Development of the fourthJohn Wick film, formally announced byLionsgate in May 2019, was confirmed before the release of its predecessor. It is the first film in the franchise that was not written by franchise creatorDerek Kolstad; Hatten was hired in May 2020, then Finch in March 2021.Principal photography took place from June to October 2021 in France, Germany, New York City, and Japan.
The planned release on May 21, 2021, was delayed by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[5]John Wick: Chapter 4 premiered at theOdeon Luxe Leicester Square inLondon on March 6, 2023, and was released in the United States on March 24. The film received acclaim from critics, with praise for its action sequences, Stahelski's direction, cinematography, choreography, visual style, writing, score, and performances, and has grossed $447.3 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film in the franchise, as well as theninth-highest-grossing film of the year domestically in the United States.
The film was released in China theatrically on 14 March 2025, making it the first film in the franchise to be screened in the country. This is widely believed to be possible due to the participation of Yen as one of the leads in the film, with local marketing highlighting Yen's arrival to the franchise and performance. This has increased the possibility of future films in the franchise opening there.
A spin-off/prequel, titledFrom the World of John Wick: Ballerina, is set for release on June 6, 2025. A direct sequel and a spin-off revolving around the character of Caine are both in development.
InNew York City,John Wick recovers and prepares to exact vengeance against the High Table while hiding underground with the Bowery King.[a] He travels toMorocco and kills the Elder, the "one who sits above the Table". In response, the High Table send theMarquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont with unlimited resources to kill John.
He summons New York Continental Hotel manager Winston and hisconcierge Charon, where he chastises Winston for previously failing to do so. As punishment, the Marquis strips Winston of his managerial duties, declaring him "excommunicado", destroys the New York Continental, and executes Charon. The Marquis then enlists John's old friend, Caine – a blind, retired High Table assassin – to kill him, threatening to murder Caine's daughter.
John seeks refuge at theOsaka Continental, operated by his friend Shimazu Koji. Caine and Chidi, the Marquis' second-in-command, arrive with High Table enforcers to investigate. Koji's daughter Akira, the concierge, evacuates the hotel before the High Table "deconsecrates" it, instigating a fight. John battles many armored personnel, culminating in a showdown with Caine. Abounty hunter named Mr. Nobody interrupts their fight, letting John escape after deeming thebounty on him insufficient. A wounded Koji attacks Caine on John's behalf until Caine reluctantly kills him but spares Akira.
John returns to New York and meets a vengeful Winston at Charon's gravesite. Winston suggests invoking an old High Table tradition to challenge the Marquis to aduel. Winning would free John from obligations to the High Table, but he can only request a duel on behalf of a crime family. John travels to theBerlin headquarters of theRuska Roma crime syndicate to seek readmission. His sister Katia requires that he kill Killa Harkan, a High Table member the Marquis paid to murder her father. Killa ambushes John at his nightclub, but with help from Caine and Mr. Nobody, John kills him and regains his status. Winston conveys John's challenge to the Marquis, acting as his "second," and requests that if John wins, his excommunicado be revoked and he be reinstated as manager of the rebuilt New York Continental, funded by the High Table, but if John loses, Winston would also die.
InParis, John and the Marquis finalize the duel's terms –dueling pistols at sunrise atSacré-Cœur – under the Harbinger's moderation. The Marquis chooses a reluctant Caine as his "second", while the Harbinger warns that John and Winston will be executed if either is late. The Bowery King arrives in Paris to give John a pistol and a ballistic suit. The Marquis sets a $26 million bounty on John to delay him. John fights off numerous assassins, including Mr. Nobody, who raises the bounty to $40 million. During their clash, John saves Mr. Nobody's dog from Chidi, prompting Mr. Nobody to stop pursuing John.
