movie review of john wick 4

John Wick: Chapter 4

Welcome back, Mr. Wick. Four years after “ John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum ,” director Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves have returned to theaters with “John Wick: Chapter 4,” a film that was supposed to hit theaters almost two full years ago. Trust me. It was worth the wait. Stahelski and writers Shay Hatten and Michael Finch have distilled the mythology-heavy approach of the last couple chapters with the streamlined action of the first film, resulting in a final hour here that stands among the best of the genre. 

“John Wick: Chapter 4” opens with its title character (Reeves) on the run again as the villainous Powers That Be known as the High Table get in his way. The main villain of the series is the Marquis de Gramont ( Bill Skarsgård ), a leader of the High Table who keeps raising the bounty on Wick’s head while he also cleans up the messes left behind, including potentially eliminating Winston Scott ( Ian McShane ) and his part of this nefarious organization. The opening scenes take Wick to Japan, where he seeks help from the head of the Osaka Continental, Shimazu ( Hiroyuki Sanada ), and runs afoul of a blind High Table assassin named Caine (the badass Donnie Yen ). Laurence Fishburne pops up now and then as Wick’s Q when the killer needs a new bulletproof suit, and Shamier Anderson plays an assassin who seems to be waiting for the price on Wick’s head to hit the right level for him to get his payday. More than the last couple of films, the plot here, despite the movie’s epic runtime (169 minutes), feels refreshingly focused again. Here’s John Wick. Here are the bad guys. Go!

And go they do. Stahelski and his team construct action sequences in a manner that somehow feels both urgent and artistically choreographed at the same time. Filmmakers who over-think their shoot-outs often land on a tone that feels distant, lacking in stakes, and feeling more stylish than substantial. The great action directors figure out how to film combat in a way that doesn’t sacrifice tension for showmanship. The action sequences in “John Wick: Chapter 4” are long battles, gun-fu shoot-outs between John and dozens of people who underestimate him, but they have so much momentum that they don’t overstay their welcome. 

They also have wonderfully defined stakes. At one point in the film, John and an enemy decide on the parameters of a battle, including time, weapons, and variables. But this is really true of all the major action scenes, in which we very clearly understand what John needs to do and who he needs to go through to “finish the level.” The simplicity of objectives allows for complex choreography. We know what needs to happen for John to keep pushing forward as he has since the beginning of the first film. So much modern action is cluttered with characters or muddled objectives, but the “Wick” films have such brilliant clarity of intention that they can then have fun within those simple constructs.

So much fun. The choreography of the action here can be simply breathtaking. I loved how often the world goes on around Wick and his unfortunate combatants. In a sequence that would be the best in almost any other recent action movie (but is like 3 rd or 4 th here), Wick has to battle a makeup-covered Scott Adkins and his army of unlucky idiots in a crowded nightclub. The dancers barely notice. They sometimes part a little bit to let them through, but they don’t stop and stare. With water pouring into the club, the writhing, and dancing bodies make for such a visually inventive backdrop. Later, in one of my favorite action sequences of all time, Wick and his predators battle in the traffic circle around the Arc de Triomphe. The cars don’t stop. In fact, it feels like they speed up. As shots ring out in the streets in this film, no one opens the window to see what the hell is going on. The world outside of Wick and the mythology of this world almost feels like they can’t even see the legendary assassin and the hundred or so people he ends up killing. It’s a fascinating, visually striking choice.

And then there’s what I would call Action Geography. So many people have tried to mimic the frenetic approach of the “Bourne” movies, and the results have often been more incoherent than not. The amazing cinematographer Dan Laustsen (a regular Guillermo del Toro collaborator on “ The Shape of Water ,” “ Nightmare Alley ,” and more) works with Stahelski to make sure the action here is clean and brutal, never confusing. The stunt work is phenomenal, and, again, the shoot-outs have the feel of dance choreography more than the bland plot-pushing of so many studio films. There’s just so much grace and ingenuity whenever Wick goes to work. 

Of course, a great cast helps too. Reeves might have fewer lines in this movie than any so far in the franchise, but he completely sells Wick’s commitment while also imbuing him with emotional exhaustion that adds more gravity to this chapter. The vengeful Wick of the first film is a different one than the survivor three movies later, and Reeves knows exactly what this character needs. So many performers would add unnecessary touches to a character that’s already this popular, but Reeves is smart about streamlining this performance to fit the film around him. It also allows for a few supporters to shine in different performance registers, especially Yen and Anderson. The legendary Yen is fantastic here, not just in combat but the moments in between. Most people who know who Donnie Yen is won’t be surprised to hear that he fits in here perfectly, but he’s even better than you expect. Anderson also gives a fun performance as a man who just seems to be a mercenary waiting for the right price, but fans of the series will note from the beginning that this badass has a dog, and this universe values puppies and people who love them.

The only minor flaw in Wick’s armor here is a bit of narrative self-indulgence. There are a few scenes, especially early, when it feels like a beat is going on a bit too long, and I do think there’s a slightly tighter (if you can say 150 minutes would be tight) version of this film that’s simply perfect.

Fans won’t care. Much has been made of what brings people out to theaters in the post-pandemic, streaming-heavy world, and this is a movie that should be seen with a cheering, excited crowd. It has that contagious energy we love in action films—a whole room of people marveling at the ingenuity and intensity of what’s unfolding in front of them. It’s a movie that’s meant to be watched loud and big. John Wick has fought hard for it.

This review was filed from the North American premiere at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival. “John Wick: Chapter 4” opens on March 24 th .

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

• Keanu Reeves as John Wick
• Donnie Yen as Caine
• Ian McShane as Winston
• Bill Skarsgård as Marquis de Gramont
• Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King
• Clancy Brown as The Harbinger
• Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu
• Lance Reddick as Charon
• Shamier Anderson as Tracker
• Rina Sawayama as Akira
• Scott Adkins as Killa
• Marko Zaror as Chidi
• Natalia Tena as Katia
• George Georgiou as The Elder
• Chad Stahelski

Cinematographer

• Dan Laustsen

Writer (based on characters created by)

• Derek Kolstad
• Evan Schiff
• Joel J. Richard
• Tyler Bates
• Michael Finch
• Shay Hatten

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John Wick: Chapter 4

Reviewed by: Alexander Malsan CONTRIBUTOR

Films that attempt to make murder and killing cool and/or stylish

Army of mercenaries / assassins / bounty hunters

FILM VIOLENCE —How does viewing violence in movies affect families? Answer

About death

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J ohn has had a bounty on his head for some time now. After killing someone on Continental grounds (a safe haven for criminals, of sorts), John has been considered “Excommunicado” by the members of The High Table (the most well known crime syndicate in the world) and has a bounty of over $14 million dollars.

In the last film , the manager of the hotel, Winston ( Ian McShane ), made a deal with one of the leaders of The High Table to kill John Wick in order to reestablish the Continental’s reputation. After all, Winston helped John get a head start when the bounty was placed and that is a big no-no in the criminal community, especially those who are part of The High Table.

Chapter 4 takes place soon after John was shot by Winston and fell off the roof of the Continental. John, however, survives (because, hey, it’s an action movie, and he’s probably Superman in disguise). John is out to find the Elders of The High Table to get the bounty taken off his head. “Even if this means I have to kill everyone and everything to do it,” John says.

But, there’s a new sheriff in town, or at least a new leader of The High Table, the Marquis Vincent De Gramont ( Bill Skarsgård ), and the Marquis is bent on destroying “the very idea of John Wick, not simply John Wick.”

Death comes for us all. For John Wick, death may just be around the corner…

Oftentimes, secular critics and I are going to disagree on our views of particular films. The films that often receive the most praise by secular critics are the ones that I usually tend to disagree with and vice versa. There are those moments, however, where the critics and I see eye to eye on a film.

“John Wick: Chapter 4” is not one of these instances. While it may have a 97% fresh rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it’s definitely not fresh in its moviemaking approach. The story itself doesn’t reveal or add anything new to the franchise. Some aspects, and side quests (and again this is just my opinion) felt out of place to John’s overarching mission: to remove the mark on him. It becomes very apparent, about 30 minutes into the film where the story is going to head (no spoilers I promise).

The film comes in at a whopping two hours and forty-nine minutes. In comparison, that is nine minutes short of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” However, unlike The Lord of the Rings, within this two-hours and forty-nine minutes, there is, in culmination, a total of 20-25 minutes of peace in the film. The rest is just kill after kill after kill, in the most graphic of ways. From stabbings to shooting to beatings to knife fights, nothing is left off the table.

Performance-wise, Keanu Reeves is definitely at the top of his form. He says so much without speaking. You can see the emotional toll, suffering, and just exhaustion on his face. Laurence Fishburne is severely underused in this Chapter, making only a couple appearances in the film, which is truly disheartening as he is such an accomplished actor. The actor that impressed me the most, though, was Ian McShane . His role as the manager is very double-sided, and he brings this out so subtly, yet so enchanting in certain moments of the film. He tries to keep his composure, yet can’t help but feel something, whether it’s for his concierge Charon (sadly, the actor who played the concierge, Lance Riddick , passed away very recently) or his friendship with John. In general, the performances were well done.

Content of Concern

Violence: Extreme. There is so much violence in this film I’m not going to list every instance. In one scene a man is shot while on a horse. A man is shot and executed in another scene. We witness a hotel being demolished. People are shot and killed by arrows in an extended fight sequence (and by extended I mean a 25 minute fight sequence!). Multiple people are shot and killed in this sequence and some are stabbed to death. One person is stabbed multiple times slowly as he crawls up the stairs to get away (he is stabbed in the buttocks, the back and the shoulders). Someone is thrown through glass. People are seen being hit by nunchucks. A dog is seen attacking and killing people multiple times in the film (even biting a dead body). A character is sliced with a samurai sword and killed. A knife goes through someone’s hand and a man pulls his hand through to get the knife out. A priest shoots John with a shotgun. A guy has a noose around his neck, and it is tightened during an interrogation. A man falls from a roof (twice). People are axed to death… A man is beaten unconscious. A man falls from a height, hits his head on concrete and dies. We watch incendiary bullets being shot at people, and the people catching on fire. Someone is kicked down a huge flight of stairs, twice. Two characters are shot multiple times in a duel. Another character dies.

