The Matrix Reloaded

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

Common Sense says

age 15+

Second Matrix movie is violent but still exciting.

R 2003 138 minutes
Rate movie

Parents say

age 14+

Based on 28 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 80 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate movie

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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 Reloaded is the second film in the Matrix sci-fi triology. It has intense and prolonged sci-fi violence and peril, including fights, car chases/crashes, guns, and martial arts. Characters are killed (sometimes more than once). There's some swearing ("f--k," "s--t," "prick," "damn," "hell") and a deeply romantic sexual encounter (briefly graphic, with breasts/butt exposed). Many characters are strong, brave, loyal, and intelligent.

Community Reviews

doctora
doctora Adult
June 16, 2022
age 15+

This film deserves many re-watches...it is quite good.

I saw this film when it was released in theaters in 2003. I, like many people before me was not very impressed. I thought the film had some bright spots, but in general I lamented how it was "not as good as the first one". I recently re-watched it in preparation for The Matrix Resurrections and I have to admit that I was a silly 27 year old that did not appreciate storytelling and character building. Although it is clear that they had a much bigger budget that they expeditiously used to make a lot of very long fight scenes it is also clear that the Wachowski's had a vision for their world that they created and had generously invited us all to observe. I appreciate this film a lot more on the re-watch.
SlickFish2000
SlickFish2000 Adult
January 11, 2021
age 16+

Exciting but falls below the standard that the previous film sets up

The matrix reloaded is a fun exciting action film but definitely not for kids. It isn’t as good as the matrix (not by a long shot) but still has some good action. Violence is frequent and very bloody and intense, with people getting shot, stabbed, kicked, punched and threatened. There is quite a lot of swearing including sh*t, ass, damn, asshole and other words. Neo and Trinity have a sexual encounter which shows them lying on top of each other naked. A woman says to her husband “she was not kissing your face” this will fly over the head of some but most will understand. It’s a good film but not as good as number one. Definitely for teens and adults only

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 28 parent reviews

What's the Story?

No refreshers to bring us back into the world of the original Matrix -- THE MATRIX RELOADED literally starts with a bang as a woman in black breaks into some sort of secure facility and fights off the guards. And just like that, we're back in a world where the machines use humans for fuel, lulling people into thinking that they're living mundane lives so that they won't realize that they're merely an energy source. Only a few humans know the truth, and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) believe that one of them, Neo (Keanu Reeves), is "the One" who's destined to defeat the machines. The action shifts back and forth between Zion, the city where the humans who resist the machines live, and the illusory "city" maintained by the computer program called the Matrix.

Is It Any Good?

This movie lives up to fans' expectations in many ways, serving as a bridge between the chapter that sets up the conflict and the chapter that resolves it. The Matrix Reloaded has some narrative weaknesses, but there are electrifying fight scenes, an audaciously dystopic vision, zillions of explosions and car crashes, a steamy love scene, and visual effects that continue to raise the bar.

Some of the action sequences will simply knock your socks off. The Matrix's Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) has learned how to multiply, and Neo has to fight a hundred Smiths, each with its own version of Weaving's magnificently cocked eyebrow. Real-life twins (and black belt karate instructors) Adrien and Neil Rayment play dredlocked albinos who can turn themselves into ghost-like wraiths out to destroy our heroes. And there's a heart-stopping 14-minute chase and crash scene on a freeway. But the movie's most powerful scene doesn't have fancy special effects or explosions. It's the conversation between Neo and the Oracle (played with endless warmth, wit, and spirit by the late Gloria Foster). The movie also taps into epic questions of destiny, causality, identity, and choice.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this second installment in the Matrix trilogy compares with the first. Is it as exciting and innovative? What impact does the movie's violence have?

  • Is Neo "the One"? What does that mean? Who or what is the Oracle?

  • Whose choices led to the conflict between the humans and the machines?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

  • The Matrix Poster Image

    The Matrix

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

    age 15+
  • Blade Runner Poster Image

    Blade Runner

    A dark, philosophical sci-fi drama for older teens.

    age 16+
  • Super 8 Poster Image

    Super 8

    Teens save town in action-heavy sci-fi film with retro feel.

    age 13+

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

  • Cartoon picture of a robot
    Robots
    See all

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate