When Keanu Reeves Described the Plot of The Matrix to Unimpressed Teens

The Matrix was an instant classic when it hit theaters in 1999. The movie pioneered new special effects, reaffirmed Keanu Reeves's status as a Hollywood icon, and brought the idea of living in a simulation into the mainstream. The film is so deeply embedded in pop culture that some younger viewers may be underwhelmed by the groundbreaking premise, as evidenced by a story Reeves shared with The Verge.

He and his Matrix co-star, Carrie-Anne Moss, recently spoke with The Verge ahead of the release of The Matrix Resurrections on December 22, 2021. In the video below, the actor behind Neo recounts the reaction he received after explaining the plot of the first movie to three teenagers. He summed it up by saying, “Well there’s this guy who’s in a kind of virtual world. And he finds out that there’s a real world, and he’s really questioning what’s real and what’s not real. And he really wants to know what’s real.”

That concept was mind-blowing to 1999 audiences, but not so much to the viewers of today. Reeves went on to describe how one girl responded. "And the young girl was like, 'Why?' And I was like, 'What do you mean?' And she was like, 'Who cares if it's real?'"

Since the first Matrix movie premiered, the question of whether our "reality" is simulated has become a topic of serious scientific discussions. Fortunately for Matrix fans, Neo and Trinity aren't as apathetic to the matter as modern teens. You can watch the full interview below in anticipation of the release of The Matrix Resurrections later this month.

[h/t Nerdist]