4. The Matrix Reloaded
1999's The Matrix changed the face of action cinema in the 2000s by popularizing the use of "bullet time". The Wachowski siblings found themselves faced with a daunting question: how could they possibly top their box-office smash scifi action milestone? Their answer: fill the sequel with ponderous philosophical debates that could have been lifted from a stoned philosophy major's first year notebook. The Wachowski's thesaurus got quite the workout throughout the feature, especially in the nail-biting conclusion where Neo talks to a stuffy old man in a room for ten minutes straight. Matrix fans knew the shark had been jumped. The Wachowski's follow-up plunged down the rabbit whole and at the bottom lay the intolerably inept series conclusion The Matrix Revolutions. (Credit where it's due -- the freeway chase is f---king awesome).