The Matrix sequels have always lived in a strange limbo. The original 1999 film is canonized as one of the best movies of the 1990s and one of the most influential blockbusters ever made, while its follow-ups? Well, most folks wish that first movie had never been made into a franchise. The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions were written off as bloated, confusing, and self-indulgent. These criticisms are so ingrained that it’s become cultural shorthand.
