FILM · 2003 · USA
The Matrix Revolutions
- Directed by
- Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
- Runtime
- 129 min
- Studio
- Village Roadshow Pictures, NPV Entertainment, Silver Pictures
70 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
The human city of Zion defends itself against the massive invasion of the machines as Neo fights to end the war at another front while also opposing the rogue Agent Smith.
Summary: TMDB
All facts (70)
- #001
Contains a major spoiler — show
On the bench where the Oracle sits in the film's final scene, there is a small metal dedication plaque reading "in Memory of Thomas Anderson".
- #002
The street corner where Neo and Smith fight in the crater is the same corner where Neo makes his phone call at the end of The Matrix (1999): the corner of Pitt, Hunter and O'Connell Streets in Sydney, Australia. When they fall to the ground, the phone booth can be seen on the right side.
- #003
Most of the "raindrops" in the final fight between Neo and Smith are actually single lines of Matrix code, similar to those seen in the "real world" throughout the trilogy. This subtle effect was added to imply that the Matrix is beginning to destabilize. The visual trick was easily visible in IMAX and larger theaters, but on smaller televisions it can appear as streaky rain that looks like static during jump cuts in the fight scenes.
- #004
Contains a major spoiler — show
Ian Bliss was cast as Bane partly because of his exact impression of Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith) and his partial resemblance to Weaving.
- #005
In the club scene, the Merovingian wears his tie in a style actually known as a Merovingian tie knot.
- #006
Only one full-size APU has ever been built. It was created entirely in Auto-CAD, and its parts were made removable so that the detailing could be swapped for scenes featuring different pilots and APUs. The full model weighed about two tons.
- #007
Contains a major spoiler — show
The final scene of the film set in the park is the only scene across all three films in which greenery and a blue sky are seen in the Matrix.
- #008
Gloria Foster (the Oracle) died of diabetes before completing any scenes for the third film or the Enter the Matrix (2003) game. Mary Alice took over the role of the Oracle in both the third film and the game. The Wachowskis decided to establish in the Matrix universe that programs living inside the Matrix can change and choose their form and appearance. In Enter the Matrix, the change in the Oracle's appearance is addressed when she explains to Niobe and Ghost that she punished the Merovingian for directing Neo to her. This caused the Merovingian to lose the Keymaker and several loyal followers, and in retaliation he stole her former self-image and forced her to use an older image, which also limited many of her abilities, such as her memory. In Revolutions, the first conversation in which Morpheus and Trinity meet the "new" Oracle was adapted to refer to her changed appearance. The alternative was for Morpheus and Trinity to act as if they did not notice, which would perhaps have been even stranger. Interestingly, Foster's dub voice, Juana Beuter, was assigned to Alice for the Spanish premiere, giving the Oracle (at least in Spain) two different bodies but the same voice.
- #009
Contains a major spoiler — show
The black cat at the end of the film is the same black cat from the "déjà-vu" scene in The Matrix (1999). It even meows in the same way.
- #010
In the final fight scene between Neo and Agent Smith, and also in the credits, the following Sanskrit sloka is recited in a Westernized style: "Asatoma Sat Gamaya, Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya, Mrityorma Anritam Gamaya", meaning "Lead me from the unreal to the Real, Lead me from the darkness to the Light, Lead me from the temporary to the Eternal".
- #011
Composer Don Davis felt it would be a waste for the choir to sing simple "ooohs" and "aaahs" during the rousing battle cue "Neodämmerung". (In an interview he joked that he would have them sing "This is the one, see what he does".) He asked the Wachowskis to bring him some kind of text appropriate to the film for the choir to sing. They came back with quotations from the Upanishads reflecting the trilogy's themes. The complete lyrics of Neodämmerung are available on Davis's website.
- #012
Keanu Reeves reportedly earned 15 million dollars from the film, equivalent to 400,000 dollars for every minute of its running time.
- #013
In the scene where Morpheus, Trinity and Seraph chase the Trainman, a Tastee Wheat advertisement is visible. In The Matrix (1999), Tastee Wheat was mentioned when Mouse tried to describe real-world food.
