With every Warner Bros. movie for 2021 being released both in theaters and on HBO Max at the same time, The Matrix 4 is easily one of the movies to save for the big screen. Given its high concept, the wild action the series is known for, and the shared experiences viewers will have by watching as part of an audience, the fourth entry in the iconic series is going to be a huge blockbuster event.

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With the movie not being released until the holiday season, there’s still a while to wait. However, between deep philosophical movies, mind-bending action blockbusters, and other films that the cast of The Matrix 4 has starred in, there’s enough to get fans even more excited by the time the movie gets released.

Updated on April 25th, 2021 by Mark Birrell: The Matrix 4 is one of the most hotly anticipated movies of recent years and fans of the previous entries in the franchise–and just sci-fi or action movies in general–can't wait to see what the series of movies has to offer next. From other similar sci-fi mindbenders to more straightforward action thrillers, we've added some extra movies to this list to make sure that none of those eager fans goes hungry for great movies while they wait, and even possibly introduce them to some new favorites. We've also added streaming information, so fans can check them out straight away.

John Wick (2014) Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video

John Wick in a gun fight in the Red Circle nightclub

The revitalization of Keanu Reeves's career as an action movie star no doubt played a large in getting The Matrix 4 greenlit and John Wick has arguably replaced Neo as the actor's signature character.

The first movie in the beloved series sees the titular character, a former assassin, blast his way through one Russian mobster after the next, and it’s all because one of them killed his dog. The movie has had two sequels so far, with the fourth installment developing in the public alongside The Matrix 4.

Cloud Atlas (2012) Available on Tubi

Two characters balancing on a thin bridge in the future in Cloud Atlas

An adaptation of the novel of the same name by author David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas is a sprawling sci-fi drama epic that jumps between overlapping storylines set in vastly different time periods, from the 19th century to the distant future.

It was co-directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer and remains one of the most ambitious projects from the duo behind The Matrix movies yet, and there's a lot of competition for the top spots in that category. Though not as action-heavy as The Matrix, Cloud Atlas explores ideas like identity and fate in a similar way to The Matrix and its sequels and is a must-see stepping stone between Revolutions and The Matrix 4.

Existenz (1999) Available on Paramount+

Jude Law points a futuristic gun in David Cronenberg's 1999 film eXistenZ

The same year as the original Matrix movie, legendarily odd filmmaker David Cronenberg released his own take on some of the core ideas that The Matrix popularized and went on to run throughout the entire franchise. ones that will almost definitely appear again in the upcoming Matrix 4.

eXistenZ stars Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jude Law as two players using a futuristic bioorganic videogame system that places them within a virtual, imaginary, world and causes them to question their entire sense of reality. Though filled with thriller and mystery elements, it's not an action-driven narrative like The Matrix movies but is just as thought-provoking, if not more so, and comes with its own dark sense of humor.

Toy Story 4 (2019) Available on Disney+

Duke Caboom raises his arms in excitement in Toy Story 4

With Toy Story 4 being a fun animated movie for kids and The Matrix 4 being a deeply philosophical and violent action movie, it doesn’t exactly make sense why the children’s film will get fans excited for the upcoming Matrix sequel.

However, there’s more in common between the movies than just being the fourth entry in their respective franchises. Keanu Reeves has a role in Toy Story 4, as he plays the toy Duke Caboom, a Canadian stuntman who is impressively terrible at pulling stunts. Of all the new characters introduced in the movie, Duke Caboom is the one toy fans want to return the most.

Speed (1994) Available on HBO Max

Keanu Reeves runs from an explosion in Speed

Beyond The Matrix movies and the John Wick franchise, Keanu Reeves' next most famous action movie would have to be Speed. It would also receive a sequel, though Reeves didn't return and it was an infamous flop with critics and fans.

The original movie, however, remains a devoutly loved entry into the ever-evolving history of Hollywood action movies. The story, of a bus rigged with explosives that will go off if it drops below 50mph, was a unique concept for a mile-a-minute thriller at the time and became an iconic setup within the genre. Die Hard cinematographer Jan de Bont made their directorial debut on the movie and gave an epic scale to the potentially claustrophobic concept and the blistering plot shows off Reeves' range as an action hero.

Downsizing (2017) Available on FXNOW

Paul and Audrey like at two tiny people in Downsizing

Though it might not seem like it due to being a strange romantic comedy, Downsizing is a perfect movie to watch before the upcoming Matrix movie for a couple of different reasons. First off, the movie features Neil Patrick Harris, who is known to have a major role in Matrix 4, and though nothing is confirmed, he’s heavily rumored to be the villain.

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The movie is also extremely philosophical, just like The Matrix, but in a very different way. Downsizing isn’t exactly the fun rom-com it was marketed to be, as it follows struggling families shrinking themselves, with the logic that the benefit of being small is that everything is cheaper to make. But it depressingly shows that no matter how booming the economy is, there will always be crime and poverty.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) Available on Sling TV

Keanu Reeves as Klaatu being questioned at the beginning of The Day The Earth Stood Still

A remake of the classic 1951 original movie of the same name, The Day the Earth Stood Still cast Keanu Reeves in the iconic role of Klaatu, an alien who arrives on Earth with a dire warning for humanity.