VULGARITY: F*ck (3), F*ck off (1), F*cking (3), M*ther-f*cking (1), Pr*ck (2), B*stard (1), B*tch (1), Nuts (testicles) (1), Sh*t (7), A** (2), and A**hole (3). Sample phrases include: “The motherf*cking king,” “This f*cking place,” “What the f*ck is this?” “Ferocious f*cking fangs,” “Motherf*cker,” “F*ck off,” “You arrogant a**hole”

PROFANITY: H*ll (1) Amen (said mockingly)

SEXUAL CONTENT: Some individuals are make noises and are seen dancing very inappropriately in a couple scenes.

NUDITY: Two paintings include naked people (one in which naked women are being killed). Women wear some very sexually provocative clothing in some scenes.

ALCOHOL: Characters are seen drinking in several scenes throughout the film.

DRUGS: Someone smokes.

OTHER: Someone’s life is gambled on during a game of poker. Characters are seen lying and scheming.

At one point in the movie, there is a line that John states to his friend at another hotel. His friend asks him something like, “Do you ever wish you could go back to the good life?” John responds, “You and I left the good life a long time ago.”

It brought to my mind that, as a Christian , no matter what mistakes we make, no matter how bad things get, we can always come back to Christ . His arms are always open to a humble , repentant mind and heart and ready to welcome us home.

A prime example is the story of the prodigal son that Jesus told. For those who are unfamiliar with this parable , the prodigal son had everything he could ask for, and he went out from his father’s house with his inheritance and wasted it all; he gambled, he drank , he partied, you name it. He came back to his father’s house, humble d, seeking forgiveness and hoping to be accepted as a servant.

Our Heavenly Father welcomes us back no matter how badly we mess up. He forgives and forgets.

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” — Isaiah 55:7

Growing up, one of the things my Principal said was, “Feed them and they will come.” I think about this statement when it comes to films like “ Scream VI ” which I just reviewed last week and now “John Wick Chapter 4.” Audiences keep flocking to these films and supporting graphic, gratuitous violence . In turn, studios keep producing them and then people wonder why there are so many of these types of films out there. The cycle is endless.

Help break the cycle. Be one of the theater-goers that decides NOT to see “John Wick: Chapter 4.” It’s extremely violent, abhorrently profane, and not for any audience of any kind, especially Christians. Run very far away from this film.

• Violence: Extreme
• Vulgar/Crude language: Very Heavy
• Drugs/Alcohol: Moderate
• Nudity: Mild
• Profane language: Mild
• Wokeism: Minor
• Occult: None

Learn about DISCERNMENT —wisdom in making personal entertainment decisions

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

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John Wick: Chapter 4 Reviews

Few sequels can one-up their predecessors.

Full Review | Sep 20, 2024

Nearly three hours of bone-crushing, elegantly choreographed violence: this is what great action movies are made of.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 18, 2024

As much as John Wick: Chapter 4 borrows from the previous films, its immense action set-pieces and general absurdity make this a wholly worthy entry and a fantastic cinematic spectacle.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 3, 2024

Part of the movie’s appeal can be traced to the class warfare on display. In Wick’s tired eyes and battered body, we see a symbol of the worker, whose labor is controlled by arbitrary rules and used to prop an indulgent and empty culture.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 20, 2024

It’s astounding how this franchise has steadily improved with each instalment, and this time around, Stahelski and co. laid all their cards down on the table and crafted an action masterpiece.

Full Review | Original Score: 10/10 | Jul 12, 2024

The resonant boom of John Wick punching shakes up the auditorium; it is enough to make you jump right out of your seat. But it serves another fundamental purpose: to acclimatize you with the heavy-handed vibe of what’s about to follow.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 9, 2024

At some point, the original premise of the franchise– “if the worst man in existence found salvation”– runs its course and the saved becomes damned again.

Full Review | Jul 7, 2024

With Chapter 4, by thine own hand, Stahelski and Reeves have cemented John Wick as one of the greatest action franchises in cinematic history.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jul 5, 2024

What once felt like a breath of fresh air now reeks of mildew. It’s an aggressive feat of over-engineered popcorn violence that is either a mockery of its existence or, as the film says, a ghost seeking a graveyard.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jul 3, 2024

Chad Stahelski’s opera of violence is one of the most artistically stirring movies of 2023.

Full Review | Mar 5, 2024

The John Wick universe is a complex blend of gun violence, vague religious imagery, and some of the best dog actors around, and the fourth installment brought the action to a new level.

Full Review | Jan 13, 2024

John Wick: Chapter 4 really is a visual spectacular. With amazing fight sequences and a storyline that never signposts or becomes predictable this film is a film that deserves more credit than most will give it.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 19, 2023

Yes, Donnie Yen plays another blind character (my theory is that filmmakers do this because nobody would buy that a Donnie Yen with two functioning eyes could ever lose a fight).

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 8, 2023

You might have seen some of it before, but it has never been as big and brash as it is in this chapter... an action epic for the ages.

Full Review | Sep 6, 2023

Genuine cinematic poetry.

Full Review | Sep 3, 2023

John Wick 4 is the ultimate action movie.

Full Review | Aug 16, 2023

The action is fluid and all-consuming and makes it easy to overlook some of the story’s shortcomings (too many new threads, not so seamlessly woven in).

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 16, 2023

It is an incredible ride that is designed to entertain from the opening moments and the best way to enjoy it is to just hang on.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Aug 9, 2023

This series always did a stellar job of not turning John Wick into a robotic machine, and Reeves always maintained a depth to this haunted character. The tenderness of a classically Reeves-ian performance is what is missing in John Wick: Chapter 4.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Aug 9, 2023

They understand that it is the characters, the humour, and the jaw-dropping action that keeps us coming back for more. And as long as they keep this up, even in the form of spin-offs, audiences will continue to lap it up.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jul 29, 2023

John Wick Chapter 4 (United States, 2023)

John Wick has lost his mojo. The aspect of this franchise that made it compulsively watchable for the first two installments has degraded during the last two. John Wick has always been a comic book-style property (although Chapter 4 feels more like a video game template, right down to some of the camera angles). The thing that (at least in the early installments) differentiated it from countless other post-Newtonian action films was its sardonic, whimsical tone. The first two films brought a freshness to an often-stale genre. The stunts, fights, and action scenes were presented with flair and style. With Chapter 3 (Parabellum) , however, things took a turn for the somber. The movie took itself too seriously – a flaw that has only been exacerbated with Chapter 4 . This latest (last?) film in the John Wick cycle buys into the idea that this is some kind of epic action opera, replacing gallows humor with Biblical allusions and mystical weirdness.

The franchise’s downturn has less to do with the director than the screenwriting. Before making his directorial debut with John Wick , Chad Stahelski made his bones doing stunt work and his background informs his approach. All four John Wick films look like they were made by the same team. All are visually inventive and make the most out of their sometimes exotic, sometimes prosaic locations ( Chapter 4 takes the story from New York to the Sahara, Osaka, Berlin, and Paris). The homage to Walter Hill’s The Warriors (with a D.J. issuing directions to a bounty’s location) is perfectly in keeping with the aesthetic. But the writer of John Wick and John Wick Chapter 2 , Derek Kolstad, had to share credit for Chapter 3 with Shay Hatten. He is entirely absent from Chapter 4 but Hatten is back, this time joined by Michael Finch, whose previous credits include The November Man and Hitman: Agent 47 . It is any surprise that John Wick 4 is such an overlong slog?

Reeves’ Wick has grown increasingly glum over the course of the four films. His character is defined by four traits: he mourns his dead wife and the chance at freedom and happiness that died with her, he is constantly betrayed, he kills lots of people, and he seemingly can’t be stopped (even by the best and most lethal in the business). Chapter 4 takes a few chances with the formula toward the end, and to its credit, it doesn’t conclude with an elaborate orgy of bloodletting (there are plenty of those earlier in the proceedings). The climax is quietly satisfying but it takes more than 2 ½ exhausting hours to get there and I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Keanu Reeves is what he always been in the John Wick movies: a relatable touchstone – the ultimate laid-back actor playing a ruthless killer. What might seem like a disaster on paper nevertheless works. Any doubts about the casting were nixed as soon as the first movie was released. He is once again joined by former Matrix cohort Laurence Fishburne, scene-stealing Ian McShane, and the late, lamented Lance Reddick (who has less screen time here than in any of the previous John Wick movies). Newcomers to the franchise include the legendary Hiroyuki Sanda and Donnie Yen, Shamier Anderson (who might be on tap for a spin-off), and veteran heavy Clancy Brown. Bill Skarsgard proves that he doesn’t have to dress as a clown and live in sewer to play someone totally evil.

Soon after the release of John Wick , Stahelski revealed that plans were afoot for a trilogy. Over time, the franchise’s growing box office prowess argued for an extension of the trilogy into a tetralogy. Although this may have enriched the coffers of everyone involved, it came at the expense of storytelling. John Wick Chapter 4 has its high points, including a well-earned ending, but it’s characterized by an exhaustive repetitiveness that diminishes what was so good and unique about the first two installments of the series. The time has come to put John Wick to rest.

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• DVD & Streaming

John Wick: Chapter 4

• Action/Adventure , Drama

Content Caution

In Theaters

• March 24, 2023
• Keanu Reeves as John Wick; Donnie Yen as Caine; Bill Skarsgård as Marquis; Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King; Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu; Shamier Anderson as Tracker; Lance Reddick as Charon; Rina Sawayama as Akira; Scott Adkins as Killa; Ian McShane as Winston; Marko Zaror as Chidi; Natalia Tena as Katia; Aimée Kwan as Mia; Clancy Brown as Harbinger

Home Release Date

• May 23, 2023
• Chad Stahelski

Distributor

Positive Elements   |   Spiritual Elements   |   Sexual & Romantic Content   |   Violent Content   |   Crude or Profane Language   |   Drug & Alcohol Content   |   Other Noteworthy Elements   | Conclusion

Movie Review

In the world of business, some folks would kill to have a seat at the table.

John Wick just wants to kill the Table.

Not the table itself, mind you. The High Table—if there is a physical thing—is probably just a very nice piece of nonsentient furniture. Mahogany, I’m guessing. But what it represents—and the people who sit around it—have been plaguing John Wick for four movies now.

This ludicrously formal crime syndicate once employed John as perhaps its most-lethal assassin, then let him go, then drew him back in after someone made the mistake of killing his dog. Now, the only way the rogue assassin can get the Table off his back is by murdering his way out.

Not so fast, John Wick! The 12 members of the Table say, admiring the literal table’s shiny mahogany finish. We do the murdering around here! They’ve spent millions of dollars and almost as many henchmen in their drive to extinguish Mr. Wick and put an end to these sequels. But alas, to no avail.

