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It might sound strange, but The Matrix is actually a happy movie — rewatch it to shake off the January blues

January 24, 2026 • 5 min read • views
It might sound strange, but The Matrix is actually a happy movie — rewatch it to shake off the January blues
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It might sound strange, but The Matrix is actually a happy movie — rewatch it to shake off the January blues Opinion By Roland Moore-Colyer published 24 January 2026

Mr Anderson, welcome back. We missed you

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One of the things I enjoy about being a journalist is that stories, ideas, and thoughts can come from all sorts of places: case in point, when on a date and discussing the topic of movies, it was presented to me that The Matrix is a ‘happy’ movie.

I cracked a smile at that; for those who don’t know thrust of The Matrix is that robots rose up against humans and enslaved our consciousness in a virtual world while they use us as biological batteries, with the few people who escaped from the system now entering the titular Matrix to free chosen humans from this virtual prison. From that premise, and the dark, cyberpunk tone of the movie, I’d never have thought to describe it as happy.

But then, as the discussion went on, I was brought round to my date’s thinking.

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Ultimately, The Matrix is a happy movie as it’s got a lot of the archetypes of a viewing experience that one leaves happy and uplifted; the good guys win over the bad, Neo is ‘The One’ and a promised saviour, no one major dies, and the scenery-chewing Mr Smith gets ‘killed’ in a most satisfying way.

The Matrix (1999) Official Trailer #1 - Sci-Fi Action Movie - YouTube The Matrix (1999) Official Trailer #1 - Sci-Fi Action Movie - YouTube Watch On

Of course, there's more to this. Unlike the successive Matrix movies that tried to hammer home the kind of philosophical chatter one might expect from mildly inebriated university students, the first movie was taught, superbly shot, and stylish, albeit in a very late-1990s way.

The pacing was on point, starting with a young Keanu Reeves as Mr. Anderson and his journey to become Neo. At the time it was dark, gritty, and had a few challenges for those of a squeamish nature – the mechanical bug that enters Neo’s body through his belly button, and the waking of real-world Neo in a gross, almost Giger-esque bio-battery pod – yet this was then built up into a feel good moment, where Neo “knows Kung-Fu” and does a good job at fending off a tougher, more experienced Morpheus.

Throughout The Matrix, there are numerous ‘feel good’ and happy moments all set at a satisfying pace. Who can forget the classic “guns, lots of guns” moment, the utterly brilliant and innovative bullet-time slow-mo corridor shootout, Neo’s ability to dodge bullets, and the rescue of Morpheus? And of course, the ending, which is basically a cluster of heroic, air-punching scenes.

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I could argue that, in the face of more recent sci-fi/cyberpunk storytelling, The Matrix is a bit old-hat and almost one-note. But then that’s what makes it a happy movie: you don’t have to overly work your grey matter to have an enjoyable time. And its action, camera work, and direction all stand the test of time; I reckon the color palette helps nullify any CGI that could look a little ropey in 2026.

So with all that in mind, and given January is considered to be a rather depressing month in the Northern Hemisphere, I’d suggest giving The Matrix a watch this weekend if you want a bit of a pick-me-up.

It should be available to stream in the US on HBO Max and Apple TV+, as well as on other on-demand services, and on Now TV in the UK if you opt for the Entertainment tier.

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Equally, for what it’s worth, may I suggest looking at grabbing The Matrix on 4K Blu-ray. I think it's one of those movies that will always be evergreen and worth an addition to one’s physical media collection; in 4K, the action should look rather crisp, too.

Check out the widget below for any 4K Blu-ray deals on The Matrix in your area.

And then head to the comments to let me know if you agree that The Matrix is a happy movie, and tell me what movies you'd recommend as left-field happy, feel-good flicks.

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TOPICS 4K CATEGORIES Blu-ray Televisions Home Theater Roland Moore-ColyerSocial Links NavigationManaging Editor, Mobile Computing

Roland Moore-Colyer is Managing Editor at TechRadar with a focus on phones and tablets, but a general interest in all things tech, especially those with a good story behind them. He can also be found writing about games, computers, and cars when the occasion arrives, and supports with the day-to-day running of TechRadar. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face and a nose for food markets.

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