Random Matrix Fan Theories That Will Have You Saying 'Whoa' (14 items)

(#8) Humanity Willingly Entered Into The Matrix And The Machines Are Looking After Them

Redditor Examinus supposes. in a fan theory. humans weren't imprisoned in the Matrix, but willingly entered into it to escape a worse fate. Having exhausted the Earth's resources, they were left with only one choice – enter in a period of stasis in a computer simulation while tasking their machine servants with fixing the planet and protecting them. In this context, Neo, Morpheus, and the rest of humanity are actually more like a terrorist organization than the machines are battling against for the good of humanity as a whole.
Do the humans who aren't in the Matrix know this, or are they being fed propaganda and fake history by a small contingent of leaders who refused to take part in this scheme? Are people really being used as batteries by machines, or is this part of the nefarious human propaganda machine?
(#1) Cypher Uses The Lady In The Red Dress To Secretly Get Into The Matrix

One of the most puzzling things from The Matrix is how Cypher is able to meet up with the agents to betray the rest of his crew. It seems like it would be difficult to plug yourself into the simulation using the standard setup, and someone would surely notice him broadcasting a signal. Reddit user davidsmeaton came up with a solution to this conundrum involving the Women in the Red Dress and Mouse.

It’s clear Mouse is open to the idea of letting the rest of the crew spend time with his female creation, as he asks Neo if he wants him to arrange a meeting. Cypher may have taken Mouse up on this offer as a way of getting plugged in. He could then load himself into the Matrix without raising suspicions or being detected, possibly having asked Mouse to not watch over proceedings, so he could have some privacy. This freed up time for Cypher to then meet up with Agent Smith and arrange his scheme.
(#13) Morpheus Is A Villain Working With The Machines Against Humanity

This theory by KGBkid centers on the idea that Morpheus might not be a good guy. The main bit of evidence comes from the name of his ship. Nebuchadnezzar was an ancient Babylonian king who invaded and destroyed Zion, so why would Neo choose to call his ship this, knowing he is tasked with protecting humanity's last refuge, called Zion.

The theory goes on to to state Morpheus is working with the machines to bring about the downfall of humanity, acting as an agent to help influence events, and Neo, to work out as the Architect intended.
(#4) The Real World Was Just Another Level Of The Matrix

This theory, which became well known following the release of The Matrix Reloaded, argues the real world shown in the movies is another level of the computer simulation from which characters like Morpheus were allegedly freed. The red pill taken by those wishing to leave the Matrix doesn't cause them to be physically ejected from the system, but instead takes them a new destination the machines control. This gives the illusion of having escaped. It's called the "Matrix within a Matrix" theory.
The theory accounts for a number of logic discrepancies in the series, such as Neo using some of his powers outside the Matrix, and Agent Smith being able to control Bane after he left the Matrix.
(#9) Cypher Betrayed The Group After Being Driven Mad By His Prophecy From The Oracle

Most people assume Cypher betrayed his fellow crew members and Neo because he wanted to return to the Matrix and escape the real world. Redditor EerieFurious suggests the Oracle told Cypher the One would die, or he would kill the One. This essentially drove him insane, as his entire life with Morpheus is dedicated to finding and free the One.

If The One dies, and if Cypher plays a hand in killing him, well, what's the point of anything? Why fight at all if the fight cannot be one?
(#10) Trinity Really Did Die In The Matrix Reloaded

At the climax of The Matrix Reloaded, Trinity is shot and killed by an agent, only for Neo to resurrect her. This theory by Redditor SvenHudson contends that Neo didn't really bring Trinity back to life, but used his powers to create a fantasy version of her in the digital world. As is shown with Agent Smith taking control of Bane in the real world, it's possible this new version of Trinity would have uploaded into her brain when she was removed from the Matrix.

Some evidence for this comes from the change in Trinity after the event. She acts differently, and dresses more like Neo, almost as if his some of his desires and thoughts were transferred to her as he recreated her mind.