Now, the Table has turned the organization’s reins over to an ambitious, slightly crazy CEO called the Marquis, and he’s decided to burnish his own ambitions by really, truly and finally killing the wayward assassin, John. That means bringing another assassin out of retirement. That killer, Caine, is both blind and an old friend of John’s. But Caine doesn’t need to see to kill. And given that he’s trying to protect his daughter, he doesn’t need another reason to kill John.

Meanwhile, John is beginning to understand that murdering loads of people just doesn’t seem to be getting him where he’d like to get in this world. The only way to free himself from the High Table, he’s told (repeatedly) is death. Death!

Or he could get back into the syndicate, get chummy with a member of the High Table and then challenge the Marquis to a duel.

But trust me, death is way easier.

Positive Elements

There’s more to talk about in this section than you’d expect in a superficial, splattery, R-rated actioner.

First, let’s talk about John. Yes, he’s super-good at killing people, in part because he gets a lot of practice. But he is also a documented dog lover. He even saves a pooch from certain death in the movie, earning a measure of respect and kindness from the dog’s owner.

John would also like to be remembered not just as a ruthless killer, but also as a loving husband. (His wife died from illness in the first film.) In fact, John tells his friend Winston that he’d like something to that effect carved on his tombstone one day: “John Wick, Loving Husband.” It’s so important to him, in fact, that he strings six or seven words together to make his feelings known—quite a feat for the notoriously taciturn assassin.

As noted, Caine is not particularly interested in killing John. He agrees to do so only to safeguard his daughter, whom it seems he only knows from afar. While one cannot excuse murder, we can at least acknowledge that Caine’s familial priorities are nice to see.

Finally, John and his lethal associates share a great deal of friendly affection for each other. One of John’s pals is willing to risk everything to help John out of a tight spot. Friendship when it’s convenient isn’t really friendship, he essentially tells John. People risk their lives for John, and John does the same for some of them.

Spiritual Elements

The John Wick movies have always come draped in plenty of religious trappings (if not much actual faith).

John is referred to repeatedly as being “excommunicado” (as are others). Similar to those excommunicated from the Christian Church, he’s cast out from the Table and, thus, hunted like a heretic. Continental hotels (sort of an underworld chain)  serve as sort of sacred spaces for the organization—“consecrated” places where no killing is allowed and members of the underworld are considered safe. Of course, the High Table can revoke that special status and instantly “de-consecrate” the hotels, especially if one is found to be harboring someone who’s excommunicado. And that leaves them open for all manner of carnage.

To get back in with the High Table, John Wick goes into an Eastern Orthodox Church—and is promptly attacked by a priest with a shotgun. The scene that follows finds John surrounded by underworld thugs along with a few cross-wearing clerics. A climactic scene takes place outside the famous Sacré-Cœur in Paris. We hear some discussion on where a character might wind up in the afterlife.

We do see one scene of what appears to be a genuine reflection of spirituality. John Wick goes to a church on the eve of a big battle, lighting a candle in memory of his deceased wife. Caine sits beside him and they discuss their own beliefs in the afterlife: Caine insists the dead are gone and gone forever. John tends to agree—but wants to hedge his bets.

Sexual & Romantic Content

John Wick: Chapter 4 doesn’t allow time for romance. But we do see some men and women writhe and dance sultrily in what looks to be a massive German rave. Elsewhere, a couple of women dress a bit provocatively.

A museum prominently features two famous paintings by the famous French painter Eugene Delacroix—both of which come with a tang of symbolism and a bit of skin. In one, The Death of Sardanapalus , the titular king lounges on his bed while the naked women of his harem are killed. (We see classically painted bare breasts and buttocks.) In the other, Liberty Leading the People , a bare-breasted manifestation of Liberty holds a French flag as combatants follow her over a pile of bodies.

Violent Content

Obviously, both paintings mentioned above include quite violent content as subject matter. If only John Wick: Chapter 4 had sequestered its violence to oil and canvas.

The reason this movie—and the John Wick franchise as a whole—exists at all is to glory in unbelievable and unremitting violence. While the frenetic fight scenes actually aren’t wildly bloody or gory, the body count likely soars into the hundreds. And while we can’t obviously detail each and every fatality, we can tell you that people die via gunshot wounds, hatchet blows to the head, sword slashes to the throat, cars and trucks running into them and occasionally being mauled by dogs. Several people are essentially blown up: They’re shot with what appears to be explosive ammunition and set on fire, and we see their flaming corpses (and sometimes their still moving bodies) in the aftermath.

Someone gets shot at nearly point-blank range; blood stains his white shirt and eventually pools around the body. Another man is shot in the head and killed. Someone falls to his death: We see his head strike the pavement below, sickeningly snapping the neck. (Some of the man’s teeth are removed from the corpse, thanks to a couple of well-aimed blows to the face.) And countless people fall prey to bullets of various stripes

Nonlethal wounds can be even more disturbing, in a way. Two people essentially brand their forearms with a red-hot seal. A man tumbles down scores—perhaps hundreds—of concrete stairs before finally coming to a rest. In perhaps the movie’s most grotesque scene, a man slams a knife into another man’s hand: It’s a test, apparently, and the victim must pull his hand free (not pull the knife out) to free himself. An attack dog has been trained to bite various parts of the body, from the neck to the arm to the groin. We see the pooch perform all of these directives enthusiastically. Two men shoot each other several times, but neither dies outright from the wounds. A character is shot in the rear.

John shoots a trio of riders off their horses as the four of them ride through the desert, then kills another man who, for some reason, is lounging about in the middle of this wilderness. People fall from various heights, often making it through relatively unscathed. Several people bear evidence of recent fights, and both John and Caine carry their own scars from their time serving the High Table. (John, and others, are missing fingers, while Caine’s eyes indicate that he was blinded on purpose.) A playing card does some serious damage to someone’s neck.

A duel takes place according to the High Table’s exacting rules of engagement. Not only does the user have to die (even if he survives the outcome of the duel itself), the life of the duelist’s “second” is also forfeit. A building blows up.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear five f-words and two s-words. We also hear “b–ch,” “b–tard,” “d–n” and “h—”.

Drug & Alcohol Content

Characters and extras drink wine, beer and whiskey. Someone smokes and snuffs out the butt on the pavement.

Other Noteworthy Elements

Four characters literally play for someone’s life in a game of poker. Someone lies and schemes.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is as much a very passive video game as it is a very active movie. It contains all the beats of a classic button-masher: Waves and waves of anonymous assailants; big boss battles to put the exclamation point on each level; action sometimes interspersed with cut scenes that, y’know, actually tell you what’s going on. If the player cares, that is.

The film does have a storyline that adds at least superficial interest. Driven by Keanu Reeves’ taciturn anticharisma (He says about 20 different words and uses approximately one expression during the entire movie), John Wick: Chapter 4 offers a compelling world, likeable characters and some unexpectedly poignant moments. And, in truth, the combat sequences we see can be pretty spectacular. One battle takes us into an almost dollhouse view of the action, as we watch John battle bevies of bad ’uns through a series of rooms from above. Clever.

But those choreographed action sequences emphasize that, without those scenes of violence—where countless people die in sometimes horrific ways— John Wick would not exist. The franchise—arguably like the character itself—lives to kill. It glories in violence, revels in savagery. John Wick: Chapter 4 may raise barbarity to art, butchery to spectacle. But let us never forget that to be entertained by death—even fabricated death—should give us pause.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that tur... Read all John Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes. John Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.

• Chad Stahelski
• Shay Hatten
• Michael Finch
• Derek Kolstad
• Keanu Reeves
• Laurence Fishburne
• George Georgiou
• 1.7K User reviews
• 329 Critic reviews
• 78 Metascore
• 36 wins & 46 nominations

Top cast 34

• Bowery King

• (as Asuka Riedl)

• (as Milena Rendon)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Keanu Reeves and Cast Talk Getting Into Character

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Did you know

• Trivia Keanu Reeves gifted each stunt worker with a personalized t-shirt detailing how many times that performer met their demise in the film. His five-person stunt team also received Rolex Submariner watches, each costing around $10,000, with a personalized message on the back of each one when filming wrapped.
• Goofs The Arc de Triomphe is missing the eternal flame which crowns France's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. As its name suggests, it is never ever allowed to go out.

Shimazu : Friendship means little when it's convenient.

• Crazy credits There is a small scene after the credits have finished where you can see Caine on the way to his daughter encountering Akira.
• Alternate versions The end title for the theatrical version shows "John Wick Baba Yaga" while in home media version shows "John Wick Chapter 4".
• Connections Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Most Anticipated Franchises Returning in 2023 (2023)
• Soundtracks Nocturne No. 20 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. Posth. Written by Frédéric Chopin Arranged by Joel J. Richard Performed by Lola Bates (as Lola Colette) and Mark Robertson

User reviews 1.7K

• Brandon_Walker_Robinson
• Mar 16, 2023
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• Do I need to watch the previous John Wick Movies, to fully understand and enjoy this one?
• March 24, 2023 (United States)
• United States
• John Wick (Japan)
• John Wick 4
• Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan (location)
• 87Eleven Entertainment
• Lionsgate Films
• Studio Babelsberg
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $100,000,000 (estimated)
• $187,131,806
• $73,817,950
• Mar 26, 2023
• $440,180,275

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 49 minutes
• Dolby Atmos

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John Wick: Chapter 4 | Review

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a straight-to-the-point title, and the film follows suit. Nearly all hard-hitting action with very little filler, it’s the most intense John Wick film yet. 

Since the series’ inception, stunt-forward action films like John Wick have become a hot commodity. The proliferation of CGI-filled action spectacle, and resulting audience fatigue of this approach, has opened up the opportunity for films to embrace the possibilities of practical action sequences. Films like those in the John Wick series not only celebrate traditional action stunt work, they are built around it. 

John Wick: Chapter 4 Directed By: Chad Stahelski Written By: Shay Hatten, Michael Finch Starring: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Ian McShane Release Date: March 24, 2023

More importantly, with modern filmmaking technology, and the experience that has come with the development of film all over the world, it means these action stunts aren’t just shootouts or car chase sequences. Things are becoming much more complicated, and just like the push for CGI dominance we saw in blockbusters a decade ago, we are now seeing an arms race in the world of high-production stunt-forward action movies. John Wick: Chapter 4 is the latest attempt for stunt-filled action movies to blow away everything that has come before it, and in that regard it succeeds.

