The Matrix: Reloaded Scene That Most Fans Would Edit Out

"The Matrix" is perhaps one of the best science fiction movies of all time, and the franchise that it spawned is arguably still relevant today. From the movie's two immediate sequels, "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions," to the upcoming, highly anticipated "The Matrix Resurrections," there's just something about the "Matrix" series — and its particular brand of post-apocalyptic, action-fueled sci-fi — that hasn't lost its potency. Sure, one could argue that the second and third films never really lived up to the original (especially "The Matrix Revolutions," which sits at a not-great 35% on Rotten Tomatoes), but all of the films contain plenty of breathtaking action sequences, and thought-provoking themes, to keep fans engaged to this day.

"The Matrix Reloaded," in fact, enjoyed a much warmer reception than its successor, garnering a 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $741 million at the box office (per Box Office Mojo), the highest of the franchise thus far. While receiving some criticism for its themes, the film was also praised for its thrills and stunt choreography. 

Still, even "The Matrix Reloaded" wasn't perfect by any means, and there are some parts that a certain subset of the fanbase could have done without. Here's one scene in particular that a number of fans would have edited out of "The Matrix Reloaded."

Of all the scenes in "The Matrix Reloaded," the rave scene that takes place in the real world city of Zion is arguably the most controversial. 

Film School Rejects listed it as one of the most pointless in big budget movie history. The Guardian listed the intimate sequence between Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) — which takes place during the infamous rave — as the worst sex scene in movie history, at the time of its release. One user on Reddit, meanwhile, complained that the whole sequence was "one of the most disturbing, awkward, and out of place scene in any movie ever."

Needless to say, it's a polarizing sequence. However, while many fans continue to dismiss the scenes, others have defended it – or at least appreciated the creative courage it took to include such a scene.

SyFy Wire, for instance, argued that, "No one wanted it. No one asked for it. But it happened anyway, and, on some level, we're all still dancing to the Wachowskis' not-quite impromptu beats to this day." Another user on the aforementioned Reddit thread wrote that "I know if I found out that there was a very good chance the world would be ending in a few days I would want to spend my last few days with family and enjoying myself (ie zion dance party)."

It's clear that the rave scene in "The Matrix Reloaded" remains divisive, even if it was trying to show the perseverance of humanity in the face of possible destruction at the hands of evil machines.