On This Day

The Matrix released

March 31st 1999

08:27 31 March 2024

'The Matrix' opened in theaters in the U.S. on this day in 1999. The Wachowskis science fiction action film starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving was a game changer for Hollywood action movies. 

Influenced by Japanese animation and martial arts films, the Wachowskis use of fight choreographers and Hong Kong action cinema wire fu techniques would go on to be hugely influential on subsequent Hollywood productions. The film also popularised the “bullet time” visual effect. 

The movie was released to widespread critical acclaim and was a massive hit at the box office, grossing over $460 million on a $63 million budget. It’s success lead to two sequels being released in 2003: ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ and ‘The Matrix Revolutions’.

A fourth film, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ was released in 2021. ‘The Matrix’ is quite simply one of the best science fiction films ever made.