The John Wick film series has revolutionized the action movie genre by combining cool aesthetics with deep feelings. With Keanu Reeves playing the moody assassin, it has grown into a franchise encompassing five movies and a TV miniseries, all expanding upon a sophisticated yet lethal universe.
Starting with the less influential ones and building up to the very best, let’s explore the series in chronological order, tracing its rough beginnings to its daring adaptations.
We’re gonna take a look at the story from its humble roots to its awesome spin-offs, and see how everything fits together, starting with the least popular and moving on to the absolute best!
6. The Continental: From the World of John Wick (2023)
Taking place in the 1970s, this prequel story centers around a young character named Winston Scott (played by Colin Woodell), who navigates his way up through New York’s criminal underworld to ultimately acquire The Continental hotel. The main antagonist, Cormac, played by Mel Gibson, is a chilling presence with his relentless ambition.
The series offers sleek action scenes and dives into the background stories of the franchise, however, it fails to evoke the same emotional depth as John Wick’s narrative. While new personalities add novelty, the lack of recurring characters gives the impression that it’s merely a spin-off in the chronicles.
5. Ballerina (2025)
In this film set between the third and fourth John Wick movies, Ana de Armas brilliantly portrays Eve Macarro, a ballet dancer transformed into an assassin under the tutelage of the Ruska Roma, who embarks on a quest for revenge. A brief appearance by Keanu Reeves, along with Ian McShane and Lance Reddick, links it to the primary storyline.
This film titled ‘Ballerina’ showcases extraordinary battle sequences akin to flamethrower duels and roller-skate pursuits, but its narrative seems less substantial compared to the original John Wick films. Despite this, it demonstrates that the universe can expand beyond the level of the core movies, albeit not reaching quite the same heights.
4. John Wick (2014)
The movie kickstarting the series presents Keanu Reeves as John Wick, a former assassin seeking vengeance for his stolen car and deceased dog. In addition to John Leguizamo and Willem Dafoe, it features prominent roles. The story weaves a tight, ruthless narrative.
The movie ‘John Wick’ skillfully combines emotion and revolutionary “gun-fighting” action sequences, paving the way for the franchise. While its simple narrative is compelling, subsequent installments surpass it with broader storylines. It sparked a timeless trend that became a cultural phenomenon.
3. John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
Due to a binding promise, John Wick is compelled to return to action and traverse Rome’s criminal underbelly, clashing with Riccardo Scamarcio’s ruthless crime boss. The intriguing allure of Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King enhances the growing assassin universe.
In Chapter 2, the pace intensifies as it showcases dramatic scenes such as the ‘pencil kill’, delving further into the intricacies of the High Table’s regulations. While it may tone down some of the raw emotion from the initial film, it compensates with exhilarating action, leading to a captivating build-up.
2. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
Pursued by a reward of $14 million, John Wick embarks on a relentless journey through New York and Morocco. Halle Berry’s character Sofia and her powerful dogs captivate audiences, while Mark Dacascos’ character Zero injects tension. Epic horse pursuits and knife fights escalate the action to unprecedented levels.
‘Parabellum’ offers unyielding vigor and more intricate universe development, yet its narrative may seem complex. What truly sets it apart is the extraordinary choreography of its combat scenes, seamlessly connecting the series’ past and upcoming events.
1. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Reaching its peak, ‘Chapter 4’ finds John Wick engaged in a relentless fight against the High Table, taking him through Paris, Japan, and beyond. Donnie Yen‘s formidable blind assassin Caine and Bill Skarsgård’s ruthless Marquis add an extra layer of intensity to each scene. The battle at Arc de Triomphe and aerial shotgun sequence will leave you in awe.
In a nutshell, this nearly three-hour movie masterpiece expertly blends pulse-pounding action sequences with profound emotions. Each scene seems meticulously designed to perfection, positioning ‘Chapter 4’ as an unparalleled John Wick adventure and setting a lofty standard for the series moving forward.
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2025-06-09 16:17