Matrix Resurrections: Controversial Moments Unpacked

You want a ranking that’s guaranteed to get Matrix fans fired up? Few film franchises have sparked more debate than The Matrix, and nothing in this universe split the fandom quite like The Matrix Resurrections.

Number five: The recasting of Morpheus. For over twenty years, Laurence Fishburne embodied the role of Morpheus, with his commanding presence and iconic delivery. When The Matrix Resurrections arrived in 2021, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stepped into the role, playing a version of Morpheus that’s actually a program based on both Morpheus and Agent Smith. Fishburne’s absence was not due to his lack of interest; in August 2020, he confirmed he wasn’t asked to reprise the role, and in April 2025 he stated he offered his services, but the filmmakers did not respond well to his offer. Fans were split: some welcomed Abdul-Mateen II’s performance and the film’s meta explanation, while others saw the change as a glaring omission and felt the new character lacked the gravitas of the original. For many, Morpheus without Fishburne was a pill too hard to swallow.

Number four: The meta-narrative and self-referential script. Lana Wachowski, joined by David Mitchell and Aleksandar Hemon, wrote a script that doesn’t just continue the story—it comments on the existence of the franchise itself. Thomas Anderson is depicted as a video game developer who created a game series called The Matrix, based on his suppressed memories. Scenes reference Warner Bros. pressuring for sequels, and characters debate the meaning and legacy of “The Matrix” in-universe. While some critics praised this approach for its wit and timely perspective, others slammed it as overly self-indulgent and jarring. The Guardian called it “an algorithm of unoriginality.” Whether viewers found it clever or cringeworthy, the self-awareness became one of the film’s most contentious talking points.

Number three: The Trinity “Tiffany” twist and her new powers. In Resurrections, Carrie-Anne Moss returns as Trinity, but this time as “Tiffany,” a motorcycle-loving mother with no memory of her past. The film’s climax sees Trinity not only regaining her true identity but also manifesting powers that rival Neo’s—culminating in a moment where she, not Neo, takes flight. For some, this was an empowering update, finally putting Trinity on equal footing. For others, it felt like a retcon that undermined Neo’s unique role as “The One.” Some fans debated whether the story’s heart was now a love story above all else, sidelining the original’s philosophical heft for sentimentality. The ending, in which Neo and Trinity fly off together, made it clear the power dynamic had shifted, and fans couldn’t agree if that was earned or forced.

Number two: The simultaneous HBO Max release and box office performance. The Matrix Resurrections was released on December 22, 2021, in theaters and on HBO Max for a 30-day window. This release strategy, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, became a major controversy among fans and industry observers. The box office grossed $160.2 million worldwide against a massive $190 million budget, making it a “box-office bomb” compared to The Matrix Reloaded’s $741.8 million haul. Some blamed the simultaneous streaming release for cannibalizing ticket sales, while others pointed to lackluster audience reaction or fatigue after the long hiatus. In February 2022, Village Roadshow, a co-financier, sued Warner Bros. for breach of contract over the release plan, claiming it caused “abysmal” ticket sales and damaged the franchise’s value. This move fueled further debate and made the film’s release as hotly contested as its content.

And the number one most controversial aspect of The Matrix Resurrections: the critical and fan reception, as captured by the film’s mixed reviews and audience scores. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film scored 63% based on 356 reviews, with critics noting it revisits the franchise “with wit, a timely perspective, and heart,” but lacking the original’s craft. On Metacritic, it landed at 63 out of 100. Audiences polled by CinemaScore handed it a “B−,” the lowest of the series, while only 60% on PostTrak gave it a positive score and just 46% would definitely recommend it. Reviews ranged from glowing praise—The Independent gave it 4 out of 5, calling it ambitious and pure—to outright dismissal, with The Times labeling it “another truly horrible sequel” and IGN’s Amelia Emberwing rating it 4 out of 10, calling it “so laughably bad” it could become a cult favorite for the wrong reasons. The polarized reaction shaped every conversation about Resurrections, with some arguing it’s a misunderstood return to form, while others see it as proof the Matrix should have been left alone.

Was the recasting of Morpheus really worse than Trinity’s new arc? Did the streaming release kill the movie, or was it already doomed by script choices? And does Resurrections deserve its place in the franchise, or should it have taken the blue pill?