Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe easiest way to watch The Matrix films is also the correct chronological order: start with The Matrix, continue through Reloaded and Revolutions, then finish with Resurrections. There is no released feature-length prequel that needs to come first.
The only complication is The Animatrix, a 2003 anthology of nine animated shorts. It expands the history of the Matrix and includes stories set before, between and around the live-action films, but it is not a fifth movie.
Best order for a first-time viewer
- The Matrix (1999)
- The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
- The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Use this release order for a first viewing. The films were designed to reveal their world, characters and larger ideas progressively. Starting with one of the animated prequels can explain some background, but it can also expose information that the first film is deliberately withholding.
After the four films, watch The Animatrix as supplementary material. If you want to place its individual shorts into a story-based marathon, use the guide below.
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The Matrix movies by release date
| Order | Film | U.S. theatrical release |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Matrix | March 31, 1999 |
| 2 | The Matrix Reloaded | May 15, 2003 |
| 3 | The Matrix Revolutions | November 5, 2003 |
| 4 | The Matrix Resurrections | December 22, 2021 |
Reloaded and Revolutions arrived in the same year, roughly six months apart. Resurrections is a sequel to Revolutions, not a remake of the 1999 original. Its release was accompanied by a simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max launch in the United States, but that 2021 arrangement does not establish where the film currently streams.
Chronological order of the live-action films
- The Matrix
- The Matrix Reloaded
- The Matrix Revolutions
- The Matrix Resurrections
The live-action chronology is straightforward. The Matrix introduces Neo and the simulated world; Reloaded follows the consequences of his awakening; Revolutions continues directly from that conflict; and Resurrections takes place after the earlier trilogy. The fourth film intentionally makes memory, identity and the passage of time less reliable, but it does not turn the movie into a prequel.
Where The Animatrix fits
The Animatrix contains nine independent animated shorts rather than one continuous feature. Its stories range from the origins of the machine-human conflict to events that connect directly with Reloaded.
- The Second Renaissance, Part I
- The Second Renaissance, Part II
- Kid’s Story
- Program
- World Record
- Beyond
- A Detective Story
- Matriculated
- Final Flight of the Osiris
The anthology was released on DVD on June 3, 2003. Some shorts appeared separately online or through other outlets, so the order in which audiences first encountered them was not identical to the DVD sequence.
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For viewers who want to weave the animation into the fictional timeline, this is a useful order:
- The Animatrix: The Second Renaissance, Part I
- The Animatrix: The Second Renaissance, Part II
- The Animatrix: A Detective Story
- The Matrix
- The Animatrix: Kid’s Story
- The Animatrix: Program
- The Animatrix: World Record
- The Animatrix: Beyond
- The Animatrix: Final Flight of the Osiris
- The Matrix Reloaded
- The Matrix Revolutions
- The Animatrix: Matriculated
- The Matrix Resurrections
This is a practical viewing sequence, not an official scene-by-scene timeline. The Second Renaissance belongs at the beginning because it depicts the machine-human war and the creation of the Matrix. A Detective Story follows a detective investigating Trinity before the events of the first film, although its exact position is not specified.
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- Complete 5-Film Franchise Collection: Features all four live-action feature films (The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, and The Matrix Resurrections) alongside the animated prequel anthology The Animatrix.
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- Over 10 Hours of Cyberpunk Action: Delivers 653 total minutes of visual effects, martial arts, and iconic sci-fi storytelling created by the Wachowskis.
- 5-Disc Box Set with Original Slipcover: Includes 5 high-capacity BD-50 Blu-ray discs housed in collectible original outer slipcover packaging.
- Region-Free Compatibility: Fully unlocked and playable on standard Blu-ray players worldwide.
Kid’s Story fits between The Matrix and Reloaded. Final Flight of the Osiris is the clearest bridge into Reloaded: it sets up the warning and events that lead into the second film.
The locations of Program, World Record, Beyond and Matriculated are less certain. Placing them after The Matrix and before Reloaded creates a workable marathon, but these placements should be treated as best-fit chronology rather than fixed studio canon.
Release order including The Animatrix
There is no perfectly simple release list for the anthology because the shorts were introduced through different channels. A broad audience-release sequence is:
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- The Matrix — 1999
- The Animatrix shorts began appearing online — 2003
- The Matrix Reloaded — May 15, 2003
- The Animatrix DVD — June 3, 2003
- The Matrix Revolutions — November 5, 2003
- The Matrix Resurrections — December 22, 2021
If your goal is to experience the franchise as a first audience member broadly did, watch the live-action trilogy in release order, then view the anthology around its 2003 release period. For most people, however, watching all of The Animatrix after the four movies is less disruptive and easier to follow.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do you need to watch The Animatrix?
No. The four live-action films form the main feature-film story and can be watched without the anthology. The Animatrix is most valuable if you want more of the franchise’s history, the machine perspective, or stories that explore people living under the system.
For a short version, prioritize:
- The Second Renaissance, Parts I and II: the historical background of the machine-human war.
- Kid’s Story: a story set between the first and second films.
- Final Flight of the Osiris: the most direct link to Reloaded.
The remaining shorts are still worthwhile, but they work more as thematic and stylistic expansions than as required plot chapters.
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- All four instalments of the sci-fi action franchise directed and co-written by The Wachowskis.
How many Matrix movies are there?
As of August 9, 2026, there are four released live-action Matrix movies. A fifth film has been reported as in development, but it has no announced release date and should not be added to a current watch order. The Animatrix is a collection of nine animated shorts, not a fifth live-action feature.
FAQ
What is the correct order to watch The Matrix movies?
Watch The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions and The Matrix Resurrections, in that order. This is both release order and the core chronological order.
Should I watch The Animatrix before or after the movies?
For a first viewing, watch the four live-action movies first and then watch The Animatrix. The anthology can be inserted chronologically later, but some shorts provide background that is better appreciated after the original film.
Is The Animatrix a fifth Matrix movie?
No. The Animatrix is a 2003 anthology containing nine animated shorts. It is separate from the four released live-action features.
Where does The Animatrix: Final Flight of the Osiris fit?
It takes place immediately before and helps set up The Matrix Reloaded. In a chronological marathon, watch it after The Matrix and before Reloaded.
The Bottom Line
For the cleanest first watch, use The Matrix → Reloaded → Revolutions → Resurrections. Add The Animatrix afterward, or place its clearly connected shorts between the films if you want a deeper chronology. The four live-action movies remain the complete current feature-film order.
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