The John Wick franchise has slowly built itself up from a somewhat simplistic but hard-hitting tale of revenge. Every sequel has placed its protagonist against increasingly slim odds and watched him fight his way out. John Wick Chapter 4 is no exception. Like its predecessors it starts right after the last film ended. It introduces new high-level bad guys whom Wick must bring down if he has any hope of continuing to complete his revenge, let alone survive. Similarly, as the film unfolds, we learn more about the criminal underworld Wick inhabits. 

Part of the genius of the John Wick franchise is that it is always very selective with its worldbuilding. It provides the audience with clues about John’s past and the people he worked for, but only gradually. This allows the films to not only continuously surprise the audience with a varied and wide-ranging cast of new characters, but it allows the films to maintain high stakes. Just as we see Wick complete one task, his to-do list grows. This demand upon the character grows and grows, and that creates a frenzied and desperate tone to the action sequences upon which the films hang their hat. 

In Chapter 4, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) emerges from the shadows to plot revenge against The Table, the governing body of the criminal underworld which previously attempted to put a high price on his head. With the help of Winston (Ian Mcshane) and The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) – both of whom have a new-found grudge against The Table – they hatch a desperate plan to get back what each of them has lost. Against them is the Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgard), a French crime lord who has been given Carte Blanche to track down and kill John Wick. The Marquis blackmails Caine (Donnie Yen), another skilled assassin and friend of John Wick, to put an end to the ploy. 

From the 20 minute mark to the final tense showdown, John Wick: Chapter 4 is an almost unrelenting single action sequence. Unlike in the previous films, there is less attention paid to the build-up and preparation of these fight sequences. Instead, the film just casually propels its protagonist from one brawl to the next. While this is exciting to watch and an incredibly impressive technical accomplishment, it is somewhat taxing. Not only is the film 3 hours long, but the lack of breaks and opportunities for reflection result in the film having an almost monotonous tone. 

It is almost as if instead of building to an intense fight sequence, the entire film exists at that heightened sense of struggle. John Wick’s body count is astronomical, and as a result it pushes him towards the territory of a faceless killing machine. Perhaps the film is relying too heavily on the audience’s connection with the character from the previous installments that it doesn’t really provide us with the same reasons to feel as sympathetic towards his cause this time around. Wick primarily jumps between pure survival mode and being a blunt instrument of death at the service of others. 

I think part of the issue is the film’s push to go more international. Certainly the last two films had Wick working abroad, but the New York setting of the original film was always home base. Chapter 4 does without this, and combined with the new antagonists, there is less of a familiar foundation upon which the film can build John’s legacy. But the flip side, and reason I think the filmmakers chose this approach, is being able to push the character into new places. We all know a good sequel can’t repeat what has been done before. John Wick: Chapter 4 brings John Wick into new settings without leaving behind what made the previous films so entertaining. 

One aspect of the script which I appreciated the most was how most of the supporting characters had mixed loyalties. Caine and a new character named Mr. Nobody are fighting to kill John Wick just as much as they were trying to keep him alive. The film does a tremendous job of flip-flopping character motivations based on a particular situation, without it ever feeling too much like deus Ex Machina. Not only does this result in some impressive action scene twists, but it seems to speak to the inspiration John Wick instills with his personal integrity in the face of certain death. 

Despite being the main protagonist and having the most screen time, Keanu’s John Wick scarcely says a word in this round. He’s too busy fighting to stay alive. The series’ action sequences have long been its main draw, and here that focus on finely-choreographed violence in the midst of high-contrast neon-lit settings remains. But this time it’s much more excessive than before. John Wick’s stamina now borders on superhero territory (as does his ability to avoid major injuries) as he faces an unrelenting onslaught of attackers for the entire run time of the film. 

One important change is that the high-tech bullet-proof suit worn by Reeves in the previous two films is now standard issue to seemingly ALL his enemies as well. This places an additional complexity which Wick must overcome, and it makes the action a bit less fluid than it was in previous installments. Likewise, the action in this round feels more akin to carefully-articulated big song and dance numbers than traditional action sequences. The sets feel like they are purposefully crafted to heighten the intensity (and artistic quality) of the action sequences rather than just existing organically. 

As Wick’s combat extends from a rave, to the middle of traffic, to a very long set of stairs, the film’s drive peeters out somewhere in the middle. Despite impeccable action and some interesting innovations (including a top-down shootout sequence), the film’s push to go harder makes it feel like more of an exercise of doubling down than building to true epic territory. I suppose that approach matches the fearless nature of one John Wick himself, stubbornly refusing to back down. 

• ACTION MOVIE
• BILL SKARSGARD
• John Wick 4
• John Wick Chapter 4
• Keanu Reeves
• movie review

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John Wick Chapter 4 review: A perfectly bloated mess

Enter the john wick cinematic universe.

Tom's Guide Verdict

John Wick: Chapter 4 is arguably far too much — as evidenced by its running time — but every piece counts. It proves, yet again, that Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski know exactly how to make an elevated action movie.

Inventive action

Soulful performances from Reeves & Co.

Hilarious comedic moments

Not enough Lance Reddick

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Writing a John Wick: Chapter 4 review may sound like a foolhardy mission. Movies like this are almost review-proof — people will see them no matter what. But when you enjoy a movie as much as I enjoyed this chapter, it's not an impossible task that will remind you of John Wick taking down Tarasov's enemies. It's a labor of love.

But, to get this out of the way up front, John Wick 4 has a problem with excess. Not necessarily in its plot, but in its running time. This movie should not be two hours and 49 minutes long. We've come a long way — too far one might say — from the first John Wick, which was an efficient 96-minute ride.

That said, as much as John Wick: Chapter 4 would have benefitted from a shorter runtime, it's still just as good as any other chapter of the series. Allow me to explain why. While I'm going to put a brief spoiler warning up front, I'll keep things to a minimum, and not say anything I wouldn't have wanted to know before I saw it.

Oh, and if you're curious, we expect John Wick: Chapter 4 on Peacock in early summer. Need to catch up? You can watch the other John Wick movies online right now.

John Wick: Chapter 4 opens up the JWCU

While Mr. Wick (Keanu Reeves) does get plenty to do in this movie, this chapter stands out by opening up the field to potential new heroes. Unfortunately for John, two of them are out to kill him. 

That would be a nameless tracker (Shamier Anderson) and Caine (Donny Yen), both have reason to kill John, thanks to the vengeful Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård), who sees Wick as a threat to be eliminated. And while Caine and Wick have a shared past and respect, the tracker (aka Mr. Nobody) is a new figure. 

While the Marquis is completely devoid of the enigmatic cool of Wick and Winston, his scene-chewing swagger — completed with a killer opulent wardrobe — screams he's the villain with blunt-force obviousness. But everyone else made me think 'I want to know more.'

Caine and Mr. Nobody come off as remarkably cool and worthy of spinoff movies, and will have you ready for a John Wick Cinematic Universe. Oh, and make sure to keep an eye out for Akira — the character played by actor/singer/model Rina Sawayama. 

While the Marquis is completely devoid of the enigmatic cool of Wick and Winston, his scene-chewing swagger — completed with a killer opulent wardrobe — screams he's the villain with blunt-force obviousness. But everyone else made me think 'I want to know more.' This a sure sign that Stahelski and Reeves are ready to tell new stories.

Unfortunately, the late Lance Reddick is barely in the movie. 

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a delightful global adventure

While a video game-esque scene in Paris — which looks like either John Wick: Hex or the Hotline: Miami games — was one of the film's most memorable action scenes, the fourth Wick film partially rules thanks to its excellent changes of scenery. From the wild west-style chaos early on, to the Osaka Continental hotel and excellent big Arc de Triomphe set piece, John Wick: Chapter 4 continues to offer the getaway escapism that we seek at the multiplex.

And, throughout, comedic notes constantly keep the audience guessing about what's happening. In particular, a stairs scene — and the way Mr. Nobody communicates to his dog — had me laughing hard.

And throughout, especially with a touching sunrise shot at the near-end of the film, you may find yourself 'ooh'ing and 'ahh'ing — as John Wick's fourth adventure is as delightful to the eye as it is gory. Credit goes to cinematographer Dan Laustsen — who had the same role for John Wick chapters 2 and 3 — for the elevated aesthetics in this action movie. They're part of what makes John Wick movies feel like action movies for film nerds with Letterbox accounts.

John Wick: Chapter 4 fights between excess and bloat

For as much as I loved to turn the pages of Chapter 4, I did find myself looking at my watch during the third hour. Once I saw the running time, I kept thinking "what is this, John Wick: Endgame?" While Stahelski loves his maximalism, there's a bit of just-too-much happening that veers into bloat. 

The biggest issue I have is how many different fights we get at the Osaka Continental. While the green-light-soaked brawl is neat, the rooftop shoot-out, the kitchen scene and the chaos in the museum were far better. Each could have been trimmed down in parts, and it would have been all the better for it. Just don't lose the nunchucks. 

There's also the entire Berlin subplot, which serves the plot a little more than it serves everything else. Wick's adoptive sister Katia (Natalia Tena) is a welcome addition, but when she doesn't get much to do, her introduction feels more like padding than a skeletal addition. While John Wick movies have always felt all-killer, no-filler, I do wonder what a two-hour cut would have looked like.

Bottom line: Keanu Reeves' biggest opus yet

Throughout the John Wick films, there have been two constants: action and momentum. Both, mostly, are driven and perfected by Reeves' pitch-perfect work as the Baba Yaga himself. Chapter 4, though, doesn't forget to take its time to remember where it all started, with John Wick's eternal love for his late wife Helen (Bridget Moynahan) and an appreciation of dogs.

For as unrealistic as the John Wick movies are — and the clinking of bullet shells falling from our heroes jacket as he disrobes is a fun reminder of the over-the-top nature — Reeves' ability to emote and show care truly helps the John Wick movies steer away from farce. 

I left the theater excited for the future of the John Wick cinematic universe, and ready to see what's next for all parties involved.

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John Wick: Chapter 4 review: too much of a good thing

“John Wick: Chapter 4 has some of the best action scenes ever made, but its bloated 169 minute runtime ultimately ruins the overall experience.”

• Features some of the best action scenes ever
• Great cast of returning and new actors
• Lean, cohesive story
• It's just too damn long
• Fight scenes overstay their welcome

There’s no franchise more scrappy and likable than the John Wick movies of the last decade. The first film, 2014’s John Wick , was a low-budget affair, helmed by an unproven director, stuntman Chad Stahelski, and starring a then-unbankable Keanu Reeves. The movie did OK in theaters but found a more appreciative fanbase on home video.

