The only thing required is exposure of the system, of The Matrix. The Matrix is like Fairies. It has power because, and ONLY because people believe in it. Once it is exposed it fails, and we rebuild anew. Mass executions are not required to expose The Matrix. It is being exposed right now. More and more people see it. Those that started seeing it before are realizing it is larger than they thought. Those who never imagined it are seeing that it exists, even if they can't imagine the scope.

The system may very well collapse, in fact, I think it has to, but we don't need mass death, we just need a big enough screen to show "The Matrix" movie where everyone will see it.