Matrix

Neo, a disaffected computer hacker, seeks the answer to the question, "What is the Matrix?" His search leads him to the elusive Morpheus, who begins to enlighten Neo about the truth of his so-called reality: That he is a prisoner of world-conquering machines who keep humans trapped in a virtual world in order to harvest them for power. In accepting the answer Morpheus provides, Neo is hurled into a futuristic world where old realities are shattered, and he must fight for his life, and the future of humanity, against a dangerous group of inhuman government agents.There was very little fanfare accompanying the release of this late-'90s sci-fi/action flick. There wasn't an A-lister in the cast, the subject matter (basically boiling down to "kung-fu vs. the robots") was esoteric, and the only thing the Wachowski Brothers were known for was putting some hot girl-girl scenes in Bound. Fast-forward to today, and The Matrix stands as, without a doubt, one of the most influential films of the past decade. Its exquisite use of wire work, CGI and "bullet-time" effects made it a feast for the senses, and its underlying philosophical bent made it more than just your mindless kick-and-punch-fest. Plus, it stole the thunder of a movie called The Phantom Menace in catapulting sci-fi back into the public consciousness. Not bad for an obscure little action flick.