• The same old John Wick (and that’s a good thing)

John Wick: Chapter 4 has some of the best action scenes ever

Is too much of a good thing bad, highs and lows.

John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum added to the growing Wick mythos, upping the action quotient, adding more stars (Halle Berry! Laurence Fishburne! Even Angelica Huston got into the mix.), and becoming more successful commercially and critically with each release. It’s been four years since the last movie, and the love and appreciation for the franchise have only increased since then.

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With John Wick: Chapter 4 , the series reaches its apex point and gives you exactly what you want: more action, more death-defying stunts, more exotic locales, more murders that bend the rules of biology and physics, more sad Keanu, more, more, more. That’s the chief pleasure of Wick number four, and its fatal flaw. At 169 minutes, it eventually wears out its welcome, even if it still impresses with some of the best action choreography Hollywood can produce.

The same old John Wick (and that’s a good thing)

John Wick: Chapter 4 ‘s plot doesn’t deviate too much from its predecessors: John gets involved with the shady High Table, the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne, cool as ever) helps him out, and lots of bad guys get slaughtered in very creative ways. This time around, John runs up against the Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård, who makes for a fine dandy villain), a high-ranking member of the High Table who wants John dead.

Hunted once again, John seeks shelter at the Osaka Continental, where his old friend Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada) and daughter Akira (the singer Rina Sawayama, good but underused) hide John before the inevitable fight between Koji’s army and Gramont’s henchman. During this battle, John meets two new characters: Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson, appropriately mysterious), a bounty hunter whose only allegiance is to who has the most money; and Caine (Donnie Yen, a good addition to the series), another old friend of Wick’s who is now working for Gramont.

After escaping Osaka, Wick meets up with Winston Scott, who we last saw shoot John off an NYC rooftop in Chapter 3 . (It seems John got better.) Scott suggests the only way to defeat Gramont is to play by the High Table’s rules. In other words, he needs to challenge Gramont to a duel, and whoever wins, lives. For this duel to occur, John needs to become a member of a crime family once again, travel to Berlin, and shoot, stab, and crash into countless hordes of bad guys across famous Paris landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe and the Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre.

The plot’s pretty simple, and that’s a good thing for a third sequel in a franchise like this one. Except for a scene with the Elder at the beginning that ties up a dangling plot thread from the previous film, John Wick: Chapter 4 is fairly self-contained and coherent, something that is lacking in today’s moviegoing landscape of needlessly complicated cinematic universes, multiverses, and reboots disguised as sequels.

Chapter 4 ‘s greatest strength, and major weakness, is its action scenes , which are some of the most complex and intricate that have ever been put on film. The siege at the Osaka Continental hotel, for instance, showcases Stahelski’s talent for marrying tension and action into an extended fight scene that pivots from aggressive (Koji and Akira’s army brutally take down Gramont’s henchman in the crowded hotel lobby) to restrained (John takes on Caine in one-on-one combat) seamlessly.

More impressive is the extended action scene in Paris, which finds John battling pretty much every bounty hunter in the world on the streets of Montmartre, inside abandoned apartment buildings, in rush hour traffic in front of the Arc de Triomphe, and on the famous 222 steps leading to the Sacré-Cœur. On paper, this really shouldn’t work, yet Stahelski does this by making the transitions from each scene seem logical. The director even stops and pulls a De Palma, inserting a long overhead shot in a Montmartre building to give the audience a bird’s eye view of the action, which is both self-indulgent and completely necessary to the narrative. There’s an elegance to some of the action here that borders on poetry, and is worthy of comparison to such legendary movies in the genre like Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Mad Max: Fury Road.

Stahelski’s only mistake, and it’s a big one, is to linger too much on the action scenes, which not only dilutes their effectiveness but exposes the strained reality that the John Wick universe now finds itself in. For instance, the fight sequence in the Berlin nightclub begins well enough, with John, Caine, Mr. Nobody, and new character Killa (an unrecognizable Scott Adkins) playing a tense game card game before battling in a crowded nightclub, which has an indoor waterfall primarily to set the stage for fight scenes like this one. As the sequence goes on, Stahelski begins to repeat himself; John kills a bad guy with a gun, then an axe, then kills some more the same way, etc. Meanwhile, the ravers in the nightclub don’t react at all to the bloodshed around them, highlighting the fantastical world John Wick operates in, where virtually everyone on the street is a hitman just waiting to be called upon.

It’s a far cry from the first John Wick , which grounded its hero in a pain that made him instantly a protagonist you could root for. The action in the original, and even in the more elaborate sequels, made some kind of sense, even when they were outrageous. In Chapter 4 , they are just outrageous, and while they are impressive, they are also too long and too numbing to be as effective as they could be. When John ascends those 222 steps toward the end of the film and then is pushed down to the bottom to start all over again, the effect is one more of exasperation than anything else. Must we go through all that again ? That’s a question I asked a lot throughout Chapter 4 ‘s nearly three-hour runtime. There are only so many ways John can kill someone before it becomes too repetitive and, well, dull, and that’s fatal for any action film.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a frustrating movie to sit through because there’s a great two-hour action movie in there surrounded by 49 minutes of bloat. I wouldn’t cut a single action sequence in the movie as each has its own form and function that serves the narrative and adds to John’s story; instead, I’d cut down each one just a bit, make the action leaner and meaner, and not linger too much on the absurdity of the hyper-realized world that John Wick operates in. [Seriously, does anyone blink twice at shootouts in crowded city streets or old-fashioned duels at popular tourist destinations?]

Whenever I see a John Wick movie in a theatre, I compare it to riding a rollercoaster. The ride is short but dizzying, with just enough highs and lows to keep you satisfied. John Wick: Chapter 4 is like riding a rollercoaster for three hours. It’s fun at first, but at some point, you just want to get off the ride and eat a hot dog.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is now playing in theaters. For John Wick fans, read John Wick: Chapter 4’s ending explained , John Wick: Chapter 4’s best scene , 5 reasons why John Wick is the best action movie ever , 5 things we want to see in John Wick: Chapter 5 , and does John Wick die at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4 ?

Editors’ Recommendations

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• Everything you need to know about John Wick: Chapter 5
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If there's one genre that audiences never seem to get tired of, it's action movies. By comparison, there haven't been many big-screen comedies, sci-fi adventures, or fantasy flicks in 2023. But action films are in abundance, both in the streaming realm and in theaters. If you happen to love action like we do, this is a very good thing. And some of the action movies that hit theaters this year may be among the best of the last 10 years.

It may be a little premature to name any film as the best action movie of this year. But since we are currently almost seven-and-a-half months through the year, we can confidently say that the following films are the five best action movies of 2023 so far. 5. Extraction 2

His down-to-earth off-screen personality aside, fans have embraced Keanu Reeves as a cult-classic action and comedy actor in the last decade. He's undoubtedly had a resurgence in recent years thanks to the lucrative and continued success of the over-the-top John Wick action series, with Reeves and director Chad Stahelski's John Wick: Chapter 4 earning universal critical acclaim and becoming the highest-grossing installment in the franchise thanks to a $432 million box office haul.

And while Netflix's backlog is rather thin when it comes to the actor's filmography, it has a unique mix of movies for subscribers to stream. Whether it's the corny Eastern fantasy of 47 Ronin or his supporting role in the endearing romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe, there are a few noteworthy Keanu Reeves additions to Netflix. 47 Ronin (2013)

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the box office, to the point where many doubted it would ever return to the levels achieved pre-2020. However, 2023 has proven that audiences are ready to return to the movie theater. Yes, the movies are back, with the domestic box office exploding thanks to juggernauts like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the Barbenheimer phenomenon.

We are halfway through 2023, and most of the year's biggest releases have already come out. Bar a few promising films like the usual Marvel and DC fare, Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi blockbuster Dune: Part Two, and (possibly) Paul King's holiday musical Wonka, chances are the films currently in the domestic Top 10 are probably the same ones we'll see at the end of the year. So what are the films that dominated the year's domestic box office? From long-running franchises to new and promising IPs and even a few auteur efforts, the most popular films of 2023 are a healthy mix of everything.

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Parents' guide to, john wick: chapter 4.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 8 Reviews
• Kids Say 25 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Extreme, over-the-top violence in Reeves' action epic.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that John Wick: Chapter 4 is the fourth film in Keanu Reeves' popular action series. It's also the longest (nearly three hours!), but the filmmakers use the extended running time to create a truly spectacular, dazzlingly visual epic -- though, of course, its themes still revolve mainly…

Why Age 17+?

Extremely graphic, intense action violence. Many, many characters die. Lots of g

Sporadic use of "f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," "merde," "a--hole," "ass," "bast

Tie-in merchandise available (toys, blankets, clothing, etc.).

Adult characters drink various alcoholic beverages in social settings.

Any Positive Content?

Central character John Wick is played by Keanu Reeves, who's of English, Native

Even among assassins, a code of honor exists. Rules are rules, and a promise is

John Wick is a deadly killer, but he struggles with the line of work he finds hi

Violence & Scariness

Extremely graphic, intense action violence. Many, many characters die. Lots of guns and shooting, with bullet wounds, blood sprays, martial arts fighting, punching, kicking, bloody wounds, brutal injuries, etc. Bows and arrows and swords. Neck-slicing. Hand stabbed and pinned to wooden block, character pulls hand loose, tearing own flesh (squishing sounds heard). Multiple stabbings. Pickax to head. Ax-throwing. Characters shot with gun that causes them to burst into flame. Blood spatters. Oozing blood. Multiple car crashes, pedestrians smashing into moving cars. Dog smashed into car windshield (he's OK). A building explodes. Characters thrown through glass windows. Characters falling from great heights, bashing against obstacles on the way down. Character bashed into metal pole. Characters branding flesh. Dog ordered to attack (both "nuts!" and "kill!"). Character hanging by neck from rope, choking. Character falling down multiple stairs.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sporadic use of "f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," "merde," "a--hole," "ass," "bastard," "hell," "damn," "nuts."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Drinking, drugs & smoking.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Diverse Representations

Central character John Wick is played by Keanu Reeves, who's of English, Native Hawaiian, Chinese, and Portuguese descent. Wick's friend Winston (Ian McShane) and the villain, the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård), are White men, but most of other characters are women and/or people of color (though, in general, this is a male-dominated story). The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), the Tracker (Shamier Anderson), and Charon (Lance Reddick), the concierge of the Continental Hotel, are all Black. Hiroyuki Sanada (who plays Shimazu, the manager of the Osaka Continental) and Rina Sawayama (his daughter Akira) are both from Japan, Donnie Yen (the sighted actor who plays blind swordsman Caine) is from China, and Natalia Tena (Katia, who adopts John Wick into her family) is of Spanish descent.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Positive Messages

Even among assassins, a code of honor exists. Rules are rules, and a promise is a promise. There's strong evidence that violence begets violence, and that once the circle has begun, it's nearly impossible to break out of it, no matter how badly you might want to.

