The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction action film directed by the Wachowskis. The film stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, a hacker who discovers that the world as he knows it is actually a simulated reality created by sentient machines to pacify and subdue the human population, while their bodies are used as an energy source. Neo is rescued by a group of rebels, led by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), who help him to understand his role as "The One," a messianic figure who is prophesied to bring an end to the Matrix and free humanity. The Matrix was a critical and commercial success and has since become a cultural phenomenon. A sequel, The Matrix Reloaded, was released in 2003, followed by The Matrix Revolutions in 2003.