WhenJohn Wickwas first released back in 2014, the film was only a modest success and grossed under $90 million at the box office. The studio and the world did not know it at the time, but itlaid the groundwork for what would become one of the greatest action franchises of all time. Led by director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves,John Wickdelivered all thegun fu thrillsthat one could ask for. John’s journey took him across the globe, first to get revenge but then just to stay alive.
Many film franchises have overstayed their welcome, but such was not the case withJohn Wick. The franchise never lost its magic, and with each sequel, audience interest only continued to rise. While a spin-off in the form of the Ana de Armas-ledBallerinais coming soon, Stahelski has revealed that he and Reeves are"done for the moment.“As we step back and reflect on the last nine years ofJohn Wick, here’s a look at where each of the four films rank in the franchise.
4John Wick: Chapter 2
After getting revenge on the Tarasovs, John was unable to leave his days of being a hitman behind him. The crime lord Santino D’Antonio had a “marker” on him, having helped John complete the task that freed him from Viggo. John was required by oath to return a favor to Santino, who sought to kill his sister, Gianna, in order to claim her seat at the High Table.John Wick: Chapter 2swapped out the revenge plot of the original film for a story that had the titular hero being forced into doing things he didn’t want to do.
The action definitely did not disappoint, butChapter 2was arguably one of the more forgettable installments in the franchise. The world-building being done was fantastic, but the script ofChapter 2didn’t quite pack as strong of a punch asChapter 1. Granted,Chapter 1was in the position of being the first film in the franchise and being able to focus more on John’s own motivations. As far as sequels go though,Chapter 2did everything it needed to set theJohn Wickfranchise on a great course.
Related:John Wick: Chapter 4 Director Says Lance Reddick Made Every John Wick Film Better
3John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
Declared “excommunicado” after gunning down a member of the High Table,John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellumfollowed John as he went on the run from an army of bounty hunters. The third installment in the franchise went big, dramatically increasing the scale of its action set pieces and throwing John into more danger than ever before. While going bigger hasn’t always meant better,John Wickhas always been an action franchise, andParabellumknew how to use its budget to its advantage. The film opened with an incredible library fight scene and concluded in spectacular fashion in a Continental glass room.
Three movies in,Parabellumshowed no signs of having difficulty finding new ways to kill people. Italso didn’t mess around when it came to visuals, leaning into a stylish neon color palette and featuring beautiful shots of Casablanca and New York City. The film introduced audiences to Sofia Al-Azwar (Halle Berry), Zero (Mark Dacascos), and The Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon), who were all excellent additions to the cast.
2John Wick
The firstJohn Wickeasily had the most impactful story, which was about John getting revenge on thethugs that killed his dog. The dog was not just any dog, but was the last gift from his late wife. And John Wick was not just any man, but was the “Baba Yaga,” the one you sent “to kill the f***ing boogeyman.” John’s primary target was Iosef Tarasov, the son of his boss during his time as a hitman. Despite being gravely outnumbered, he succeeded in his quest for revenge, racking up more than 70 kills within a single film.
John Wickhas been looked back fondly upon as one of the best revenge movies ever made as well as one of the best action movies ever made. Decades from now, people will likely continue to talk about this movie, and many will even be discovering it for the first time. Reeves was perfectly cast as John Wick, and so was Lance Reddick as Charon, and Ian McShane as Winston. The firstJohn Wickfeatured plenty of amazing fight choreography, with one of the standouts being the film’s iconic nightclub scene.
Related:Director Chad Stahelski Explains the Timeline of John Wick Movies
1John Wick: Chapter 4
It’s all led up to this.John Wick: Chapter 4is the best film in the franchise and has cemented Reeves asthe ultimate modern action hero. Picking up whereParabellumleft off,Chapter 4saw John take on the powerful criminal organization known as the High Table.Chapter 4was nearly three hours long, and yet there was not a single moment in the film that felt it dragged. The film succeeded on virtually every front, featuring some of the best choreography, set design, and cinematography in the entire franchise. It was a visually stunning film, supported by an outstanding soundtrack from Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard.
New cast members Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Scott Adkins, and Rina Sawayama allbrought their A-game. There’s no such thing as a perfect action film, but if there was, then this would definitely be one of them. It’s truly remarkable how well everything in this film came together. The bar has been set very, very high byJohn Wick: Chapter 4.
