Keanu Reeves earned a substantial amount of money for the four Matrix movies

Keanu Reeves is widely recognized as one of the best actors in Hollywood, and his reputation extends beyond his acting skills. He is often regarded as one of the nicest individuals on the planet, a sentiment that has become a popular meme. Interestingly enough, there is one franchise that made him more money than anything else.

The legendary actor is renowned for his exceptional roles in films such as John Wick, Speed, The Matrix, and many more. Reeves’ impressive catalog of movies has helped to establish him as one of the most well-respected names in the industry.

The Matrix

Keanu Reeves Had an Interesting Description for Working In The Matrix

Keanu Reeves has been closely associated with The Matrix, the sci-fi masterpiece, portraying John Anderson four times over 22 years. The original 1999 film is considered one of the most influential and groundbreaking blockbusters, earning praise from Reeves.

Another scene from The Matrix

While speaking at an American Film Institute ceremony honoring creators of the film – the Wachowskis, Reeves talked bout his first meeting with the directors and how it turned out for him in the end.
“I was excited to speak with them, they had written something that I had never seen, but in a way something that I’d always hoped for as an actor, as a fan of science fiction.

The script they wrote, it had [William] Gibson, it had [Jules] Verne, [Philip] K. Dick, Frank Miller, anime, [Akira] Kurosawa, [Sam] Peckinpah,” he continued. “It was Nietzsche, it was Buddha, it was Christ. It was themes and levels. It was dualities, modalities, realities, dreams, will, destiny, slavery of the mind, of the body. Identity, sexuality, viruses, and love. It was mythology, philosophy, technology, and truth.”
Keanu Reeves also gave The Matrix props for its unique blend of influences, including William Gibson, Jules Verne, Philip K. Dick, Frank Miller, anime, Akira Kurosawa, Sam Peckinpah, Nietzsche, Buddha, Christ, and themes encompassing duality, reality, dreams, destiny, identity, sexuality, viruses, love, mythology, philosophy, technology, and truth.

How Much Money Has Keanu Reeves Made In The Matrix Franchise

The Matrix Resurrections

Keanu Reeves is a highly successful Hollywood actor, earning eight-figure salaries for his iconic role in the Matrix films. The latest installment, 2022’s The Matrix Resurrections, had a substantial $190 million budget and, despite being considered a box office disappointment, the previous three films in the franchise were financial successes – especially with international audiences.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Keanu Reeves received an initial salary of $10 million for The Matrix, but his negotiation for backend fees ultimately resulted in a total of $35 million for the first movie alone. He went on to earn $120 million in bonuses for The Matrix 2 and The Matrix 3. On top of that, Variety reports that he received approximately $14 million upfront for The Matrix 4. In total, Keanu Reeves has earned over $200 million for his role in the franchise.