After Caine and Mr. Nobody assist John in fighting off several assassins – including Chidi, whom Mr. Nobody kills – on theRue Foyatier, they reach the summit on time. John and Caine wound each other through two rounds of dueling, and the third round comes to a halt when Caine fatally wounds John. Demanding the right to administer thecoup de grâce, the Marquis eagerly swaps places with Caine. Winston chides the Marquis for his arrogance, revealing that John had not fired his third bullet. John then promptly executes the Marquis with a headshot, ending the duel. The Harbinger grants John and Caine (as well as his daughter) their freedom from the High Table and reinstates Winston as the Hotel Manager of the New York Continental. John reflects upon his life and marriage before collapsing from his injuries. Some time later, back in New York, Winston and the Bowery King bid farewell to John at a gravestone with his name, located next to one for his wife Helen.[b]
In apost-credits scene, Caine returns to Paris to reunite with his daughter, but is approached by a vengeful, knife-wielding Akira.
Keanu Reeves asJohn Wick, a professional hitman and assassin who has gained a legendary reputation for his set of skills and is now hunted by the High Table.[11][12]
Donnie Yen as Caine, a blind High Table assassin and an old friend of Wick, who is forced out of retirement to kill Wick to ensure the safety of his daughter.
Bill Skarsgård as the Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont, a powerful member of the High Table whose position is challenged by Wick.
Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King, a former underground crime boss who was left for dead by the High Table and is now sponsoring Wick.[13]
Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu Koji, the manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel and an old friend of Wick and Caine.[14]
Shamier Anderson as Mr. Nobody / The Tracker, a bounty hunter pursuing Wick.
Lance Reddick as Charon, the concierge at the Continental Hotel in New York.
Rina Sawayama as Shimazu Akira, Koji's daughter and concierge of the Osaka Continental.[15][16]
Marko Zaror as Chidi, the second-in-command of the Marquis de Gramont.[17]
Clancy Brown as the Harbinger, a high-ranking operative of the High Table.[19]
Ian McShane as Winston Scott, the manager of the New York Continental Hotel and friend of Wick.[20]
Natalia Tena portrays Katia Javanavič, Wick's adoptive sister.[21] George Georgiou appears as the Elder, "the one who sits above the Table", a different character than the one played bySaïd Taghmaoui inParabellum (2019).[22][23]Bridget Moynahan appears as Wick's late wife, Helen,[24] via archive footage from the first film. Sven Marquardt, an infamous Germanbouncer, appears as a Ruska Roma member named Klaus.[25][26] German actor andYouTube personalityAndrej Kaminsky also appears as the Ruska Roma's priest.[27] Retired sumo wrestlersYoshinori Tashiro andHishofuji Hiroki made appearances as the Osaka Continental gatekeepers.[28][29]
On May 20, 2019, Lionsgate announcedJohn Wick: Chapter 4 via their opt-in "John Wick" text update service, writing, "You have served. You will be of service.John Wick: Chapter 4 is coming – May 21, 2021".[30] In early August 2020, Lionsgate CEOJon Feltheimer stated during an earnings call, "We're also busy preparing scripts for the next two installments of ourJohn Wick action franchise, withJohn Wick 4 slated to hit theatres Memorial Day weekend 2022. We hope to shoot bothJohn Wick 4 and5 back to back when Keanu becomes available early next year."[31][32]
Before the third film's release, directorChad Stahelski confirmed on aReddit "AMA" thread that there had been discussion for another film, and that he would be involved with the project should the third film be successful.[33][34] Despite this announcement back then, it was not confirmed if starKeanu Reeves would return for a new installment. However, he toldGQ that he would carry on the role as long as the audience wanted it, saying, "As far as my legs can take me, as far as the audience wants to go."[30]
Stahelski later teased the fourth film in an interview withIndieWire by saying Wick would not end the fourth film with "a happy ending", saying, "John may survive all this shit but at the end of it, there's no happy ending. He's got nowhere to go. Honestly, I challenge you right now, here's a question for you: How do you fucking want me to end it? Do you think he's going to ride off into the fucking sunset? He's killed 300 fucking people and he's just going to [walk away], everything's okay? He's just going to fall in love with a love interest? If you're this fucking guy, if this guy exist[ed], how is this guy's day going to end? He's fucked for the rest of his life. It's just a matter of time."[30][35] Additionally, Stahelski teased Winston's fate in the fourth film, saying, "He meant to shoot him. Did he mean to kill him? That's open for interpretation, you can take it one of two ways, and that's kind of where we pick up some of the unanswered questions inJohn Wick 4."[36] The studio opted to move on from series creatorDerek Kolstad and instead hiredShay Hatten to write the script in May 2020.[37][38] In February, Stahelski brought Ricky Staub and Dan Walser on board to write the film after being impressed with their filmConcrete Cowboy.[39] In March 2021, screenwriting duties were passed ontoPredators screenwriter Michael Finch.[40]
