Reputation and influence

While the first movie was extremely successful, both critically and popularly, the quality of the sequels is still a matter of debate. Some fans and professional critics believe they exceed the quality and conceptual heights of the first film, while others found the later films disappointing. The Matrix Reloaded was well received by critics, currently holding an average rating of 73% (Certified Fresh) on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the reaction of some fans to this sequel has been mixed. When The Matrix Revolutions was released, one complaint was that it did not give clear cut answers to the questions raised in Reloaded but rather raised new ones.
The Matrix series has also inspired a new religious movement called Matrixism or The path of the One. The religion was conceived by an anonymous group in mid-2004 and by November 2004 it claimed to have attracted upwards of 300 members. Current reports indicate that there are now approximately 16,000 followers of Matrixism worldwide. Even though Matrixism has grown substantially and its Geocities website (username: matrixism2069) has received significant attention in the media some still debate whether Matrixists are serious about their beliefs.