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I watched the Matrix movies, and the explanation given for Neo flying and having super-strength and telekinesis is that the Matrix isn't real, and it can be hacked/modded. How does Neo have powers in the simulated reality of the Matrix? I don't understand how Neo could do whatever he wants in the Matrix. Plus, his stamina is finite, which doesn't make sense to me since it is a computer simulation. How do Neo's powers work in the matrix in the matrix movies?

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    Hi, welcome to SF&F. Are you asking for an explanation of powers in the Matrix in real-world terms? Asking about why a fictional universe doesn't match reality are off-topic; if you want to establish a requirement to upload cracks to exploit the system you have to demonstrate that it worked that way in the movie.
    – DavidW
    Nov 7, 2022 at 19:41
  • @DavidW I'm sorry, I strayed off topic there. I edited the question to be more answerable.
    – Lymona
    Nov 7, 2022 at 19:48
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    You have pretty much answered your own question. Think of it as a modded Computer game were you can do whatever you want.
    – A.Steer
    Nov 7, 2022 at 20:03
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    @A.Steer I'm confused though. If the Matrix is such that you can do whatever you want, why can't other people do what Neo can do? And Neo has limits even in the Matrix. He was overwhelmed by the Smith clones, and he can bleed.
    – Lymona
    Nov 7, 2022 at 20:10
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    "Morpheus: This is a sparring program, similar to the programmed reality of the Matrix. It has the same basic rules, rules like gravity. What you must learn is that these rules are no different that the rules of a computer system. Some of them can be bent. Others can be broken. Understand? Then hit me. If you can…. Good. Adaptation, improvisation. But your weakness is not your technique."
    – Valorum
    Nov 7, 2022 at 20:16

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Neo is The One, and has superhuman abilities due to his connection to the Source. This is explained (poorly) when he meets The Architect. According to fandom:

One significant anomaly appeared two-thirds into the Matrix's first cycle. A human was imbued with control of additional Matrix programming, and an instrinsic, metaphysical conceptulisation of the Matrix that was derived from the Source.

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  • I read the Matrix Wiki. I still do not understand how the people in the Matrix can hack it instantly.
    – Lymona
    Nov 7, 2022 at 20:31
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    @Lymona - The same way that any skilled speedrunner can use 'hacks' and 'glitches' to gain huge advantages over normies - youtube.com/watch?v=x1q3TseThXQ
    – Valorum
    Nov 7, 2022 at 20:44
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    One of the Animatrix shorts is about an athlete who runs so fast he breaks the matrix a bit and sees the machine world. People are exceeding the parameters of the matrix by pure skill and ability. Just like a real world hacker who can crack a computer network while someone else cannot
    – A.Steer
    Nov 7, 2022 at 20:57
  • @A.Steer so if different people have different superpowers due to their natural ability, then is it really superpowers?
    – Lymona
    Nov 7, 2022 at 21:27
  • There not superpowers at all. They are individuals who are able to break a defined set of rules. It's like the third if Clarke's three laws - "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", or in this setting superpowers
    – A.Steer
    Nov 7, 2022 at 21:59

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