Positive Role Models

John Wick is a deadly killer, but he struggles with the line of work he finds himself stuck in and would really like nothing more than some peace. He kills, but "only" those who intend to hurt others. He breaks the rules, but it's in order to protect those he considers friends.

Parents need to know that John Wick: Chapter 4 is the fourth film in Keanu Reeves ' popular action series. It's also the longest (nearly three hours!), but the filmmakers use the extended running time to create a truly spectacular, dazzlingly visual epic -- though, of course, its themes still revolve mainly around violence and revenge. And it's extremely, outrageously violent. Expect guns and shooting, a high body count, bloody wounds, blood spurts and sprays, fighting, kicking, punching, throat-slitting, stabbing, bows and arrows, swords, falls from high places, car chases and crashes, characters getting hit by cars or slammed into cars (or other hard objects), an attack dog, and much more. Language includes a smattering of words like "f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," "a--hole," "ass," "bastard," "hell," and "damn" and the French swear word "merde." Adult characters drink in social settings. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (8)
• Kids say (25)

Based on 8 parent reviews

This astounding, non-stop action joyride has constant violence

Hyper violent entertaining film with lots of action and high body count, what's the story.

In JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4, John Wick ( Keanu Reeves ) is cut off from the Continental, and everyone who ever tried to help him is in trouble with a powerful member of the High Table who's known as the Marquis ( Bill Skarsgård ). The Marquis starts by shutting down the Continental Hotel in New York. Wick is lying low at a sister hotel in Osaka, Japan, thanks to his friend, hotel manager Shimazu Koji ( Hiroyuki Sanada ). Unfortunately, the Marquis knows Wick is there and sends an army to dispatch him, including another of Wick's old friends, blind swordsman Caine ( Donnie Yen ). Wick escapes and vows revenge against the Marquis, but, according to the rules, Wick must challenge him to a duel. Unfortunately, even that much isn't going to be easy.

Is It Any Good?

Clocking in at a hefty 169 minutes, the fourth Wick movie spreads its wings and goes full-blown epic. Every single shot is a dazzler, it has a surefooted pace, and the simple story is elevated to mythical status. The original John Wick was stripped to the bone, clean and classic at just 101 minutes, but by the time John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum came along, the franchise had become flabby -- and exhausting.

But if this franchise as a whole has been inspired by Sergio Leone, then John Wick: Chapter 4 is akin to The Good, the Bad & the Ugly . The cinematography is consistently luxurious, calling to mind the indelible images of movies like Kill Bill , Skyfall , and Blade Runner 2049 . And if that wasn't enough, director Chad Stahelski reaches high and pays homage to Lawrence of Arabia , Taxi Driver , and The Warriors , too. His pacing is supremely confident: He knows when to rest, when to pour on the clear, vivid action, and when to ramp it up another impossible notch. Ultimately, John Wick: Chapter 4 still isn't really about much more than violence and revenge, but this time Wick and his various layers of ambiguous friends/enemies (including the amazing Yen and a very good Shamier Anderson as the Tracker) find themselves wriggling between the concept of ending violence and the worrisome notion that this may not be possible.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about John Wick: Chapter 4 's violence . How did it make you feel? Shocked? Thrilled? Do you think all of it is necessary to the story? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

Is John Wick a hero or a villain? How can you tell? Is it OK to sympathize with characters who do illegal or wrong things?

John is strongly motivated by revenge. Is that understandable? Is revenge ever an acceptable excuse for violence?

How important are rules in this story? Are rules made to be broken? What about rules in your home or school?

How does this sequel compare with the other entries?

Movie Details

• In theaters : March 24, 2023
• On DVD or streaming : May 23, 2023
• Cast : Keanu Reeves , Donnie Yen , Bill Skarsgård
• Director : Chad Stahelski
• Inclusion Information : Asian actors, Polynesian/Pacific Islander actors
• Studio : Lionsgate
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Run time : 169 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : pervasive strong violence and some language
• Last updated : August 12, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

John Wick: Chapter 2

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

The Raid: Redemption

Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Thriller movies, best action movies for kids.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

John Wick: Chapter 4 Review

23 Mar 2023

John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick: Chapter 4  is relentlessly violent. It just does not stop. It bludgeons you like the endless array of assassins bludgeoning its hero. It is so incessantly, expensively savage, it may well be the end of civilisation. Weaponry this time around includes the following: swords, guns (sometimes both together), fists, feet, elbows, nunchucks, knives, dogs, bows and arrows, pickaxes, cars, motorbikes, a pencil. Notoriously, 80-something people were killed in the first instalment. In this one it seems 80-something people are killed in each set-piece. It is insane. This is mania.

The third film ended with John ( Keanu Reeves ) left for dead and out for blood. It felt like the franchise had been milked dry, but Reeves and director Chad Stahelski can’t help themselves, and here they are again, taking that cliffhanger and running with it, barely stopping for breath. This is the first  Wick  that doesn’t have the involvement of series creator and writer Derek Kolstad , and story takes a back seat. You thought the plots were, well, modest before? Haha. Here, plot is an obligation, existing to string together the fighting. And anything goes. A shootout in the desert, on camels? Sure.

Yes, it’s a love letter to action cinema, but so much so that action cinema might want to take out a restraining order.

Chapter 4  is especially episodic, jumping from one country to another, conjuring up different friends and foes each time. There’s Donnie Yen , nearly 60 but looking 40 and fighting like 20, his blind hitman Caine a graceful murderer. Reeves’  47 Ronin  co-star Hiroyuki Sanada brings samurai chops as Wick ally Shimazu, whose lethal daughter Akira is played by a formidable Rina Sawayama. A very entertaining Scott Adkins , in a fat suit and an accent as German High Table boss Killa – yes, Killa – shows up for a riotous sequence in a packed nightclub where not a single raver pays the blind bit of notice to these two lunatics attempting to kill each other among them. And so on.

Throughout, the action is gobsmacking, with inventive set-pieces including an aerial view of a brawl smashing through a succession of rooms, and a breathtaking fight among speeding cars around the Arc de Triomphe in which you spend every second wondering how the hell they’re pulling it off.

And yet… well, it’s all a bit much. Yes, it’s a love letter to action cinema, but so much so that action cinema might want to take out a restraining order. Assassins keep appearing, from every angle, infinitely, like re-spawning videogame characters. Some of the fighting goes on and on and on until you’re begging for someone to win so we can all get to the next bit – the slugfest is, at its worst, a slog. And it is of course as portentous as ever. The High Table, an amorphous, abstract concept anyway, is even slipperier here, while Laurence Fishburne and Ian McShane have less to do than before, facsimiles of what were thin archetypes in the first place.

Things happen that you really should care about, but you don’t. Not much. Although oddly, considering the stakes, the film seems maybe disinterested in having an emotional impact. Unless wincing is an emotion. Reeves basically operates with one register (mythologically gruff). But then again, that’s what this series is, and even with that narrow remit, Reeves is ceaselessly charismatic. With  Point Break  and  Speed  he reinvented the action hero, and it’s pretty great that he’s still going this hard three decades on.

Besides, if you’re going to watch this, the action’s what you want, and as far as that goes, you just can’t knock it. It is incredibly tactile – it  hurts . You can see that Reeves really is doing a huge amount of it himself, and it counts. You feel it. He’s treated like a rag doll in this one, towards the end bringing to mind Buster Keaton – the extremity is funny, intentionally so. He gets knocked down, but he gets up again. And again, and again, and again. Pray for his bones.

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‘John Wick: Chapter 4’: Keanu Reeves Saves Action Movies Again

By David Fear

Fess up: You had no idea John Wick would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Not an inkling. Not a hint. Not even a teeny, tiny clue.

No one could have predicted that a movie burdened with a title taken from the name of its lead character — who is John Wick? Why should we even care? — and that starred an actor who’d been off the public’s radar for a bit, would synthesize a decade’s worth of genre cinema and revolutionize American action movies . Keanu Reeves still looked fit, still wore those slim black suits like a boss, still utilized his signature monotone to suggest stoner-like awe and/or menace. But here was the ‘90s posterboy edging into his 50s, playing a hit man who gets dragged back into the life one last time, forced to use his particular set of skills in the name of revenge. The inciting factor: Bad guys killed his puppy.

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The gent responsible for that pistols-at-dawn tête-à-tête is known as the Marquis ( Bill Skarsgård ), a part-time French aristocrat and full-time sadist who has designs on taking control of the High Table, i.e. the secret council that rules over a vast, international underworld. His first move is to send a message by punishing Winston ( Ian McShane ), the New York Continental’s manager, for helping the excommunicado Wick. Never mind that the hotel’s boss shot his friend off the five-star accommodation’s roof at the end of Chapter 3 ; the Marquis is still going to demolish the building, much to Winston and his concierge’s horror. (That latter role is once again played by Lance Reddick , which only adds an extra layer of eulogistic pathos to the proceedings. R.I.P. to a legend .) His next plan is to call in a marker on Caine (martial arts godhead Donnie Yen), a retired blind assassin and old pal of Wick’s, in order to terminate the fugitive with extreme prejudice.

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Merely listing an inventory of John Wick: Chapter 4 ’s greatest hits — that phrase can be taken literally in this case — doesn’t do justice to the way that everyone involved with this final chapter maintains the high standard that’s made the franchise so deliriously pleasurable. Or at the very least, pure manna for those of us who like our screen action to feel like they’re putting the “motion” into motion pictures, as if the folks behind the scenes took pride in constructing these thrilling sequences with a sense of professionalism and imagination. Even its conservative streak (has any other action franchise been so obsessed with rules, traditions, bylaws, bloodlines, codes of conduct?) and tough-guy corniness still feels freshly retro-styled and amped up after four outings.

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John Wick: Chapter 4 First Reviews: The Best in the Franchise, with Epic Wall-to-Wall Action

Critics say the latest john wick adventure might be the best action film of the year, full of spectacular thrills, memorable supporting performances, and at least one set piece you won't forget..

Here’s what critics are saying about John Wick: Chapter 4 :

Where does it rank in the franchise?

