The review embargo for The Matrix Resurrection has lifted, and it appears that this will be yet another Warner Bros. movie in 2021 that receives a mixed response from fans and critics alike. While many of the reviews are positive, it doesn't exactly sound like the follow-up fans have been waiting for. In this piece, we've rounded up some verdicts for you from a variety of sources.
We'll start with the trades. The Hollywood Reporter's review is mostly positive and concludes by noting, "there’s nothing here to inspire hope that, should Warners or whomever insist on more sequels, they’d be worth seeing." However, their critic adds that "I actually look forward to seeing this one a second time." Variety wasn't impressed and says most of the movie "could fairly be described as more of the same: more time- and gravity-defying action, more Goth-geek fashion pointers, more 'free your mind' mumbo-jumbo."
Forbes has similarly mixed feelings, describing The Matrix Resurrections as "a deeply personal romantic comedy" and adding that, "I wish it were a better (or less of an) action movie, but the scenes where folks talk to each other and detail the aftershocks of what came before are as fascinating as hoped." Entertainment Weekly awards the sequel a B+ and is similarly complimentary about the romantic side of things, promising "a do-over without a full share of wonderment, but still a lot of fun." USA Today gives a middling verdict, though, explaining that "The new 'Matrix' tries to reprogram a beloved piece of cinema. However, it’s quite a few fixes short of a full upgrade."
Empire awards the movie 3* and conclude their review with, "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." Total Film goes with one more star and enthuses, "Forget what you think you know...The Matrix Resurrections is a twisty metanarrative anchored by a love story for the ages."
IGN hated The Matrix Resurrections and its 4/10 score includes a brutal summary that cautions, "[This] is the kind of film that will go down in cult history because it is so laughably bad. Truthfully, I can’t even say it’s unenjoyable because I spent so much of its overly long runtime giggling over how jaw-droppingly misguided the majority of it is."
ComicBookMovie.com's own Mark Cassidy echoed those thoughts, saying: "The Matrix Resurrections is a disappointingly safe, surprisingly dull endeavour that squanders a fine cast and an opportunity to bring fans a worthy follow-up to the superb original...You'll wish you could go back and take the blue pill." You can read his full verdict by clicking here.
The overall consensus appears to be that this movie is heavy on nostalgia, boasts a great love story, but is a mostly unnecessary follow-up with disappointing action scenes. With Spider-Man: No Way Home likely to demolish this one in theaters, watching at home on HBO Max might be for the best.