Brandon Sanderson Ranks The Matrix Directors’ Failed Cult Classic

Credit: Octavia Escamilla Published Aug 12, 2026, 9:13 PM EDT Jennifer is a TV and Movie News Editor at ScreenRant. She started her journey in entertainment media in 2022 when she first joined Valnet at CBR before coming to ScreenRant. Jennifer loves TV, especially science fiction. She also loves late-night talk shows, due to her insomnia. Alien: Earth is definitely one of her favorite shows, and she jumps on any chance she gets to write about it. Even on her days off, she will claim an Alien Earth article if one is available. Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon are two of her favorite late-night hosts, and Conan O'Brien before he left his show. Her Alien: Earth coverage for ScreenRant is by far the work that she is most proud of so far. She was initially a finance and political editor, but her passion for pop culture convinced her to transition into entertainment journalism. During her off time, she loves to binge-watch cooking shows such as Kitchen Nightmares. Jennifer also loves spending time with her daughter and cherishes every moment of it. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Critically acclaimed fantasy author, Brandon Sanderson, reveals his true feelings about a failed cult classic film. The brilliant minds behind the Matrix, Lana and Lily Wachowskis, were also responsible for the 2008 adaptation of a popular manga, Speed Racer. Although the movie initially flopped and was overall considered a commercial failure at the box office, it eventually garnered an impressive fanbase and became a cult classic. And, Sanderson is among the many fans who enjoyed the movie, praising the Wachowskis siblings and their work. Sanderson praised Speed Racer during an episode of the Intentionally Blank podcast, where he made it clear that he absolutely loved the film. The author considers the movie one of the Wachowskis’ best projects and believes it deserved far more appreciation than it received upon release. Sanderson said he considers Speed Racer a perfect movie, giving the movie a ten out of ten score. He believes that its larger than life tone and heartfelt narrative were part of what made it so enjoyable, even if those qualities may not have been appreciated by everyone when the adaptation was first released. Speed Racer was based on the manga and anime series of the same name. Expectations were high for the movie because the Matrix was one of the most influential science fiction franchises at the time. However, it ultimately failed, grossing around $93 million worldwide off a reported budget of $120 million. Critical response to Speed Racer was also disappointing. Sanderson's comments implied that a lot of the elements that audiences criticized Speed Racer for were also the things that made it great for others. The author said he loved how the movie was over-the-top, visually bright, and its wholesome themes. It can be argued that all of these components were what contributed to Speed Racer becoming a cult classic over the years. Speed Racer follows an 18-year-old racer named Speed, who is committed to his family's business, Racer Motors. As a result, he turns down an offer from the manipulative company, Royalton Industries. Speed competes in the dangerous Crucible cross-country rally as he fights to protect his family and challenge all the corrupt corporations in the industry. The film stars Emile Hirsch, Nicholas Elia, Christina Ricci, Ariel Winter, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, and Matthew Fox. Speed Racer Release Date May 7, 2008 Runtime 135 Minutes