bullet-time dodge scene. Its plot might be complicated, and concluded poorly in the threequel,The Matrix Revolutions, but the concept of The Matrix has been copied and spoofed in countless movies and TV shows since.
The Matrix