John Wick: Chapter 4 outdoes its formidable predecessors in nearly every respect. –  Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

John Wick: Chapter 4 once again exceeds expectations. –  Jeff Nelson, Showbiz Cheat Sheet

It is the most John Wick movie. And it is the best John Wick movie. –  Tom Jorgensen, IGN Movies

John Wick: Chapter 4 takes cinema to the next level once again. –  Fred Topel, United Press International

There’s a strong argument to be made that it’s the best of the sequels. –  Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend

It may not be consistent enough to rank as the franchise’s finest, but when it gets going, it cooks with gas. –  Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

In this gradual development and expansion of the Wickaverse, the filmmakers seem to have lost the thread of what makes the first and, at times, second film in the series work so well. –  Derek Smith, Slant Magazine

(Photo by ©Lionsgate)

Will it go down as one of the best action movies ever?

John Wick: Chapter 4 is one of the best modern American action films this side of a Mission: Impossible . –  Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

John Wick: Chapter 4 stands above… the past decade’s worth of action films as a whole. – Tom Jorgensen, IGN Movies

This fourth adventure — like those that preceded it — thrillingly and savagely slays its modern action competition. – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

John Wick: Chapter 4 is one of the best action movies of the past few years. –  JimmyO, JoBlo’s Movie Network

John Wick: Chapter 4 boasts truly innovative action — not only by the standards of the John Wick series, but also for all of cinema. – Fred Topel, United Press International

This is sure to become a highly rewatched, often quoted classic. –  Alan French, Sunshine State Cineplex

What other movies could we compare it to?

John Wick: Chapter 4 feels like the first John Wick movie that wants to be a Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western. It’s like Sergio Leone crossed with John Woo. –  Owen Gleiberman, Variety

It fits in with the likes of Leone, Walter Hill, John Woo, and George Miller. – Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

It is near non-stop wall-to-wall combat, car chases, and shoot-outs on a level not seen since Mad Max: Fury Road . –  Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews

It’s the best American action blockbuster since George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road . –  Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire

(Photo by Murray Close/©Lionsgate)

Does Chad Stahelski outdo himself?

Chad Stahelski has once again delivered the goods and then some. –  Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Director Chad Stahelski, who helmed all the previous films, and his formidable stunt team have outshone their previous work, and that’s saying something. – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

John Wick: Chapter 4 strongly suggests that he is the finest Hollywood director of gun battles, fist fights, sword duels, and car chases working at the moment. –  Jacob Hall, Slashfilm

Throughout John Wick: Chapter 4 director Chad Stahelski has been flexing his directorial muscles with extended action scenes that have a visual style and cohesion that highlights how he’s become one of the best action filmmakers in the world. And then in the wild finale, Stahelski pulls out all the stops. –  Sean Mulvihill, Mulviews

Chad Stahelski lacks the showman’s instinct for building and payoff. –  Charles Bramesco, Guardian

So the action is good?

Stunt coordinator Scott Rogers makes a bombastic return, choreographing the most bonkers fight sequences ever to hit the silver screen. – Jeff Nelson, Showbiz Cheat Sheet

John… participates in perhaps the greatest action sequence of all time. – Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews

The action in John Wick: Chapter 4 is out of this world fantastic. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Between the range of action we see, the creativity of the various settings and set pieces, and the way Reeves acts all through it, it’s a true wonder to behold. – Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

Every action scene in John Wick: Chapter 4 could be the climax of any other movie. There is no small fight in this movie. – Fred Topel, United Press International

The final hour of the film is essentially one large action scene, and one staged with such bravura skill and visual wit that it exposes the vast majority of American action direction as the lazy sham it is. – Jacob Hall, Slashfilm

Does it get a little ridiculous?

This is a nutso film packed with over-the-top characters, on-the-nose line readings, and skewed levels of plausibility that rival the Fast & Furious franchise. However, once again, this series stays true to itself. – Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

It is patently ridiculous and mostly very fun: the platonic ideal of a globe-hopping meatbag action thriller taken to its gloriously illogical extreme. –  Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly

The action in John Wick movies wouldn’t seem out of place in Looney Tunes . For Chapter 4 , the filmmakers seem in on the joke though as there’s a playfulness to the set pieces. –  Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy

With a willingness to use slapstick in the middle of action beats, John Wick: Chapter 4 is maybe the funniest entry in the series. –  Brandon Zachary, CBR.com

Is there more to enjoy than just the action?

The secret weapon of the John Wick films has always been the emotion that fuels John… The fact that this latest film ends in such a character-focused way inspires awe of a different, incredibly welcome kind. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Director Chad Stahelski and screenwriters Shay Hatten and Michael Finch carry through themes surrounding consequence and the passage of time while also strengthening them with added sentiments on absolution, fate, fidelity and friendship. –  Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

This is a movie that looks not forward toward some cash-grab sequel, but toward the past and how we got here… [It’s] the most emotionally resonant movie of the franchise. – Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire

How does the movie look?

This movie is gorgeous. It’s a symphony of violence, wonderfully captured by cinematographer Dan Lausten… Every shot of this film has something going on. – Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

For a series which has always looked stylish as hell, Chapter 4 sets a new standard for production design and cinematography. – Tom Jorgensen, IGN Movies

Cinematographer Dan Laustsen’s lush visuals makes sure the film is dazzling to look at even when there isn’t any action happening. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Through cinematographer Dan Laustsen’s lens, the saturated colorscape burns vivid and vibrant. He captures an incredibly seductive depth of field with the imagery, making the characters and action pop. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

What about Keanu Reeves’ performance?

Reeves truly continues to impress, seemingly getting better at this stuff with each franchise. –  Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

Keanu Reeves continues his action-hero dominance with another incredibly physical, supernaturally charismatic performance that pushes the boundaries of what any actor should be willing to put themselves through but he seems to take great pleasure in with tremendous skill. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Reeves does solid work bringing out flashes of humanity and exhaustion in the character, even as he dispatches untold numbers of enemies through plenty of amazing stunt work. – Brandon Zachary, CBR.com

Reeves might have fewer lines in this film than any so far in the franchise, but he completely sells Wick’s commitment while also imbuing him with emotional exhaustion that adds more gravity to this chapter. –  Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com

How is the film’s villain?

Skarsgård builds depth and dimension into his ostentatious, arrogant, weaselly baddie. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

While Skarsgård’s Gramont is an arrogant upper-cruster who likes to hold court in the Louvre and the Paris Opera House, he’s more of a functional than unique villain. – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

What lets Chapter 4 down is its central villain. Bill Skarsgård is entertaining… but there’s no development there. – Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy

Does anyone in the cast stand out?

Donnie Yen delivers such a physically witty and charismatic performance that you can’t wait for the inevitable spinoff. – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

The legendary Donnie Yen gives a brilliant performance and effortlessly steals scenes as Caine. –  Simon Thompson, The Playlist

Honorable mention to Scott Adkins, whose scene-stealing turn as a purple-clad, poker-playing gangster with chrome-plated front teeth deserves its own spinoff. –  Brent Hankins, The Lamplight Review

Shamier Anderson, playing a new character… is destined to be a fan-favorite (and whose loyal dog nearly walks away with the movie). –  Jacob Hall, Slashfilm

Anderson steals the film during several scenes… It’s a star-making supporting role, and we would love to see him headline his own franchise in the near future. – Alan French, Sunshine State Cineplex

Rina Sawayama is an absolute firecracker in her film debut. – Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

Ian McShane and Lance Reddick are given their moments to shine. They both make a meal out of their screen time. –  Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

Will we feel the runtime?

At just hair under three hours, John Wick: Chapter 4 is indulgent for sure, but it’s earned the running time at this point. – Jacob Hall, Slashfilm

John Wick: Chapter 4 can certainly be accused of being too long. But I doubt many fans will be complaining. – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

Is Chapter 4 too long? You bet it is… yet the movie is conceived as a knowingly overstuffed gift to John Wick fans, and on that level it succeeds. –  Owen Gleiberman, Variety

In an age of increased grumbling about films with two-plus-hour runtimes, Chapter 4’ s roaring pace serves as a counter argument that proclaims movies should be as long as they need to be. – Tom Jorgensen, IGN Movies

Don’t let the length fool you; John Wick: Chapter 4 may be the most exhilarating two-hour and thirty-eight minutes you’ll spend in theaters this year. – JimmyO, JoBlo’s Movie Network

I do think there’s a slightly tighter (if you can say 150 minutes would be tight) version of this film that’s simply perfect. – Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com

John Wick: Chapter 4 opens in theaters everywhere on March 24, 2023.

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‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ movie review: Keanu Reeves is all aces in final instalment that’s more personal and bloodier than ever

John wick’s no-holds-barred killing sprees and how he executes hordes in style are the reason why we love these films and the latest — and best — instalment in the franchise only ups the ante on that front.

Published - March 24, 2023 05:39 pm IST

A still from ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’  | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Thanks to The Last of Us , adapting games into films/series is back as a topic of conversation. But we seldom think about films that could be made into games; if such a list were be made, it would not be complete without John Wick . Given the missions, the arsenal of weapons, the fights, the need to survive, and of course, the number of times our titular hero ‘respawns’, it makes for a brilliant open-world game or a first-person shooter. But what makes the latest offering, John Wick: Chapter 4, slightly different is how John is done running for his dear life. Given that escaping the predicament and facing it will still result in the killing of hundreds, but with only one of the options leading to the removal of the bullseye mark which the High Table has placed on his head, John does what he should’ve done one film ago: go for the High Table itself.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (English)

Keeping in tradition, the fourth iteration also starts right after the events of the previous film. John travels to Morocco and kills the Elder, the only individual above the High Table, thereby kickstarting a new series of repercussions that only he can handle; the first being the arrival of the Marquis Vincent de Gramont (an in-form Bill Skarsgård), a powerful member of the High Table. After destroying the New York Continental, stripping Winston Scott (the ever-dependable Ian McShane) of his duties as manager and killing Charon ( Lance Reddick in his last role before his death ) as a punishment, De Gramont enlists Caine (a perfectly-cast Donnie Yen), a blind, retired High Table assassin who also happens to be John’s friend, to kill him.

So many developments and subplots might be a regular occurrence in other films, but for a John Wick movie that’s known for its minimalism, this complexity is new and adds layers bifurcating the plot into areas the franchise treads afresh. This switch, along with understanding what has been the building blocks of the franchise to become a global phenomenon and amping that up, makes John Wick: Chapter 4 the best instalment in the franchise. It also joins the coveted list of franchises like Mad Max and Star Wars where even the fourth film is as good as the rest of them.

