Matrix Movies in Order: All Four Films and The Animatrix Explained

Watch the four released Matrix movies in this order: The Matrix (1999), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), then The Matrix Resurrections (2021). Release order is also the best order for following Neo’s story. For an expanded marathon, add the nine animated shorts of The Animatrix between the first movie and Reloaded.

A fifth movie has been discussed, but as of November 2, 2026 there is no confirmed release date, cast or production start. It is not part of this four-film list.

Every Matrix movie in order

Warner Bros. lists the films together in its official four-film home-video collection. The two 2003 sequels are closely connected; unlike a set of standalone adventures, the second and third installments work best watched back to back.

The best watch order for beginners

Start with The Matrix (1999)

The first movie builds its central mystery around Thomas Anderson, a hacker who goes by Neo. Its questions about reality work best without prequel explanations. Our review of the original Matrix looks at how the film turns its science-fiction rules into action and character decisions.

Then The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

This is the direct continuation, with a wider view of the world and the resistance. If you want the optional animated material, pause here and watch The Animatrix before starting Reloaded. It will make several secondary threads more familiar without becoming mandatory homework.

Follow with The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Do not skip this film if you want the original trilogy’s conclusion. It carries forward the events of Reloaded and finishes that story. The close connection matters more than the fact that both arrived in the same calendar year.

Finish with The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

Lana Wachowski returned to direct this fourth film. The official Warner Bros. site confirms that Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss returned as Neo and Trinity. Although the movie revisits old ideas, it is not an unrelated reboot. Its callbacks are easier to understand after the trilogy.

The official site’s December 2021 US theatrical/HBO Max information is historical, not proof that any subscription service currently carries the film worldwide. Streaming and rental availability varies by market.

Where does The Animatrix fit?

The Animatrix is a 2003 anthology of nine animated short films. Warner Home Video’s announcement, reported by Animation World Network on January 29, 2003, described the collection and a June 3 home-video release. Some shorts were also distributed online ahead of that date.

The anthology cannot be assigned one precise position on a fictional timeline because its shorts span different eras:

• The Second Renaissance, Parts I and II tell the backstory of the war between humans and machines. They take place before the original film, but can spoil the pleasure of discovery.
• Final Flight of the Osiris is a bridge to Reloaded.
• Kid’s Story and A Detective Story follow people outside Neo’s central point of view.
• Other shorts explore different corners of the same world and can be watched as optional companions.

Full viewing route: The Matrix → The Animatrix → The Matrix Reloaded → The Matrix Revolutions → The Matrix Resurrections.

If you only have time for the movies, skip the anthology without worrying about a missing fifth chapter.

Chronological order versus release order

For the four live-action movies, the orders are the same. There is no separate movie prequel that needs to go first. The complication is The Animatrix: its historical prequel shorts and later character stories do not all happen at one time.

On a rewatch, try The Second Renaissance before the 1999 film, and Final Flight of the Osiris immediately ahead of Reloaded. On a first viewing, stick to release order; it was designed to introduce the world gradually.

Does Matrix 5 have a release date?

Warner Bros. announced a new Matrix project in 2024 with Drew Goddard attached to write and direct. In a September 2026 interview with KCRW, Lilly Wachowski said Goddard wanted the original creators’ blessing before continuing; their decision was not publicly confirmed. That is not the same as a formal cancellation or a greenlit film with a release schedule.

No fifth installment has a confirmed title, cast, start of production or premiere date. Our Matrix 5 development report separates the verified statements from speculation.

More science fiction to explore

The original Matrix also appears in our 20 best action movies feature. For another story about artificial life and identity, see the Blade Runner viewing order. If you like expansive movie universes with different adaptations, the Dune movie watch guide clarifies its film and television branches.

Frequently asked questions

How many Matrix movies are there?

Four released live-action films. The Animatrix is a collection of nine animated shorts, not a fifth live-action installment.

Should I watch The Animatrix first?

No. Watch The Matrix (1999) first, then optionally the shorts before Reloaded. That preserves the original film’s central revelation.

Can I skip The Matrix Revolutions?

Not if you want the connected 2003 story’s conclusion. Revolutions follows directly from Reloaded.

Is The Matrix Resurrections a reboot?

It is a fourth installment continuing the series and starring returning leads Neo and Trinity, not a disconnected remake.

Is Matrix 5 out yet?

No. As of November 2, 2026, it remains a developing project without an official release date.

Where can I stream the films?

Check current availability in your own region. The series has different licensing arrangements by country and service; this guide does not assume one global streaming platform.

Sources

The Warner Bros. film collection verifies the four-film lineup, the official Resurrections website confirms the fourth movie’s team and stars, and the 2003 Animatrix announcement confirms the nine-short collection. KCRW and TheWrap provide dated reporting on the proposed fifth project.