A reasonably engaging and conceptually interesting story and production, all of which was required to overcome the definitive wooden Keanu Reeves lead performance.

It was influential in kickstarting a wave of films examining the impacts of the rapid advance of technology and the virtual realm that all seem to end up with a lot of gunfights and things blowing up.

The subsequent entries in the series became increasingly cliché ridden, tarnishing the reputation of the original.