The Matrix franchise makes an enormous number of cultural references inspired from a wide array of sources. While it may be impossible to list all of them, partial lists of both the inspirations and real-world phenomena mentioned in the films, cartoons, games and comics follow.
Inspirations[]
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass.
In-Universe references[]
- The book Simulacra and Simulation by Baudrillard is included in The Matrix and A Life Less Empty.[1]
- Nihilism briefly shown in a chapter of an open book.[1]
- Algernon Charles Swinburne's poem "Dolores" is read by Persephone in The Matrix Online chapter 8 cinematic 3, showing her library which also includes books by John Milton, Lord Byron and Goethe's Faust.
- The phenomenon déjà vu is used in a scene of The Matrix, with a recurring black cat.
- The band Cibo Matto is included in There Are No Flowers in the Real World.
- Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz was referenced by Cypher to Neo in The Matrix.
- Reincarnation and Souls were mentioned by The Oracle to Neo in The Matrix.[2]
- Vampires and Werewolves mentioned to Neo by The Oracle[3]
- Biblical Reference Cain and Abel a program working as an henchman for The Merovingian.
- Biblical reference Isaiah 54:16 referenced as "IS 5416" on the license plate of Smith's car.
- "Chicago references are sprinkled throughout the Matrix scripts." according to an article[4]
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland "Follow the White Rabbit" From Trinity to Neo[5]
- Biblical reference "You're my savior man, my own personal Jesus Christ." Choi to Neo[5]
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland "I imagine that right now you're feeling like Alice." Morpheus to Neo[6]
- Angels are mentioned to Neo by The Oracle[3]
- Rob Zombie "Dragula (Hot Rod Herman Mix)"[7]
- Ancient Greek "Temet Nosce" means "Know Thyself" The Oracle's Kitchen[2]
- Superman "He's doing his Superman-thing" Link referring to Neo
- Prayer "They started yet?" "Only Councilor Hamann's opening prayer." Kid to citizen of Zion
- Ancient Greek The Icarus Citizen of Zion to Neo
- Greek Philosophy The Gnosis Gnosis is used throughout Greek philosophy to mean: experience knowledge
- Biblical reference Nebuchadnezzar is a Biblical reference to the Book of Daniel.
- Ghosts and Aliens are mentioned by The Oracle to Neo[3]
- "Night of the Lepus" can be seen playing in The Oracle's waiting room. [8]
Possible References[]
While never explicitly stated here is a list of possible references:
- "One-Adam-12" officer over radio [9]
See also[]
Sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Follow Instructions", The Matrix
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Choices... and a Cookie" , The Matrix
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Oracle", The Matrix Reloaded
- ↑ Miller, Mark (November 11, 2003). "Matrix Revelations". Wired News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Follow Instructions", The Matrix
- ↑ "Morpheus' Proposal" , The Matrix
- ↑ "The Question", The Matrix
- ↑ The Matrix. Directed by The Wachowskis, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc, 1999.
- ↑ "Trucks Amuck", The Matrix Reloaded