The 2008 version changes up the Cold War nuclear dilemma at the heart of the original for a more environmentally-driven cautionary tale, urging the world to change course before the damage to the planet becomes irreversible and contemplating the feasibility of such a revolution within the broader thinking of society. It poses some big philosophical questions that, along with Reeves' commanding performance, should get movie fans' minds racing in preparation for The Matrix 4.

The Animatrix (2003) Available on HBO Max

Two machines with red glowing eyes walk along a hallway in The Animatrix

The Animatrix is an animated movie that’s made up of a collection of nine short films. It was released not long after the live-action series concluded with The Matrix Revolutions, and it could arguably be even better than the original Matrix movie.

Many of the short films take place long before the original movie and further build the world of the Matrix, including chronicling the original war between humans and the machines. The movie is considered canon in Matrix lore, but whether the fourth installment of the film series will take any of the short movies into account or reference them at all is as yet unknown.

Man of Tai Chi (2013) Available on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Tubi, and Pluto TV

Tiger Chen and Keanu Reeves in Man of Tai Chi

Keanu Reeves made his directorial debut with this martial arts thriller in which he also takes the villain role. Tiger Chen stars as the lead hero, a martial arts student who is seduced by Reeves's shadowy fight organizer into a world of underground brawling with deadly consequences.

Reeves is certainly an interesting director and he shows an aptitude for utilizing eye-catching set design and impressive fight choreography. Could he end up directing a Matrix movie or John Wick sequel one day? Man of Tai Chi makes the idea very tantalizing.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004) Available on Peacock

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in a bed on a snow-covered beach in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind isn’t exactly action-packed. In fact, the pacing is slow, but the romantic drama has a lot of parallels with The Matrix series.

And just like The Matrix, it‘s another mind-bending and philosophical movie that sees scientists messing around in people’s heads. As the ability to remove memories from people’s minds has been discovered in the world of Spotless Mind, one company charges heartbroken souls who want the memories of their past partners removed.

Inception (2010) Available on Amazon Prime Video

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Arthur in Inception

There are very few movies that nail it on the head in terms of both action and storytelling like The Matrix does, but Inception is one of the most trippy, exciting, and surprisingly emotional movies ever made.

The movie follows Cobb and his crew as they commit crimes inside of people’s dreams, and given the concept, it comes off as a fairly straightforward James Bond-type movie, but that’s until Cobb starts using those dreams as a kind of therapy to process his wife's death. It’s the highest-grossing original movie of the 2010s, mostly due to how it has one of the most shockingly ambiguous endings, and it’s all thanks to a spinning top.

V For Vendetta (2005) Available on HBO Max

V's death in V for Vendetta

The Wachowskis’ output as filmmakers since the Matrix trilogy (or arguably since the very first Matrix,) has been pretty spotty, whether it’s high concept sci-fi movies like Jupiter Ascending and Cloud Atlas or adrenaline-fueled action blockbusters like Speed Racer.

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However, their first project after the trilogy was adapting the screenplay for the beloved graphic novel, V for Vendetta. Though Alan Moore had said the novel could never be adapted, the film is incredible, as it sees a masked anarchist lead a revolution in a dystopian future, and it shows how the Wachowskis are still great writers.

Blade Runner (1982) Available on HBO Max

Harrison Ford as Deckard holds a gun in Blade Runner

Though Blade Runner is considered to be overrated by some, the philosophical nature of the movie perfectly aligns with that of the Matrix series.

The 1982 movie sees Agent Deckard struggle with not knowing what he is, all while being hired to gun down those who could be the very same as him. It’s an incredible mystery movie, and it has one of the most beautiful looking dystopian futures ever seen on film. And on top of that, the sequel, Blade Runner 2049, might be even better than the original.

Memento (2000) Available on Amazon Prime Video

Leonard Shelby holding up a polaroid In Memento

Memento was Christopher Nolan’s breakthrough hit, and it arguably remains the director’s best movie. The movie is completely non-linear, as it’s played backward alongside a separate narrative that’s played forwards, as Leonard tries to uncover who murdered his wife while dealing with short-term memory loss.

As Memento is played backward, each scene is more revealing and shocking than the last. But it isn’t just the ingenious concept that makes this great for people anticipating Matrix 4; the movie also stars Joe Pantoliano, who plays Cypher in the first Matrix movie.

The Matrix Series (1999 - 2003) Available on HBO Max

Keanu Reeves holding up two SMGs in The Matrix

It goes without saying the Matrix trilogy is the best thing to watch leading up to the release of Matrix 4. Not only does the fourth movie follow on from the series, but few other movies have the specific type of action that can be found in the movies. From the industry-changing “bullet time,” to the huge dollops of CGI, the Wachowskis completely changed the way studios looked at computers as a means of creating visual effects.

The Matrix 4 surely isn’t just any movie that general audiences can go into without knowing any of the backstory, as the lore of the world is so dense. Not only that, but the Matrix movies have a whole aesthetic of their own, whether it’s the cyberpunk outfits or the saturated green look of the films, the series is so thrilling, warts and all.

NEXT: 15 Mind-Boggling Sci-Fi Movies To Watch If You Like The Matrix