Review Roundup For Matrix Resurrections

The wait for The Matrix Resurrections is nearly over, and with it ends a two-decade hiatus for a film that's poised to revive the franchise and also, potentially, redeem two sequels that preceded it. The film hits both theaters and HBO Max on December 22--note that the streaming service won't be releasing the film early--and on the eve of its release, it's only natural to wonder how it's faring with critics.

The Matrix Resurrections is written and directed by Lana Wachowski. The fourth movie in the series stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen), Jessica Henwick (Underwater), Ellen Hollman (Spartacus), Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter), Priyanka Chopra (We Can Be Heroes), and Daniel Bernhardt (Birds of Prey).

As of this writing, the movie has 35 critics giving an aggregate score of 64 on Metacritic. Rotten Tomatoes, meanwhile, has 69 critics giving a similar aggregate score of 67% fresh. These scores will shift as the film is finally out and other outlets publish reviews, but based on reviews, it looks like if you are a diehard fan you will not be disappointed.

Below, you'll see a selection of the many reviews of The Matrix Resurrections that have already been published. This includes GameSpot's own review.

The Matrix Resurrections

• Directed and written by: Lana Wachowski
• Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Ellen Hollman, Jonathan Groff, Priyanka Chopra, and Daniel Bernhardt.
• Release Date: December 22

GameSpot - 7/10

"The Matrix Resurrections will remind you of what you loved about the franchise the first time around… While it may not be nearly as good as the original Matrix, you shouldn't be surprised to find yourself thinking about it weeks after your first viewing, wondering why it's sticking with you so much." - Chris Hayner [Full review]

San Francisco Chronicle - 100

"In the end, it’s the ideas at work in The Matrix Resurrections, much more than the action, that keep us contentedly in our seats for well over two hours." - Mick LaSalle [Full review]

Empire - 60

"Resurrections suffers from an identity crisis, going from being supremely fun and knowing to weirdly pedestrian. It's a slippery mish-mash–entertaining in big bursts but ultimately a little hollow." - Alex Godfrey [Full review]

USA Today - 50

"The new Matrix tries to reprogram a beloved piece of cinema. However, it's quite a few fixes short of a full upgrade." - Brian Truitt [Full review]

Chicago Sun-Times - 2.5/4

"Ultimately this feels more like a warmed-over tribute to the past than a bold and fresh new chapter." - Richard Roeper [Full review]

Den of Geek - 3.5/5

"This is no cynical corporate cash grab like so many other legacy sequels that have released in the decades since Neo first saved Zion." - John Saavedra [Full review]

Globe and Mail - No score

"If 2021 is going to end like [this]... then I can think of no better a blockbuster to cap things off than The Matrix Resurrections." - Barry Hertz [Full review]

Bloody Disgusting - 3.5/5

"Resurrections grapples with its legacy and place with an existential self-awareness in true Matrix-style. Only this time, director and co-writer Lana Wachowski gets far more personal and sentimental, bringing surprising humor to the mix." - Meagan Navarro [Full review]