I’ve done my fair share of “enhanced” moviegoing over the years. I’ve felt the rumble of earthquakes in 4DX at Regal (where your seat jolts with every explosion and you might get misted in the face during rainy car chases), belted out tunes during Alamo Drafthouse sing-alongs, and marveled at pristine 70mm IMAX screenings at Universal CityWalk. Each one is its own kind of spectacle. 

But seeing The Matrix at the Cosm in Inglewood felt more like stepping into a simulation than sitting down to watch a movie (in a good way).

First off, the Cosm’s dome is obscenely large. The massive 87-foot LED screen curves over and around you, displaying 12K resolution visuals that completely reshape the filmgoing experience. I’m including some video snippets here (recording is allowed during the screening), but my iPhone footage does it no justice.

For this “shared reality” screening, Warner Bros. and Little Cinema created extended digital environments that stretch beyond the edges of the original frame. Buildings rise into the ceiling, black-and-green code rains from above, and the skyline literally wraps around your seat. 

It’s part immersive installation and part fan event. Some audience members even cheered for the AI, and the mere thought of people rooting for Agent Smith chilled me to my core. The whole vibe feels like the kind of communal energy you’d get at a midnight screening of an Avengers movie or opening night of Magic Mike.

Standard tickets are $55 for Levels 1–3. If you’re going, try to get a center booth on Level 2 or the front row if you really want to feel like you’re in the movie. I sat too far back on Level 3 and spent part of the screening wishing I’d chosen the balcony section, which seemed to have the cleanest, most uninterrupted sightlines. Level 3 also loses some of the immersive dome illusion. And if you’re sensitive to motion or flashing lights, be warned: a few moments can feel intense.

While the high-energy crowd added to the atmosphere, it may not be to everyone’s taste. If you prefer reverent silence à la Alamo Drafthouse (still the only place clinging to proper theater etiquette), this might take some getting used to. The Cosm does allow recording, so phones will be out — though only a handful of us were filming from time to time.

As a filmgoing experience, it’s one of the most visually ambitious I’ve had in years and an incredibly cool way to revisit a movie that changed how a generation thought about reality.

There’s also a tasting menu you can add on for an additional $45, which kicks off with a small takeout box of noodles stamped with “Very good noodles” in green lettering—a nod to Neo’s offhand line later in the film: “I used to eat there. Really good noodles.”

These are certainly not his noodles. They taste suspiciously like Panda Express chow mein, and if I were a hard-hitting investigative reporter with too much time on my hands, I’d be testing that theory. But they earn points for presentation.

Later, when Cypher savors his forbidden steak and declares that “ignorance is bliss,” you get two slivers of filet and a spoonful of polenta (It was too dark to take a picture of the plate). 

For me, the highlight of the menu was the tasty chocolate chip cookie served during the Oracle’s baking scene.

Now, the tasting menu was fun enough, but was it worth an extra $45? I’ll leave that decision to you and your inner Cypher. On the plus side, my Coke Zero was $4, which was an unexpected win.

Outside the domed space, the venue itself is fully themed. You’ll find a Matrix-style phone booth for photo ops, a neon-green bar on every level, and the original soundtrack playing as you walk in to set the mood.

What really surprised me, more than the LED dome or the novelty of green code falling from the ceiling, was how The Matrix still holds up in 2025. Strip away the leather coats and outdated tech, and it’s still a story that cuts deep. 

The visual effects look crisp, the action choreography remains iconic, and the story’s questions about reality and identity feel eerily timely. In 12K, those themes surround you. When Morpheus offers Neo the truth, the experience feels intimate and more urgent than ever.

If you’re in Los Angeles or Dallas in the next couple of months and have some money to burn, it’s worth checking out, and you can save $8 off your first purchase if you use my code: DESIREEB97642

Here’s hoping the Cosm keeps going with their movie series. Imagine a Christopher Nolan film rendered across that 12K dome! The backward car chase from Tenet stretched into every corner of your vision or the slow-motion van plunge in Inception?! Now that would be a simulation I’d gladly plug into again.