Brandon Sanderson Defends Keanu Reeves' Controversial Matrix Sequels

Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson recently made waves by defending two of Hollywood's most criticized sequels: The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. While most fans and critics have spent years bashing these follow-ups to the groundbreaking 1999 original, Sanderson took a completely different stance during his YouTube podcast Intentionally Blank.

The bestselling novelist couldn't understand why audiences reacted so negatively to Keanu Reeves' return as Neo in the 2003 sequels. Speaking candidly about his viewing experience, Sanderson highlighted specific elements that impressed him in both films.

I like a bunch of the concepts from it. I like the action scenes, and I like it going full-on science fiction, and having the big battle with the monsters. I don't understand—I think what happened is, people who had not had a lot of experience with cyberpunk, which I had when I saw The Matrix, the ideas were not revolutionary to me. It was cool to see a big-budget, action, sort of pop culture version of cyberpunk.

What Went Wrong With the Wachowski Sisters' Vision

The original Matrix became a cultural phenomenon by masterfully building mystery and suspense. Audiences found themselves captivated by the slow revelation of Neo's reality, creating an experience that kept viewers guessing until the final moments.

However, The Matrix Reloaded took a dramatically different approach. Instead of maintaining that sense of wonder, the sequel opted for lengthy exposition scenes that explained concepts rather than letting them unfold naturally. This shift disappointed fans who expected the same mysterious storytelling that made the first film so compelling.

The Matrix Revolutions faced even harsher criticism. The third installment introduced numerous new ideas without properly developing or resolving them, leaving audiences confused and frustrated. While the first movie earned an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Revolutions plummeted to just 33%.

Why Sanderson Saw What Others Missed

Sanderson's unique perspective stems from his extensive background with cyberpunk literature and themes. Unlike casual moviegoers who encountered these concepts for the first time through The Matrix, Sanderson had already explored similar ideas in his own writing.

The author has incorporated cyberpunk elements into his Mistborn novel series, planning an epic fantasy world that evolves technologically over time. His vision includes progression from epic fantasy to urban fantasy, then cyberpunk to space opera, demonstrating his deep understanding of the genre.

This familiarity allowed Sanderson to appreciate the world-building efforts and conceptual expansion that the Wachowski sisters attempted in the sequels. While general audiences found the films too dialogue-heavy with too many unresolved plotlines, Sanderson recognized the ambitious scope of their vision.