When the first two sequels to the Wachowskis' "The Matrix," titled "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions," both released in theaters in 2003, it set a strange precedent for Hollywood blockbuster filmmaking. Certain 2000s-era hits, rather than getting a single expected sequel, were granted a gigantic, outsize, super-sequel finale that was released in two parts. In addition to "The Matrix," major studios also took a "mega-sequel finale" approach to "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Harry Potter," "Twilight," and "The Hunger Games." Indeed, "Mission: Impossible" has since done the same thing with "Dead Reckoning" and "The Final Reckoning." Heck, even Marvel Studios made an "Avengers" mega-sequel-finale with "Infinity War" and "Endgame."

"The Matrix," however, also proved that the mega-sequel approach doesn't always work well. While "Reloaded" and "Revolutions" were hugely ambitious and exciting hits, they were also overstuffed, clunky, and wrestled with too many ideas. The mythology also became far too complicated for its own good.