25 years ago, The Matrix arrived with virtually no expectations whatsoever and almost immediately became one of the defining science fiction movies of the generation. Against all odds, its influence eclipsed 1999’s other big sci-fi blockbuster, Star Wars – Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and it kickstarted a franchise that, at its peak, rivaled the Star Wars fandom. It’s a film that still holds up remarkably; to this day, it’s the kind of daring, visionary work that seems less prevalent every year; it oozes a delightfully geeky love of its anime influences, and it’s a spectacularly crafted action flick.