What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Matrix
Lana Wachowski · Film · 1999
If you loved The Matrix, start with Ghost in the Shell (Mamoru Oshii, 1995) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Matrix across media.
What hooked you in The Matrix was the unsettling realization that reality is merely a fragile construct waiting to be dismantled.
Start with the source
The source
Ghost in the Shell
Mamoru Oshii · Film · 1995
Adaptation
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Series · 2002
Adaptation
The Animatrix
Yoshiaki Kawajiri · Film · 2003
Books on the same thread
The Martian
Andy Weir · Book · 2015
Explores: Resourcefulness, Human Ingenuity, Isolation.
Just as Neo relies on his intellect to survive in The Matrix, you will appreciate how Mark Watney uses scientific problem solving to navigate his own impossible, isolated reality.
The Maze Runner (Book 1)
James Dashner · Book · 2014
Shares a thread with The Matrix: Artificial Intelligence.
If the mystery of the simulated world in The Matrix captivated you, you will find a similar intensity in the struggle to uncover the truth behind this lethal, enclosed maze.
Feed
M. T. Anderson · Book · 2012
Shares a thread with The Matrix: Cyberpunk.
This story mirrors the technological dependence explored in The Matrix, showing how brain implants fundamentally alter human perception and individuality within a dystopian, consumer-driven society controlled by corporate influence.
The Metamorphosis
Franz Kafka · Book · 2019
Shares a thread with The Matrix: Existentialism.
While The Matrix questions the nature of reality, this classic explores the profound alienation of transformation, forcing you to confront the existential absurdity of existence through a jarring, sudden metamorphosis.
Series on the same thread
Westworld
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2016
Shares 3 threads with The Matrix: Artificial Intelligence, Existentialism, Free Will vs. Determinism.
Much like the awakening of artificial intelligence in The Matrix, this series masterfully examines the evolution of consciousness and the struggle for free will within a simulated, artificial environment.
Serial Experiments Lain
Series · 1998
Shares 3 threads with The Matrix: Existentialism, Technological Singularity, Cyberpunk.
Fans of The Matrix will recognize the blurring lines between physical and digital existence as the protagonist descends into a technological singularity that challenges the very nature of human identity.
The Expanse
Mark Fergus · Series · 2015
Shares 2 threads with The Matrix: Artificial Intelligence, Cyberpunk.
The conspiracy-laden atmosphere of The Matrix finds a new home here, as you follow characters navigating complex power structures and artificial intelligence across a vast, fractured solar system.
Mr. Robot
Sam Esmail · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with The Matrix: Cyberpunk.
Elliot operates with the same subversive intensity as Neo, using his hacking skills to dismantle corrupt systems and expose the hidden truths governing society, just as the rebels in The Matrix.
Podcasts on the same thread
Lex Fridman Podcast
Lex Fridman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, technological ethics, deep thinking.
If the philosophical inquiries of The Matrix sparked your curiosity, these deep-dive conversations provide the intellectual framework to further explore the ethics of artificial intelligence and the human condition.
The Realignment
The Realignment · Podcast · 2026
Explores: institutional change, populism, technological disruption.
The Matrix challenged the status quo of its world, and this podcast offers a similar critical analysis of modern institutional change and the technological disruptions currently shaping our political landscape.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Animatrix essential to understanding the lore of The Matrix?
The Animatrix is a 2003 film that expands upon the universe established in The Matrix. While not strictly required to follow the main narrative, it provides additional context regarding the history of the computers and the underground insurgents fighting to reclaim the earth in the 22nd century.
Should I watch Ghost in the Shell if I enjoyed the themes in The Matrix?
Yes, Ghost in the Shell is a 1995 film that explores similar concepts of advanced technology and human consciousness. Fans of The Matrix often appreciate its influence on the genre, particularly in how it depicts the relationship between humanity and the powerful computer systems that rule the world.
How long is the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series compared to The Matrix?
The Matrix is a single feature film released in 1999. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a television series that premiered in 2002. Because it is a series, it offers a much longer runtime than the original movie to explore its futuristic setting and computer insurgent themes.
What order should I watch The Matrix and its related films?
You should start with the 1999 film The Matrix to understand the core story of the hacker joining the insurgents. After completing the main film, you can watch The Animatrix to explore supplemental stories set within the same 22nd-century world ruled by powerful computers.