When my friend Jess and I decided to see The Matrix on a whim, we were completely ignorant of the film. I had seen its trailer maybe once before and had quickly dismissed it as a dumb-as-rocks Keanu Reeves action movie. Suffice to say, sitting in that Omaha theater, our minds were completely and thoroughly blown. Put simply, my first Matrix viewing is the single greatest theatrical experience I’ve ever had, and probably ever will have.

I had recently discovered Hong Kong action cinema, so naturally, I loved Yuen Woo-ping’s fight choreography. Bullet time was the coolest effect I’d ever seen on the silver screen. The cyberpunk style and anime-inspired aesthetic made me want to rewatch Ghost in the Shell while wearing mirror shades and a trenchcoat. And as for The Matrix’s esoteric and religious references, they could’ve come across as a cheesy attempt to make the film seem smart, much like a bong-fueled dorm room discussion might seem smart — but the philosophizing really did add a level of intrigue to the film. (And no doubt inspired thousands of bong-fueled dorm room discussions.)

To their considerable credit, the Wachowskis took all of these disparate elements and crafted a slick, stylish, and effortlessly cool film for which the term “groundbreaking” still feels like a distinct understatement.