From Neo to Morpheus, the original Matrix trilogy is filled to the brim with heroes that have audiences rooting for them to free the human race from the clutches of the Matrix. However, a hero is only one side of the coin: there needs to be a proper villain for the humans to fight on their journey.
With The Matrix Resurrections on the horizon, it is the perfect time to look back at the original trilogy of films and showcase what made the villains stand out. From their personalities to the powers that they possessed. To make things simpler, these have to be unique villains so generic henchmen will not be counted.
The Twins
When his regular henchmen fail to stop the heroes, the Merovingian sends the Twins. They are albino rogue programs with mastery in hand-to-hand combat with the ability to turn incorporeal. This allows them to phase through matter and instantly heal from any wounds they obtain in their physical form.
Portrayed by real-life identical twins, these ghost-like villains stand out thanks to their powers, minimal dialogue, and unique design. Since it is said they have existed since a previous incarnation of the Matrix, their appearance gives the theory that the twins were an early prototype of Agent programs.
The Trainman
There are many reasons to love or hate the Matrix sequels and the Trainman is part of the prior. Despite minimal screentime and dialogue, the Trainman steals the show with every scene in The Matrix Revolutions. He is in charge of transporting programs from the Machine World to the Matrix with complete control over the trains and the stations.
In his station, the Trainman was able to send Neo flying back with a single attack as well as keep Neo on an endless loop, unable to leave the station if he tried. Bruce Spence gives a delightfully wicked performance, especially when he calls himself a god.
The Machines
In a way, the Machines are the main threat of the entire series seeing how they created the Matrix and keep humans in the dream world in order to drain them for power. The whole objective across the three films is to free the human race from the tyranny of machines.
Their main soldier units are squid-like machines known as Sentinels but there are many more, often taking an insect-like form. The Machines are a consistent threat and make for some of the more intense war sequences in the sequels but they are also reasonable as shown when Neo bargains with them to save the human race.
The Architect
This program is the real creator of the Matrix and while not evil, he remains an important player for the Machines. He created multiple versions of both the Matrix itself and anomalies known as The One. Neo is the Sixth version of The One and like his predecessors, he is given a choice by the Architect. In previous cases, the One's choices lead to the downfall of both humans and machines alike.
The character showcases the efficiency of the Machines as the Architect keeps them and the humans on a constant loop, forcing the One to keep destroying most of humanity and reloading the Matrix so the machines stay on top. As a fun fact, The Architect was at one point almost played by Sean Connery.
Agents
The main task force of the Machines is programs known as Agents. They look human but all dress and look nearly identical to one another and feature enhanced strength, agility, and intellect. Unlike Smith, most Agents are emotionless and operate as soulless robots similar to Terminators that won't stop until they accomplish their mission.
One of the most famous aspects of the Agents is their ability to dodge bullets with ease which combined with their incapability to die makes them hard to defeat. Agents can appear from anywhere wielding some of the best weapons in the Matrix series, taking over and morphing the bodies of other programs.
The Merovingian
Also known as The Frenchman, The Merovingian is an old and powerful program that controls a smuggling ring, providing a haven for Exiles. Unlike Zion, The Merovingian does not provide freedom but merely another place for Exiles to be under someone's control: his own.
He also seeks to take the place of the Oracle as the main source of information and data trafficking. This is why he presents himself as a criminal mastermind in the Matrix with many henchmen at his side. Unlike most villainous programs, the Merovingian displays humor and emotions along with charisma that helps him stand out thanks to a memorable performance by Lambert Wilson
Cypher
The only human villain of the Matrix franchise, Cypher was a member of Morpheus' crew but years in the real world, and the truth got to him. The bleakness, the cold of the ship, the less than appetizing food, and the claustrophobic surroundings drove him over the edge. It's easy to see why Cypher would hate the real world, especially since he has one of the worst movie scenes to watch on an empty stomach while in the Matrix.
Wanting to permanently be plugged back into the Matrix, he sells out the crew to Smith and the Agents. On top of that, he kills crew members Dozer, Switch, and Apoch before he threatens to kill Neo. It comes as a sad twist because Cypher was a proper source of comedic relief and much like Tank, a real human element to the crew. However, Cypher is a showcase of humanity's flaws: avarice and selfishness.
Smith
Played with show-stealing charisma by Hugo Weaving, Smith began as an Agent program for the Matrix but he was always different. He showed more human qualities and was even the only Agent to remove his signature sunglasses. He displayed hatred for the Matrix and desired freedom much as the humans did.
In the sequels, he evolved into a virus that would corrupt programs and humans into identical clones of himself, seeking to transform the Matrix into his perfect domain. If it weren't for Neo, he would have possibly taken over the Machine World as well. From stellar action scenes against Neo to many iconic quotes, Smith became as much of an icon for the series as Neo for being unapologetically evil and loving every minute of it.