- #014
Although it is never named, according to information in The Animatrix (2003) the Machine City is actually called "Zero-One" and is located in the Empty Quarter in Saudi Arabia.
- #015
Maggie and Captain Rowland briefly mention the term "VDTs" to explain the possible cause of what happened to Bane and why he made cuts on himself (unaware that Bane was taken over by Agent Smith). However, VDTs are never defined or explained at any point in the film. Various sources claim that VDTs stand for "Virtual Delirium Tremens", the virtual form of "Delirium Tremens", a type of delirium caused by the absence of and/or withdrawal from certain substances.
- #016
A flight rig called "the tuning fork" (capable of rotating 360 degrees) was built specifically for the effect of Neo and Smith fighting in the air and advancing toward the sky.
- #017
Most of the extras in Club Hel were real members of the local BDSM scene wearing their own outfits. The costume department realized that this group understood the logistical difficulties of wearing such outfits better than general extras, and that the production could not otherwise afford to buy such high-quality BDSM clothing. Some accessories were provided by the costume department to help create a consistent aesthetic.
- #018
The Matrix Revolutions contains 804 visual effects shots, and nearly all of them include some form of live-action element.
- #019
Sati is the ancient Hindu practice in which a widow immolates herself on her husband's funeral pyre; the practice is now illegal in India. In Hindu mythology, Sati is the name of a Hindu goddess who burned herself because she could not bear an insult to her husband, Lord Shiva.
- #020
Contains a major spoiler — show
The battle cue at the climax is titled "Neodämmerung", derived from the German word Götterdämmerung, literally "twilight of the gods". This was the title of a section of Richard Wagner's opera "Der Ring des Nibelungen" ("The Ring of the Nibelung") about Norse mythology. Götterdämmerung told the story of Ragnarok, or Ragnarokkr ("twilight of the gods" or "fate of the gods"), the final, fatal battle that destroyed the home of the gods and the gods themselves forever. Although the gods knew what was coming, they fought so that humanity would survive. The title fits not only in terms of its thematic content but also because of Wagner's strong influence on this film's music.
- #021
The key of the opening theme heard at the start of every Matrix film (the rousing strings and horns) rises with each film. The Matrix (1999) begins in the key of E minor, The Matrix Reloaded (2003) rises a full step to F-sharp minor, and The Matrix Revolutions (2003) rises a half step to the key of G minor.
- #022
The special effects team spent two months designing the apparatus that would create the perfect raindrop.
- #023
The ship known as the Hammer was actually named Mjolnir after Thor's hammer. In Norse legends, the hammer always returned to its owner, scattering sparks of lightning and thunder along the way. The ship, like the hammer, returned to its master (Zion) with its own lightning and thunder.
- #024
Seraph is the singular form of Seraphim, a Hebrew word that literally means "the burning ones" in English. However, the Hebrew word is another name for "Angels".
- #025
When Neo goes to see the Oracle in her apartment, the jazz standard "I'm Beginning to See the Light" plays in the background; a different version of the same song plays in the corresponding scene in The Matrix (1999).
- #026
In the first film's score, some cues were given names that are anagrams of "The Matrix" or "Wachowski Brothers". Here, the cue supporting Neo and Trinity's approach to the machine city is titled "Saw Bitch Workhorse".
- #027
The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Enter the Matrix (2003) and this film were shot back to back.
- #028
In The Matrix, the human resistance reveals that they do not know what year it is, but that it is much closer to 2199 than to 1999. In The Matrix Reloaded, it is revealed that the resistance has been created and destroyed five times, with each cycle lasting about a century, so it is likely set hundreds of years later.
- #029
In the second and third Matrix films, Carrie Anne Moss performs "scorpion kicks". Because of the extreme flexibility and strength required, in the original film she only appeared to do it using a prosthetic leg.