The core idea of the almost-decade-long series is John Wick romancing death and the franchise romanticising violence. Burying morality and the concept of conscience along with his dead wife and puppy, John’s no-holds-barred, no-nonsense killing spree and how he executes hordes in style is the reason why we love these films; Chapter 4 only upsurges on that aspect. It’s the same old guns, knives, nunchakus and katanas that have been a staple of Hollywood actioners. But it’s the creative methods of applicability which aren’t just insanely crazy and suave, but also extremely gratifying to witness. In the final battle that requires John to remove his kevlar protected suit jacket, the sound that reverberates are the bullet shells emptied on him which fall off after failing to cut through the protection. But despite clearing his way through the concrete jungles overcrowded with well-trained assassins, the kills are clean, and far from the gory style we’ve acclimatised to thanks to titles like Mortal Kombat.

To be honest, the brilliance behind the action sequences shouldn’t be a surprise anymore, given the director of all four John Wick films is celebrated stunt coordinator Chad Stahelski who has worked with Reeves since the days of the Matrix films. What always astonishes is the innovation of marrying storytelling to action sequences and the sheer flamboyance with which our titular character empties his never-ending magazines and stylishly reloads for the next round. The cinematography by Dan Laustsen and the cuts by Nathan Orloff puts us intimidatingly close to the action, and the shots linger enough for us to marvel at a kill before we are treated with hundreds more. The Osaka episode, a detour that takes John back to the Ruska Roma syndicate that offers a side mission — and the massacre before the Sacré-Cœur duel — are some of the best action set-pieces seen in recent times.

Despite the franchise exponentially growing with every film, it still sticks to its basic roots of sticking to the tropes that worked; like a dog in distress outweighing the lives of countless men, and how good friendship is rare but not impossible to find. John Wick films aren’t exactly synonymous with brilliant performances but many have strived to give this franchise an image makeover. What comes on top is Donnie Yen’s Caine. If you loved his action as a blind warrior in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, he takes it up multiple notches as a blind retired assassin out to draw the blood of John to save his daughter. Reeves, as always, aces as the straight-faced hitman with a legendary reputation that will send chills down the spines of anyone standing against him.

As the longest film in the franchise, though the action sequences are a treat to watch, some scenes feel like a downer, given how they only act as fillers to abridge two fights. But the film almost makes up for it by bringing in a much-needed closure of sorts to our hero’s long run. With a rather melancholic ending, reminding us of Logan and the last James Bond film No Time to Die , it felt like the makers’ highlighting that there’s more to John Wick than just mindless action.

On the whole, John Wick: Chapter 4 is yet another unapologetic action extravaganza that stands apart for packing in more in almost every aspect when compared to its previous films. While we aren’t sure if there will be more from the franchise, we know that there’s a spin-off in Ballerina and a series titled The Continental coming up. If the franchise manages to survive just like the Baba Yaga, then more epic action entertainment is a given.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is currently running in theatres

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John Wick 4 Review: A Long and Loving Embrace of the Action Genre

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To be honest upfront, John Wick: Chapter 4 is not the greatest action movie ever made , because of course it's not. That's a ridiculous expectation to place on any film. Over the past decade, though, the franchise has legitimized the idea; it's been so fantastic that, sure, one could feasibly expect this next installment to be the best action film of all time. Beyond all the history and hype, though, a more realistic and authoritative view emerges — John Wick 4 is excellent. It's silly, a bit repetitive, and overlong at nearly three hours, and yet it is so overstuffed with jaw-dropping perfection (from a single shot to a whole sequence), it's hard to call it anything but incredible from the perspective of an action fan.

Obviously, if you're not a lover of great action cinema , then this is not the film for you. It is long, excessive, and obsessed with its own choreography, so anyone who doesn't love action movies will find the whole affair to be tedious. For those who do, however, John Wick 4 may not be the best action film ever made, but it sure does feel like a mixtape of the greatest action sequences of all time. It's a best-of, a playlist, a compilation for the diehards; it's Now That's What I Call Action! Combining subgenres, stories, and styles from around the world, this is one supremely cool, immensely enjoyable, and utterly epic love letter to action cinema as a whole.

John Wick 4 Takes Its Time

John Wick: Chapter 4 obviously picks up on the plot and ending of the previous installment, although some time has passed. Wick, who has already defied the odds of survival after emerging from being shot and falling off a tall building, is back in fine shape. The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) has taken in the rebellious hit man and nursed him back to health; they both have a bitter grudge against the High Table, and the Bowery King hopes that he can unleash Wick on its world and take it down.

Already, John Wick 4 feels different from all the other films. There is a breathability, an atmosphere that time can pass without hundreds of hidden assassins trying to kill you. The first three films took place within roughly two weeks, but it seems like quite some time has passed for the new movie. There's a spacious quality, not just temporally but also geographically, that makes John Wick 4 feel more expansive, more epic, and more patient (and a nearly three-hour runtime certainly helps).

Wick travels to Osaka to see one of his few remaining friends, Shimazu, who runs the Continental Hotel in the area with his daughter. By this point, everyone knows that if they harbor or help Wick, they are essentially disowning the High Table and admitting that they're fair game. Shimazu (a heartbreaking and dignified Hiroyuki Sanada performance ) decides to stand with John WIck, and Shimazu's men stand with him. The High Table, looking to eliminate Wick after his rebellion in the third film, invade the hotel and begin a ferocious manhunt.

Even in its massive action set pieces, John Wick 4 breathes and has room to maneuver. By incorporating more and more characters (from Shimazu and his daughter, to a mysterious bounty hunter named The Tracker and old friends like Winston), the film has an abundance of editing options, meaning that a skillfully choreographed set piece can literally last half an hour. That's about how long the hotel siege lasts, as we are given glimpses into multiple characters, their personalities, and their motivation.

The Incredible Look and Stunts of John Wick 4

And boy are those glimpses gorgeous. Dan Laustsen, cinematographer on the past two John Wick films (not to mention the visually stunning Crimson Peak, Brotherhood of the Wolf , and Nightmare Alley ), truly outdoes himself here. Laustsen and the increasingly imaginative and brilliant stuntman-turned-director Chad Stahelski have come up with some truly ingenious fight scenes that involve camerawork like you've hardly ever seen.

Related: Best Action Movies of All Time, Ranked

Wick edges closer to the High Table, believing he can stop them by dueling one of their members, the psychotic dandy known as The Marquis (played with wicked glee by Bill Skarsgård). Along the way, Wick engages in sublime set pieces, whether he's facing off against dozens of descending men as he climbs stairs in a race against the clock, or uses a motorcycle to fight several goons in a battle around the Arc de Triomphe during rush hour. The film will occasionally abandon a realistic, grounded perspective in order to watch the action from a bird's eye view, as if studying a bullet-ridden blueprint, or will slow everything down into stylistically pure action melodrama. Laustsen and Stahelski capture it all, and it's glorious.

New Characters Enhance the Wick Franchise

The new character additions are some of the high points of John Wick: Chapter 4 . The Tracker, played by Shamier Anderson , is an infinitely charming character who, like the film itself, seems almost like a mash-up of the greatest elements in John Wick . He's dressed like the Bowery King's legion of unsheltered assassins; he has a deep connection with his canine companion like Wick in the films and Halle Berry's character in the third film; he has changing names and a mysterious past, referred to as The Tracker but going by Mr. Nobody. It's a very cool character, and a thrill to watch him actually help Wick so that the bounty on the protagonist's head will rise. The Tracker isn't a fool — he isn't going to take on John Wick until he's worth the right amount of money.

Shimazu is also a great character. While many people pop up in the John Wick world who have deep respect and admiration for the titular killer, few seem to be so emotionally bound to him. Shimazu and Wick have a genuine connection, which makes the former's sacrifice that more heartbreaking. Meanwhile, another close friend of Wick's is forced into hunting him down, otherwise his daughter will be killed. This is Caine, played by Donnie Yen, and he's possibly the best new addition to the franchise.

Related: Exclusive: John Wick 4 Stars on Playing Keanu Reeves' Friend and Foe

Yen, so renowned for his amazing skills in the Ip Man series of films, among many others, gives a breathtaking performance here as a blind man who sides with the High Table and the forces of an evil status quo in order to keep himself and his family safe. There's a lot of guilt and grief to the performance, but Caine is also just an extremely suave and charismatic man. Watching him slurp down noodles while people kill each other around him, or listen to the sounds of bullets so that he knows where to duck, it's clear that Yen is an absolute star. The conflicted, complicated, and infinitely charming character is frankly one of the best ever created in action cinema.

John Wick 4 Represents the Best of Action

Caine is emblematic of how John Wick: Chapter 4 takes from the action genre in order to celebrate it, almost like how Tarantino took from it extensively for Kill Bill . Caine clearly references Zatoichi, the blind samurai character of many excellent films. The trajectory toward a sunrise duel between two skilled characters undoubtedly honors the Hiroshi Inagaki Samurai trilogy of the 1950s. One tense card game (with a mind-blowing and unrecognizable Scott Adkins) hearkens back to so many James Bond films.

Motorcycle sequences seem indebted to Police Story . The films of John Woo ( Hard Boiled, The Killer, Face/Off ) feel especially prescient when considering the evolving allegiances of some characters. The stair scene brings to mind The Raid , and The Marquis seems straight from a Takeshi Kitano film. Meanwhile, Johnnie To looms over some of the overhead and tracking shots.

None of this is a bad thing; John Wick: Chapter 4 is entirely its own. The point is, however, that the film is head-over-heels enamored with the action genre, and while it may not be the best of all action cinema, it certainly represents the best of it. It reflects all that is exciting, gripping, and joyous about the genre.

While the ending is a bit mysterious and will surely spark discussions, it doesn't necessarily set up John Wick 5 . The film almost exists in its own universe, separate from the breathless and relentless trilogy of the first three films, and able to stand alone as a kind of epic epilogue. There honestly doesn't need to be a sequel to this, and if there is, it might actually diminish the power of John Wick: Chapter 4 .

Prequels and spin-offs are already in the works, which should satisfy the understandably rapacious fans. Instead of immediately anticipating another film, however, John Wick 4 encourages all of us to take a breath and admire just how meticulously brilliant and jaw-dropping it is. This is a film that appreciates action, and which, in turn, deserves active appreciation.

Produced by Summit Entertainment, Thunder Road Pictures, and 87Eleven Productions, Lionsgate is releasing John Wick: Chapter 4 in theaters on March 24.

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