Why The Matrix Resurrections Fails to Reboot the Series

By Elena Kowalski | May 8, 2025

The Matrix Resurrections - it’s like the ultimate reboot of a reboot. You know, that phenomenon where a movie comes out and suddenly everyone’s all “Oh, this is the one! This is the real deal!” Meanwhile, 20 years ago we were still trying to figure out what a simulated reality was supposed to look like in the first place.

The Matrix Resurrections, as its name suggests, tries to reboot the entire Matrix franchise. It brings back old favorites like Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), who are now older and wearier, like two old warriors who’ve been through a few battles too many. The new kid on the block is Bugs (Jessica Henwick), a digital hacker who’s got some serious skills and an even bigger chip on her shoulder.

But here’s the thing: what does it mean to reboot a series? Is it about revisiting the core themes and characters that made the original so beloved, or is it just a chance for writers and directors to dust off their old ideas and make a quick buck? The Matrix Resurrections seems to lean more heavily towards the latter.

The movie takes place six years after the events of the third film, The Matrix Revolutions. Neo’s still got his powers, but he’s now working as an informant in the human world, giving advice to hackers like Bugs on how to stay one step ahead of the machines. Meanwhile, Trinity is running her own security firm and has become a bit of a loner - she’s got her eyes on the prize, but it looks like she’s lost sight of what that prize even was.

Now, I’m not saying that these new characters are bad news - in fact, Bugs and Neo have some great moments together. But when you’re working with a premise as complex and thought-provoking as The Matrix, can you just slap on some new faces and forget about the whole “what does it mean to be human?” thing? It feels like the writers took some of the best ideas from the original trilogy, tossed them in a blender, hit puree, and hoped for the best.

One of the biggest problems with The Matrix Resurrections is that it tries to have it both ways. On the one hand, it’s got all sorts of sci-fi and action set pieces that fans of the series will love. We’ve got elaborate car chases, epic battles between humans and machines, and even a few nods to some of the classic “bullet time” sequences from the original films.

But on the other hand, the movie also tries to be this introspective exploration of what it means to grow up and find yourself in a world that’s rapidly changing. Neo and Trinity are both struggling with their place in the world - Neo’s trying to figure out who he is outside of his role as “The One,” while Trinity is grappling with her own identity and purpose after a lifetime of being defined by her relationship with Neo.

It’s like the writers took these two conflicting tones and mashed them together, hoping that no one would notice. And honestly? It doesn’t work. The action scenes are cool, but they feel disconnected from the rest of the movie - it’s like we’re watching some sort of sci-fi video game rather than an actual story.

Another problem with The Matrix Resurrections is its treatment of Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). He’s one of the most iconic characters in the entire franchise, and he gets about as much screen time as a character who’s been written out of the story. We get a few throwaway lines from him here and there - “I’m back” - but beyond that? That’s it.

It’s like the writers took Morpheus’s iconic persona and decided to just phone it in, using him as some sort of nostalgia prop rather than actually developing his character any further. And don’t even get me started on the lack of explanation for how Neo managed to escape from the Matrix without anyone noticing - I mean, come on, that’s like the plot hole of the century.

Despite all its flaws, The Matrix Resurrections does have some moments where it feels like we’re actually getting somewhere. When Bugs and Neo are working together, they’ve got a chemistry that’s hard to deny. And when Trinity is finally given the space to shine, she delivers some real highlights - specifically, that awesome fight scene against an army of rogue machines.

But those moments feel fleeting - before long, the movie’s back to its usual self, trying to cram in as much action and spectacle as possible without any real thought for what that means or where it’s going. It’s like we’re watching some sort of animated video game rather than a story about people.

So what does The Matrix Resurrections say about our own relationship with technology? About the ways in which we use digital tools to control and manipulate each other? I mean, Bugs is basically a hacker who’s used her skills for good - but what about all the other hackers out there? What about those who are using their powers for nefarious purposes?

The movie doesn’t really have any real answers to these questions. Instead, it just sort of… assumes that we’re all on the same page already. That we know exactly what’s at stake when it comes to our digital lives, and that we can just wing it if things get too complicated.

I’m not saying that The Matrix Resurrections is a bad movie - it’s got some great moments, and Keanu Reeves still delivers. But in the end, it feels like more of the same old thing: sci-fi action flicks with barely any thought for the bigger implications or philosophical underpinnings.

So what does this say about our own relationship with science fiction as a genre? Do we want movies that are just going to throw us a bunch of cool visuals and call it a day, or do we want something more? Something that’s actually going to make us think?

That’s the thing - The Matrix Resurrections tries to reboot the entire franchise without really rebooting anything. It’s still trying to tell us the same old story about Neo and his destiny, without any real consideration for what that story means in the world today.

And so… if you’re like me, and you’re still reeling from the existential implications of The Matrix Resurrections, I want to ask you: what does it all mean?