Cultural references in The Matrix franchise

The Matrix franchise makes an enormous number of cultural references inspired from a wide array of sources. While it may be impossible to list all of them, partial lists of both the inspirations and real-world phenomena mentioned in the films, cartoons, games and comics follow.
== Inspirations and impact ==
*Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass
*Superman and Neo share the same Messianic archetype:
**John Byrne's revision of Krypton and the origins of Superman in the 1986 The Man of Steel #1 introduces the Kryptonian Birthing Matrix, a neonatal care unit
**In the Armageddon 2001 event, the Kryptonian Birthing Matrix serves as an actual birthing device and had a version of Superman being gestated and born in the United States of America
**J.M. DeMatteis' version of hell in the September 1999 Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #15 has Superman being tormented by Neron in a completely white place that combines all possible realities for him. Here he is trapped between two choices and paths, one leading to the salvation of the entirety of humanity as well as preventing Silver Banshee from total damnation, and another leading to the salvation of Lois Lane. Superman, much like Neo, chooses to go after the woman he loves.
**Superman, in general, serves as a major inspiration for Neo as a superhero character since Superman, at the point of The Matrix' creation, was a combination of elements from all of its previous iterations including comics, TV shows, and movies with vastly different backgrounds
***Mysterious histories: Superman comes from a long line of El's, a noble ruling family from Krypton, while Neo is the 6th iteration of The One
***Similar to Superman, Neo awakens to more and more superpowers within the Matrix, initially just gaining super strength, then learning how to see through objects, then flight, then to more creative applications of their powers which bend the world around them
***Shared Fantasy elements: The Matrix was originally conceived as a comic book
***Idealists: sharing the same frustrations with reality as other comic books and other works of fiction, The Matrix is also about leaving the boundaries of an "inner" world in pursuit of truth and of leaving behind materialism
== In-Universe references ==
*The book Simulacra and Simulation by Baudrillard is included in The Matrix and A Life Less Empty."Follow Instructions", The Matrix
*Nihilism briefly shown in a chapter of an open book.
*Algernon Charles Swinburne's poem "Dolores" is read by Persephone in The Matrix Online chapter 8 cinematic 3, showing her library which also includes books by John Milton, Lord Byron and Goethe's Faust.
*The phenomenon déjà vu is used in a scene of The Matrix, with a recurring black cat.
*The band Cibo Matto is included in There Are No Flowers in the Real World.
*Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz was referenced by Cypher to Neo in The Matrix.
*Reincarnation and Souls were mentioned by The Oracle to Neo in The Matrix."Choices... and a Cookie" , The Matrix
*Vampires and Werewolves mentioned to Neo by The Oracle"The Oracle", The Matrix Reloaded
*Biblical Reference Cain and Abel a program working as an henchman for The Merovingian.
*Biblical reference Isaiah 54:16 referenced as "IS 5416" on the license plate of Smith's car. 
*"Chicago references are sprinkled throughout the Matrix scripts." according to an articleMiller, Mark (November 11, 2003). "Matrix Revelations". Wired News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
*Alice's Adventures in Wonderland "Follow the White Rabbit" From Trinity to Neo"Follow Instructions", The Matrix
*Biblical reference "You're my savior man, my own personal Jesus Christ." Choi to Neo
*Alice's Adventures in Wonderland "I imagine that right now you're feeling like Alice." Morpheus to Neo"Morpheus' Proposal" , The Matrix
*Angels are mentioned to Neo by The Oracle
*Rob Zombie "Dragula (Hot Rod Herman Mix)""The Question", The Matrix
*Latin "Temet Nosce" means "Know Thyself" is found in The Oracle's Kitchen
*Superman "He's doing his Superman-thing" Link referring to Neo
*Prayer "They started yet?" "Only Councilor Hamann's opening prayer." Kid to citizen of Zion 
*Ancient Greek The Icarus Citizen of Zion to Neo
*Greek Philosophy The Gnosis Gnosis is used throughout Greek philosophy to mean: experience knowledge 
*Biblical reference Nebuchadnezzar is a Biblical reference to the Book of Daniel.
*Ghosts and Aliens are mentioned by The Oracle to Neo
*"Night of the Lepus" can be seen playing in The Oracle's waiting room. The Matrix. Directed by The Wachowskis, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc, 1999.
== Possible References ==
While never explicitly stated here is a list of possible references:
* "One-Adam-12" officer over radio "Trucks Amuck", The Matrix Reloaded
== See also ==
*:Category:Society and culture
==Sources==
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