I finally figured out why The Matrix sequels couldn't top the original

The Matrix is a film that has continued to inspire several filmmakers and film geeks for years. The film blends science fiction with action, high-octane fight sequences with philosophical ideas, and people bought into that. Written and directed by The Wachowskis, the film was released on April 8, 1999. Here's the official synopsis:

"When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence."

However, the first film's success was followed by several sequels that failed to live up to anyone's expectations. It was mainly due to the lack of suspense and thrill that made the first film work.

Disclaimer: The article contains writing that is strictly its writer's opinion.

The Matrix sequels didn't enjoy the original's success

The Matrix minted around $467.6 million at the box office and met with universal acclaim. It also initiated a franchise that saw multiple entries like The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (both released in 2003). In 2021, a fourth film, The Matrix Resurrections, was released. Unlike the previous entries, this one was only helmed by Lana Wachowski. Both the 2003 sequels were commercially successful, but they were deemed inferior to the first film. The 2021 film saw some positive critical love but ended up becoming a box-office bomb.

So the pattern is obvious—the viewers slowly got bored with this franchise. What should have been one film stretched into multiple ones. By the time the fourth film came out, no one really cared. This is a nice way to butcher the reputation of a classic by chasing money. The first film's success can be attributed to the mystery it offered to the viewers. The world was fresh and new to everyone. Everything it showcased—from slow-mo fights to bullet-timing—was something audiences were seeing for the first time.

But that novelty started to peel off after the sequels started coming out. The first film continued to hold on to the mystery with its characters like Morpheus, Trinity, Agent Smith, and Neo. By the end of The Matrix, we have some answers. It is important to note that the sequels expanded on the already established universe with some new additions.

The sense of mystery was gone in The Matrix Resurrections, and anything that made us scratch our heads was answered in the very next scene. The follow-up films had interesting premises, but they had long overstayed their welcome. It's rare for a franchise to keep its integrity intact—I can only think of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, but that trilogy was made all at once. It is hard to pull off, and the sequels lacked the mystery and suspense that made the first film work.

A new Matrix film will be made, and it will be helmed by Drew Goddard. Looking at the director's impressive body of work, we can expect something good to happen. We can also expect the makers to note what went wrong with the sequels so not be repeated.

Do you agree with my thoughts on the franchise?