10 Things You Didn't Know About The Matrix Trilogy

10. One Zero/Zero One

A lot of weight is given to names in the Matrix franchise, with each character, place and object often having a second -- or binary -- meaning.

This binary theme is of course essential to the coding of the Matrix itself (computers work on a binary of 1s and 0s), and comes into its own in the very first film with Neo and his moral opposite, Cypher (Joe Pantoliano).

Neo wants to be free from the matrix, seeking to seize control of his own existence and lead others into the real world; Cypher wants nothing more than to return to the matrix for good -- becoming once again blissfully unaware of harsh, grim reality -- and is willing to sell out his friends and cut a deal with the agents in order to achieve this.

Reflecting these opposing ideals, 'Neo' is an anagram of 'one' (in reference to the character's role as supposed saviour of humanity), while 'Cypher' actually comes from the Arabic word for zero, صفر (sifr). And the fact that 'zero' is also another word for 'loser' is probably just coincidence.

Probably.