National Film RegistryLibrary of Congress · Inducted 2012
“A visionary and complex film, the science-fiction epic "The Matrix" employed state-of-the-art special effects, production design and computer-generated animation to tell a story—steeped in mythological, literary, and philosophical references—about a revolt against a conspiratorial regime.”
Selected for preservation as culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.
Directed by
Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Studio
Warner Bros. Entertainment · Village Roadshow Pictures · Silver Pictures · 136 min
Box office
$467.2M worldwide on a $63M budget
Honors
Academy Awards — 4 wins, 4 nominationsBritish Academy Film Awards — 2 winsSaturn Award — 2 winsAll 8 wins · 4 nominations on record
Academy Awards: Best Sound Editing
Academy Awards: Best Visual Effects
Academy Awards: Best Film Editing
Academy Awards: Best Sound
British Academy Film Awards: Best Sound
British Academy Film Awards: Best Special Visual Effects
Saturn Award: Best Director
Saturn Award: Best Science Fiction Film
Scholarship
Named in the title of 1 peer-reviewed work
Examples
Biofilms: the matrix revisited — Trends in Microbiology, 2004
Sources: Wikidata · Library of Congress · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
The Matrix arrived from Warner Bros. in 1999 as a genre-defining release, blending cyberpunk philosophy with groundbreaking action choreography and visual effects that reshaped Hollywood filmmaking. Directed by the Wachowskis, it turned bullet-time photography and trench coat aesthetics into cultural shorthand, launching a franchise and cementing itself as one of the most influential science fiction films of its decade, still studied for its technical innovation and its place at the intersection of blockbuster spectacle and countercultural ideas.
This cell preserves a piece of film built around Morpheus, the enigmatic mentor whose presence anchors the story's philosophical core and drives its most quotable exchanges. As a figure who guides the audience alongside the protagonist into the film's central mystery, Morpheus remains one of the most sought-after characters among collectors of Matrix memorabilia. A 35mm cell bearing his name represents a physical fragment of that cinematic moment, a tactile artifact from the reel itself rather than a reproduction, valued for its direct connection to the film's original theatrical presentation.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of The Matrix (1999).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible between the picture area and the lower perforation row, with what appears to be a Dolby Digital data-block strip also present in that zone, consistent with a dual-format optical release print.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read any key numbers or manufacturer text.
Base & colour
The base shows a slight blue-cyan tint typical of modern polyester safety stock; the dye image reads as warm amber-brown with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
No splices, cue marks or significant scratches are visible; the surface appears consistent with a print that has seen projection use.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, consistent with a theatrical release print of The Matrix (1999).
Era check
The polyester base tint, Dolby Digital data blocks alongside a variable-area optical track, and the perforation style are all consistent with a late-1990s theatrical 35mm release print.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000063823
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
