The Matrix

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
The Matrix Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Intense, but many teens will be able to handle it.

R 1999 136 minutes
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 91 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 445 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Matrix is an exciting, sometimes confusing, sci-fi adventure with a brooding Keanu Reeves and a mysterious Laurence Fishburne at it center. It's heavy on special effects and has a lot of action violence (some of it pretty gross, including an icky bug that enters the hero's body through his belly button) and strong language ("s--t," "goddamn," "crap," etc.). Most teens should be able to handle it without a problem, though the plot can be confusing as it unfolds.

Parents need to know that The Matrix is an exciting, if sometimes confusing, sci-fi adventure written and directed by sisters Lana and Lilly Wachowski. It stars a brooding Keanu Reeves, a mysterious Laurence Fishburne, and a strong Carrie-Anne Moss. It's heavy on special effects and has lots of action violence including many gun fights. There are also gross elements, including an icky bug that enters the hero's body through his belly button and strong language ("s--t," "goddamn," "crap," etc.). The film emphasizes perseverance and teamwork.

Community Reviews

richk846
richk846 Adult
September 10, 2020
age 13+

Confusing for kids

Watched with my 10 and 12 year-old kids. They'd been asking to see it for a while, but it was a bit of an anti-climax when we did. There's violence here. The lobby shooting scene is quite graphic (with blood) and the navel-entering squid thing is gross, but it's not too graphic. There's some vague drug references, but nothing too bad, and not much sex. My kids actually felt the contrived love interest between Neo and Trinity was unnecessary and got quite annoyed by it. The problem we had was more with the story. It was too confusing for my kids, as the plot demands you just go with it for a long time before it becomes clear what's happening. For that reason I would say this is better kept until your kids are a little older, when nuances and complexity won't go over their head or need constant pauses for explanation.
10 people found this helpful.
SniperKlix
SniperKlix Adult
January 3, 2022
age 7+

Great fun movie!!!

This film is really good and I highly recommend you watch it. It is a good movie with a good plot and I think you should check it out. Some people wonder if it is good for there kids so I am here to help you answer that question. WARNING SPOILER ALERT!!,! Violence 3/5: the violence is not too bad in this and I generally think the majority of kids no matter what age could handle this. There is some shooting and there is rarely any blood. Some characters die by getting unplugged from the matrix. One character gets trapped in a room and people come in and shoot him then we cut to a shot where there is blood coming out of his mouth. (Implying his death) There is some explosions. One character gets his body exploded to pieces by neo. (It is a bad guy and it is and older movie so it is more cheesy than scary. Also ipthere is no blood or gore it generally just looks like broken concrete) Something crawls into neo’s belly button. Language 2/5: There is a good amount of uses of sh*t Sex 1/5: Trinity kisses neo. We see neo in the goo when he awakens from the matrix and he is naked but we do not see anything sensitive. Drinking drugs and smoking: 1/5: characters smoke. Overall: It is a good movie that should be rated PG-13. Marvel movies are more inappropriate and I think kids of any ages will enjoy it! (Younger ones may not really understand the plot but they will think the action is badass)

This title has:

Great role models
5 people found this helpful.
See all 91 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE MATRIX, Keanu Reeves stars as Neo, a computer programmer with a sideline as a hacker, who gets mysterious messages that lead him to Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), leader of a ragtag group that lives aboard a rocket-style craft. It turns out that it's not 1999 but about 100 years into the future. All of humanity has been turned into a source of energy to keep machines "alive." The Matrix is a massive computer program that has the humans believing that they are still living in a world that has actually been destroyed. Special agents, led by Smith (Hugo Weaving), seek out Morpheus and his followers to destroy them.

Is It Any Good?

This film is heavy on special effects and brooding paranoia, light on plot, dialogue, character, and even coherence. THE MATRIX challenges what's real and what's part of an elaborate, fake cyber-reality, so it can be confusing for both the audience and the characters in the movie. But it's certainly an ideal pick for the kind of teen who wishes that video games could come to life. Though it's rated R for violence (some pretty gross, including an icky bug that enters the hero's body through his belly button) and language, most teens 14 and up who are begging to see it should be able to handle it without a problem.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the relationship between humans and machines. Why was the first Matrix program, creating the perception of a utopia-like society, unacceptable to the humans?

  • What do you think of the violence in The Matrix? Is it too much or appropriate to the story?

  • How well do you think The Matrix deals with the philosophical issues it raises, such as destiny vs. free will and loyalty vs. self-interest?

Movie Details

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