The writing of the film was placed in the hands of Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. In an interview with Finch byLooper magazine, Finch stated that there were several previous films which influenced his writing stating: "A lot of this begins with Chad being inspired by other films, other genres of film, be itOnce Upon a Time in the West,The Good, the Bad and the Ugly or be itBullitt orDirty Harry or aZatoichi film."[41] The role played by the blind assassin portrayed by Donnie Yen references the blind swordsman in the Japanese film series centred on the character of Zatoichi.[41] The name of the character Killa Harkan is a reference to Berlin-based Turkish rapperKilla Hakan.[42][43]
When the fourth film was announced, Reeves reported having begun his training course forJohn Wick 4 andThe Matrix Resurrections.[44] In May 2021, it was announced thatRina Sawayama would make her feature film debut inJohn Wick Chapter 4.[16] She was selected due to the role requiring someone who can do choreography, and Stahelski had seen her music[45] videos for "XS" and "Bad Friend" that feature dance and fighting, respectively.[46] The following month,Laurence Fishburne,[47]Hiroyuki Sanada,[48]Donnie Yen,[49]Bill Skarsgård,[50]Shamier Anderson,[51] andScott Adkins were cast in the film.[52] Sanada was initially courted to portray Zero inChapter 3, but dropped out due to a torn Achilles tendon injury.[53][54] In July 2021,Lance Reddick was confirmed to be reprising his role as Charon,[55] andIan McShane was confirmed to be reprising his role as Winston.[20]Clancy Brown joined the cast that August.[56]
Most of the weapons used in the film were chosen from stock and custom weapon design firms and were already in existence before filming.[57] De Gramont nominates a reluctant Caine to fight in his place in a duel using enhanced 20th-centuryThompson/Center Contenders in the sunrise scene atSacré-Cœur.[58] The Bowery King when he arrives in Paris hands John a custom 21-round Pit Viper pistol manufactured by TTI.[57][59]
Near the start of the film, the character of Caine is shown handling an opulent gold watch from the jewelerCarl F. Bucherer with an image portrait of his daughter inside of the gold case closure lid.[60]
Principal photography began on June 28, 2021, on a $100million budget, and took place in France, Germany, New York City, and Japan.[2][61] Several French crew, including thelocation manager, described filming in Paris as "hell"; due to a two-week delay filming in Germany, Stahelski had less time to scout Paris and would improvise and change locations last minute.[62] Filming took place atLuxembourg Gardens and theChurch of St. Eustache. The introductory scene was filmed in a Parisian "sunken cathedral", "La Défense Cathedral". The chase-shootout around theArc de Triomphe was finished at a disused airport nearBerlin. The efforts of the location team were recognized by theLocation Managers Guild International with their 2023LMGI Award.[63] The top-downlong take action sequence was inspired by the video gameThe Hong Kong Massacre and was filmed on a purpose-built set.[64] An alternate ending in which John visits his grave was filmed but abandoned after receiving a "violent reaction" fromtest audiences.[65]
Stahelski described an early cut ofJohn Wick: Chapter 4 as "screwed" because the expandedworldbuilding of its title character and the introduction of new characters took 225 minutes of screen time. Nathan Orloff edited the film substantially to reduce the runtime to 169 minutes.[1][67] The film was originally subtitledHagakure, to matchParabellum.[68]
The film features EDM tracks from widely-known artists in the genre, likeGesaffelstein andJustice,[70][71] as well asLe Castle Vania, whose work largely consisted of remixes of his work from the first two films. Most of the artists featured in the soundtrack are French, and therefore fit with the majority of the third act of the film taking place in Paris.[72][73]
John Wick: Chapter 4 was released on March 24, 2023.[74]
Lionsgate officially announced the film in May 2019 duringParabellum's opening week, with a scheduled release date of May 21, 2021.[35][75][76] On May 1, 2020,IndieWire reported that the fourth film's release had been delayed to May 2022 by the COVID-19 pandemic and Reeves' commitments toThe Matrix Resurrections, which had been slated for release on the same day asWick 4. "The Matrix 4 was only four weeks in when this all happened"—that is, production was halted, Stahelski said, "So, Keanu's gotta go finish his commitment up onThe Matrix, which is a big deal and which I think will probably take him until the end of the year. Then we have to go into our prep mode and then we'll start. So release dates...who knows right now."[77]
On 28 February 2025, it was announced that the film will be release in China on 14 March 2025, after an almost 2-year delay. This makesJohn Wick: Chapter 4 the first film in the franchise to be released in China. Similar to other parts of Asia, marketing materials within China focused marketing efforts on Donnie Yen, placing him at the front of local film posters alongside Keanu Reeves similar to abuddy cop film, and sharing clips of Yen's performance in the film on popular Chinese social media site Weibo and RedNote; as well as all major film ticketing sites.[84][85]
John Wick: Chapter 4 was released digitally on May 23, 2023. The Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and DVD were released on June 13, 2023.[86] An extended cut was confirmed by the director on June 21, to be released at an unspecified date.[87]The film became available on Netflix in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2024.
