The Matrix trilogy has become a famous example of a modern action franchise since its initial release in 1999.
The three films have been praised and dissected since their release by everyone from college professors to award winning philosophers.
The films combined revolutionary technology with deep existentialism ideas to appease both the mainstream as well as the art house crowds.
The combination resulted in some of the best action films of all time and a franchise on the same level of Die Hard and the Lethal Weapon movies.
Enter the Matrix In March of 1999, the Matrix was released in theaters around the world.
In a time before internet gossip and spoilers had become as common place as they are today, needless to say, it caught people by surprise.
The story focused on one man, Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, who discovered the world he lived in was actually a façade.
In reality people had become a source of energy used by machines to power their existence.
While everyone imagined themselves having a job, possessions, and a family, it was all in fact a program they were wired into to keep their minds busy while their bodies were harvested for energy.
Technology Rules This one simple idea struck a chord with audiences around the world.
While the internet was slowly expanding its grip all over the world, people were quickly becoming aware of just how 'plugged in' to the system they were becoming.
It was not a far off idea to begin to feel like we were all working in service of a greater good.
Even if this greater good was really just a collection of information strung together by ones and zeros in cyberspace.
The movie was relatable as well because Neo was seemingly an everyman.
He worked in a cubicle and wondered what his purpose really was.
It is not hard to understand how millions of people around the world could identify with his position and fantasize about finding out that they were in fact the 'one.
' The Chosen One The film really kicks into gear once Neo begins to discover that he may be living in a virtual world.
Along with the guidance of Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne, he is exposed to the truth of the world he lives in as well as the belief Morpheus has that Neo is in fact the savior of the human race.
Neo is awakened in the real world and reloaded with abilities covering everything from firearms to Kung Fu.
This transformation from zero to hero is the main focus of the original matrix film as Neo accepts his new responsibilities and battles the evil agent Smith inside of the matrix.
In its initial theatrical run, the film earned 463 million worldwide.
86% of the critics who covered the film gave it a positive review.
This story is what captured the minds of fans around the world and made the Matrix the success it is.