- #030
Contains a major spoiler — show
In The Matrix (1999), while telling Neo the story of The One, Morpheus states that the Oracle prophesied The One's return and that his greeting would lead to the destruction of the Matrix and end the war between humans and machines. At the end of the film the war does indeed end, but when an assimilated Neo completely destroys Agent Smith the Matrix is not destroyed; the Matrix is reset and the truth about it is revealed to the human population, who are given the chance to be freed. In The Matrix (1999), Morpheus had mentioned that the Oracle told you "exactly what you need[ed] to hear" and that "there's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path". In an earlier scene he explained that "most of these people [inside the Matrix] are not ready to be unplugged". Morpheus's explanations in the first film thus foreshadowed the ending of The Matrix Revolutions.
- #031
The Sentinel attack cost 40 million dollars for 14 minutes of action.
- #032
The face of "Deus ex Machina" was modeled after photographs of Lilly Wachowski's infant nephew.
- #033
When Morpheus, Trinity and Seraph enter the elevator leading to the Merovingian's club, Morpheus presses the red "HELP" button to go down. However, the "P" was defaced, so that the button reads "HEL".
- #034
Contains a major spoiler — show
Although this film officially ends the Matrix trilogy, a sequel in the form of The Matrix Resurrections (2021) was announced 16 years later and released in 2021. Director Lana Wachowski based it on "ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality [that] are even more relevant now".
- #035
All three Matrix films contain at least one dance club-style scene. In this film, it takes place inside the Merovingian's home after the shoot.
- #036
Zion, which comes from Hebrew, refers to the fortress in Palestine that is the core of Jerusalem, the Jewish homeland and a symbol of Judaism or Jewish national aspiration. However, the word was also adopted by Rastafari to refer to the promised land (thought to be Ethiopia). Given the atmosphere, music style, clothing and so on of Zion's underground dwelling, this may be the meaning that inspired the name.
- #037
The story continues in The Matrix Online (2005).
- #038
Contains a major spoiler — show
In the closing scene, the Oracle wears yin/yang earrings symbolizing the balance maintained between her and the Architect.
- #039
In an interview on the Team Deakins podcast in the summer of 2020, the cinematographer of the Matrix trilogy described working on the sequels as a negative experience, saying: "Everything that was good in the first experience was not good in the last two. We weren't free anymore. People were looking at you. There was a lot of pressure. In my heart, I didn't like them. I felt we should have gone in another direction. There was a lot of friction and a lot of personal problems, and it showed on the screen, to be honest. It wasn't my most exciting moment, nor was it anyone else's. The Wachowskis had read that damn Stanley Kubrick book: 'Actors can't give natural performances until you wear them down.' So let's take 90! I want to dig up Stanley Kubrick and kill him."
- #040
The high-rise room where Neo fights Smith is a replica of the film's production office.
- #041
Contains a major spoiler — show
When Morpheus, Trinity and Seraph meet the Merovingian in his club, he says, "You have fought through Hel to do so. Yes?" He says that Hel is the button Morpheus pressed in the elevator to reach the club floor and the name of the club.
- #042
The nightclub scene is the real club night "The Sydney Hellfire Club", which ran for 27 years and was the longest-running club night in Australian club history.
- #043
Gloria Foster died of diabetes before filming her scenes, and the Wachowskis had to recast the role of the Oracle, for which Mary Alice was chosen. The Wachowskis decided to establish in the Matrix universe that programs living inside the Matrix can change and choose their form and appearance. In the Oracle's case, Enter the Matrix (2003) explains that the Merovingian took her current self-image to punish her for helping Neo and to force her to revert to an older avatar with limited abilities.
- #044
After first choice Aaliyah died in a plane crash on 25 August 2001, Eva Mendes, Samantha Mumba, Brandy Norwood and Tatyana Ali were said to be possible replacements for the character Zee. Nona Gaye (daughter of Motown legend Marvin Gaye) was ultimately cast in the role.
- #045
Adam Savage built a detailed working clockwork mechanism in the Zion Dock control tower model to show what moved the elevator. Production Designer Owen Paterson was horrified and told him to keep it hidden from the Wachowskis because they would want it to move on screen, which would greatly increase the difficulty of the shoot. It was later pasted over.