John Wick: Chapter 4 grossed $187.1million in the United States and Canada, and $260million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $447.3 million.[3][4]
In the United States and Canada,John Wick: Chapter 4 was projected to gross $65 million to 70 million from 3,855 theaters in its opening weekend.[88][89][90] The film made $29.4 million on its first day, including $8.9 million from Thursday night previews, the best of the series, and the best of any R-rated film released since March 2020. It went on to debut at $73.8 million, topping the box office and marking the best opening weekend of the franchise. It was also the best opening weekend for Lionsgate and any R-rated film since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, with the latter record surpassingHalloween Kills.[91] Upon its debut, the film had the second-highest live-action opening weekend for a Keanu Reeves film, behindThe Matrix Reloaded.[91] This also marked the year's second-highest opening weekend at the time of its release, afterAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.[91] The film made $28.3 million in its sophomore weekend (a drop of 61.6%), finishing second behind newcomerDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.[92] In its third weekend, the film made $14.6 million, again finishing second, this time behindThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.[93]
Outside of the US and Canada, the film grossed $64 million from 71 markets in its opening weekend.[94] In its second weekendJohn Wick: Chapter 4 made $35 million from 75 markets.[95] The film grossed $21.5 million in its third weekend.[96] As of June 5, 2023, the highest-grossing territories were the United Kingdom ($21.1 million), Germany ($20.7 million), Australia ($16.6 million), South Korea ($15.2 million) and CIS ($14.2 million).[97]
The film was released on 14 March 2025 in China at 6pm. Despite the delayed release of almost 2 years and impact from rampant piracy, the film opened well to $3.3 million over its opening weekend, out-performingMickey 17's 10-day haul in two and a half days and benefited from the presence of Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen, who was kept front and center in local marketing and went on to gross a total of $ 6.2 million. As of 1 May 2025, the film is the 3rd highest grossing Hollywood film in China for the year only behindA Minecraft Movie andCaptain America: Brave New World[98][99]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 94% of 374 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "John Wick: Chapter 4 piles on more of everything—and suggests that when it comes to a well-dressed Keanu Reeves dispatching his enemies in lethally balletic style, there can never be too much."[100]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 58 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[101] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, the best of the series, while those polled byPostTrak gave it a 93% positive score, with 82% saying they would definitely recommend it.[91]
Frank Scheck ofThe Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review, calling it "bigger, badder, bolder, longer, and featuring nearly more spectacular set pieces than one movie can comfortably handle, this epic action film practically redefines the stakes."[102] Tom Jorgensen ofIGN gave the film a 10/10 score, describing it as a "modern epic" and "bursting at the seams with creative, thrillingly staged action choreography and cinematography" while giving particular praise to the performances of Reeves, Yen and Skarsgård.[103] In a five-star review forIndieWire, Rafael Motamayor praised the film as the "best American action blockbuster sinceGeorge Miller'sMad Max: Fury Road". He praised the additions to the franchise's "ludicrously complex" mythology, citing the film's grounded character relationships and cinematographer Dan Lausten's use ofneon colors and his technique of shooting a single-shot fight scene.[104]
