Critics praised the action and philosophical depth, but some found the dialogue "expository" and the cliffhanger ending frustrating.
The film was part of a "transmedia" experiment, with the story continuing in the Animatrix and the video game Enter the Matrix .
At the time of its release, Reloaded was a massive commercial success, though it remains a polarizing entry for fans.
The central theme of Reloaded is the deconstruction of the "Messiah" myth.