Is the Animatrix related to the matrix? Is there a benefit to watching it before seeing Matrix Ressurections? Matrix Reloaded?
The Animatrix is related to the The Matrix. As far as I can tell, they all take place in the same universe. But you don't have to watch The Animatrix before you watch The Matrix Resurrections. You can watch The Animatrix before or after The Matrix Resurrections. Either way works just fine.
If you want to squeeze every possible drop of enjoyment out of The Matrix Resurrections then you should watch The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions before watching The Matrix Resurrections. However, I do not recommend that you actually watch The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions at all because The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions are (in my opinion) boring.
I was interested to know if Matrix 4 (especially with its tech-company San Francisco setting) would be offering an updated perspective on some AI issues, but alas, in the end the movie seemed to be even less about AI than the original Matrix films. But I nevertheless thought the movie was thematically interesting; see my essay about the film here.
Ostensibly, the plot of The Matrix 4 is about Neo breaking out of a prison of illusion and rediscovering the true reality. But the structure of the movie is the opposite of this! It starts out asking real-world philosophical questions and agonizing over issues of reality, authenticity, and truth. But over time, the movie stops worrying about what’s really real, and instead descends into increasingly fictional themes and decreasingly coherent plot events — an enthusiastic embrace of feelings-world.
Do I recommend it?
Yes.
Is it good?
I don't care.
The Waschowskis movies are always ambitions. The Wachowskis never phone it in. I get the sense they make every movie as if it's the last one they'll ever get to make. The Matrix Resurrections is imaginative. It does not hold back. I feel like Lana Wachowski had full creative control of The Matrix Resurrections (2021).
I heard the The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003) were boring. Do I have to watch them first?
You should watch The Matrix (1999) before watching The Matrix Resurrections (2021).
It is not necessary to watch The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003). You can figure out the important bits from context just by watching The Matrix Resurrections (2021). Another option is to just read the plot summaries of The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003) on Wikipedia.
What about The Animatrix (2003)?
Animation is cheaper to produce than live-action. You should watch The Animatrix (2003) if you want to find out what would happen if the Wachowskis were totally unconstrained by budget.
I love The Matrix so much I can recite the whole thing from memory. How can I better appreciate such a cinematic masterpiece?
Check out this video about the music of The Matrix Trilogy.
Absolutely no spoilers. Not even if you use spoiler tags or you use ROT13. Not even "it's good" or "it's bad". Spoilers for The Matrix Resurrections (2021) are forbidden. Spoilers for anything else the Wachowskis have produced is allowed.