Chicago Sun-Times'sRichard Roeper gave the film three out of four stars, writing "Somewhere inside the utterly unnecessary, bloated running time forJohn Wick IV, there's a brilliant, stripped-down, 100-minute classic of a drive-in action film, where the admittedly breathtaking action sequences don't grind on for so long that they become borderline tedious."[105]Richard Brody ofThe New Yorker was ambivalent on much of the film, but found that the "giddily intense, swoony, swashbuckling, and sensational" ending makes the rest of the film "worth sitting through".[106]The Daily Nebraskan's Evan Dondlinger highly praised the film, calling it "what all action movies should be", and hailed it as a "masterclass of stunt coordination, color in cinema and grand storytelling".[107]
Charles Bramesco ofThe Guardian gave the film two out of five stars, writing: "Those who appreciated the original for its brutal, sinewy agility have another thing coming: a lumbering, stultifying gargantuan of a film willing to kill everything except its darlings."[108] Reviewing the film forConsequence, Liz Miller gave the film a C+ and said: "WatchingJohn Wick: Chapter 4 sometimes felt like watching an above-average assembly cut. At an unwieldy two hours and 49 minutes, your eye will immediately be drawn to what cuts through the noise – and there are plenty of these moments. But 'moments' does not a well-told 'movie' make."[109] Conversely,Nerdist's Michael Walsh hailed the film as one of the best action films ever made, remarking "By the time the credits rolled, I was ready to run through a brick wall. I had so much adrenaline pumping through me I wanted to bench-press a bus. [...] The only other time I walked out of a theater feeling that way wasMad Max: Fury Road.John Wick: Chapter 4 isn’t just the best installment in the series. It's on the very short list of greatest action movies ever made".[110]
In 2023,Esquire named the film Reeves's seventh-best,[144] andComic Book Resources andTheWrap named it that year's best action film.[145][146]In 2024,Collider named it the 13th-best action film of all time,[147]The Guardian named it Reeves's fourth-best,[148] andGamesRadar+ named it his second-best.[149]
A fifth film was originally intended to be shot back-to-back withChapter 4.[32] However, by March 2021, after theCOVID-19 pandemic affected production on the fourth film, these plans were no longer moving forward, with theChapter 4's ending being reworked to conclude the series with Wick's fate. Stahelski said that the reason he and Reeves abandoned plans for a sequel was his skepticism over his ability to "deliver two uniquely special experiences". Lionsgate initially demurred at the duo's plan to retire Reeves's character, but eventually acquiesced.[6] Although Stahelski and Reeves insisted that Wick was dead, Lionsgate presidentJoe Drake later hinted at the possibility of a fifth film due toChapter 4's "astonishing" box office,[150] while Stahelski stated he was open to a sequel.[151][152] In May 2023, Lionsgate president Joe Drake confirmed to investors that a fifth film was in development.[153] In December 2024, Reeves expressed interest in a fifth film, but was unsure of the physical challenges the role required.[154] In March 2025, Reeves insisted the character was dead, implying his disinterest in reprising the role again.[155]
On April 1, 2025, Lionsgate chair Adam Fogelson announced atCinemaCon that the studio is developing a fifth film with Stahelski and Reeves.[156]
Prior to Lance Reddick's death in March 2023, Reeves, McShane, and Reddick were planned to reprise their respective roles as Wick, Winston, and Charon in the upcoming filmFrom the World of John Wick: Ballerina,[157] a spin-off to theJohn Wick films set between the events ofChapter 3 andChapter 4.[158] Also in development was a spin-off television series entitledThe Continental: From the World of John Wick, which featured younger versions of severalJohn Wick characters.[159] Yen has expressed interest in a spin-off centered on Caine,[160] which was eventually announced on May 15, 2024, with filming set to start in Hong Kong in 2025.[161]
^While directorChad Stahelski and starKeanu Reeves initially affirmed that John is deceased,[6][7] Stahelski later stated that the ending was intentionally left ambiguous and open to interpretation.[8][9][10]