Conceived by the creative duo of Lilly and Lana Wachowski, the Matrix rapidly ascended to the status of an iconic sci-fi franchise, encompassing four full-length films, a collection of comic books, engaging video games, and a series of nine animated shorts known as the Animatrix.
While the cinematic releases form a cohesive narrative sequence, the Animatrix diversifies the timeline by offering glimpses into different moments of the Matrix universe.
This intricate chronology can present challenges when attempting to experience the entire Matrix saga in a chronological order.
To assist you in navigating this intricate narrative, we have crafted a guide to help you discover the optimal sequence for watching the Matrix movies.
1. Title: The Animatrix: The Second Renaissance, Part I and II
Release Year: 2003
Director: Mahiro Maeda
Runtime: Series
The Second Renaissance, occurring earliest in the timeline, unveils the tragic tale of how humanity lost its world to machines. It adds an extra layer of tragedy as humanity originally created the artificial intelligence that powered these machines.
2. Title: The Animatrix: A Detective Story
Release Year: 2003
Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
Runtime: 1h 40m
Just before the events of the first feature film, “A Detective Story” follows private detective Ash on the trail of a hacker known as Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss).
3. Title: The Matrix
Release Year: 1999
Director: Lana Wachowski
Runtime: 2h 16m
The groundbreaking film that launched the franchise, “The Matrix” introduces Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne), Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), and more.
4. Title: The Animatrix: The Kid’s Story
Release Year: 2003
Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
Runtime: 1h 40m
This short explores the story of The Kid (Clayton Watson), a side character from “The Matrix Reloaded.” Notably, it features an appearance by Neo (Keanu Reeves).
5. Title: The Animatrix: Final Flight of the Osiris
Release Year: 2003
Director: Andrew R. Jones
Runtime: 1h 40m
Set just before the events of “The Matrix Reloaded,” “Final Flight of the Osiris” follows Captain Thadeus and Jue as they engage in a virtual dojo battle while blindfolded.
6. Title: The Matrix Reloaded
Release Year: 2003
Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Runtime: 2h 18m
“The Matrix Reloaded” picks up six months after the original “Matrix,” with a significant focus on the love story between Neo and Trinity.
7. Title: The Animatrix: Beyond
Release Year: 2003
Director: Koji Morimoto
Runtime: 1h 40m
Set within the Matrix, “Beyond” follows a teenage girl named Yoko on a quest to find her cat Yuki. Her journey leads her to a so-called haunted house, which harbors numerous Matrix glitches used for entertainment.
8. Title: The Animatrix: World Record
Release Year: 2003
Director: Takeshi Koike
Runtime: 1h 40m
“World Record” presents Agents alerted to a track athlete who pushes his limits to win the 100m dash in the Summer Olympic Games.
9. Title: The Animatrix: Program
Release Year: 2003
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Runtime: 1h 40m
“Program” is another short with an ambiguous timeline. It unfolds a gripping narrative primarily set in a battle program in feudal Japan.
10. Title: The Animatrix: Matriculated
Release Year: 2003
Director: Peter Chung
Runtime: 1h 40m
“Matriculated” contributes to the fragmented storytelling of The Animatrix, offering a clearer glimpse into this intricate universe.
11. Title: The Matrix Revolutions
Release Year: 2003
Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Runtime: 2h 9m
“The Matrix Revolutions” unfolds immediately after “Reloaded,” chronicling the last stand of Zion and the final journey of Neo and Trinity as they confront the Machine City.
12. Title: The Matrix Resurrections
Release Year: 2021
Director: Lana Wachowski
Runtime: 2h 27m
After an 18-year hiatus, the franchise returns with “The Matrix Resurrections,” set six decades after the previous installment. It delves into Neo’s story as he grapples with amnesia and his reinsertion into the Matrix.
CSN Team.
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