- #046
It is the second live-action film to be released simultaneously in both regular and IMAX cinemas.
- #047
The brand of cigarette the Oracle smokes is "Double Destiny".
- #048
After filming was completed, there were plans to distribute some of the Agent Smith mannequins to the cast and crew. Unfortunately, the hours spent soaked under hot studio lights meant the mannequins were now reeking and full of bacteria. Ironically, Smith had delivered a monologue in the first film about being affected by the smell of humans.
- #049
Merovingian refers to the first Frankish dynasty, which ruled from AD 500 to 751.
- #050
A Powerade commercial is visible while Trinity chases the Trainman in the subway. When The Matrix Reloaded (2003) was released in theaters, Matrix-based commercials for Powerade aired on American television.
- #051
Two new Machine types were to appear as the film approached the Machine City, but they were either written out or edited out. "The Keep" was a living machine tower with whip-like directed-energy weapons that Neo could fight using his connection to the Source, but its scene could have disrupted the pace of the journey to the City and was deleted. The Surface Sentinel, or Super Sentinel, was a massive, weapon-filled upgrade that guarded the surface world, but the script required it to pass through the hovercraft, and its size made this awkward. Conventional Sentinels were therefore used, though on close inspection they appear to be a noticeably more cumbersome and "meaner" version.
- #052
In the film's second week in release, its total gross dropped by 66 percent.
- #053
The lighting in the Neo/Smith fight resembles devil's wings emerging from Smith. Along with the film's idea that Neo is Jesus Christ, this presents the notion of a struggle between Jesus and the Devil for the world.
- #054
Contains a major spoiler — show
Agent Smith addresses Neo by the name "Neo" only once in the trilogy. This comes at the end of the great fight, the trilogy's final epic battle. There could be several reasons for this. One is that Smith is now the Oracle and, having the 'Oracle's eye,' repeats what the Oracle said to Neo. Another is that Smith now respects Neo and calls him by the name he prefers.
- #055
The 2003 Super Bowl trailer, the only one to include both the back-to-back sequels "Reloaded" and "Revolutions," is said by some fans to highlight all the men and women connected to The Matrix waking up and emerging from their pods. However, neither copies of the trailer downloaded in 2003 nor versions of the trailer on modern home video releases show this. All subsequent trailers are for either one film or the other (and do not show people waking from the Matrix either). Given that the events described do not occur in either film, there would be no point in showing it.
- #056
It was the first film to have its premiere at the brand-new Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles.
- #057
The film contained 2,100 special effects shots and 150 sets.
- #058
It is the only Matrix film that somehow does not end with a Rage Against the Machine song. The Matrix features "Wake Up" in its end title sequence, The Matrix Reloaded ends with "Calm Like a Bomb," and The Matrix Resurrections ends with a cover of "Wake Up" by the band Brass Against.
- #059
Neo is an anagram of One.
- #060
The twin pistols Seraph uses in the coat-check fight are Browning BDM pistols.
- #061
Although it was shot in Super 35, "Filmed in Panavision" is listed in the end credits.
- #062
Each of the lead actors reprised their role in the tie-in video game Enter the Matrix (2003).
- #063
The film's visual effects supervisor appears as an APU operator.
- #064
In the end credits, the entire cast appears listed alphabetically by surname.
- #065
Jada Pinkett Smith (Niobe) and Mary Alice (The Oracle) both appeared in the series "A Different World."
- #066
As of 2025, with a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it is the worst-reviewed Matrix film.
- #067
The film made the shortlist for the Best Visual Effects Oscar but was not nominated.
- #068
Laurence Fishburne and Harry Lennix appeared together in three films, the last of which would be Man of Steel (2013).
- #069
Lachy Hulme worked with Kate Beahan on Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.
- #070
In the closing scene, Neo, blindfolded, reaches out his hand and stops the sentinels with his bare hands. This is the same gesture Keanu Reeves made at the end of Sweet November (2001).
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