How John Wick Revolutionized Action Movies In 2014

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Looking back, it’s amazing to think that when John Wick came out 11 years ago, nobody could have predicted the impact it would have on action cinema. Sure, Keanu Reeves had a great run in the 2000s with The Matrix and even the rom-com Something’s Gotta Give, but things were starting to slow down for him towards the end of that decade. It really felt like John Wick revitalized his career and, honestly, the whole genre.

Action films in the early 2010s weren’t doing very well. Many were rated PG-13 and felt unoriginal, often copying ideas from movies like the Bourne series or Taken. While there were a few standouts, such as The Raid, action movies generally needed something new to revitalize the genre, and John Wick, which came out on October 24, 2014, provided just that.

The movie starts with Keanu Reeves playing a legendary hitman who comes out of retirement after a Russian gangster steals from him and, even worse, kills his dog. The trailer for John Wick hinted at incredibly innovative action, and the film absolutely delivered, exceeding expectations with its exciting fight scenes.

John Wick Set A New Template For Action Movies In 2014

Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, who directed John Wick, previously developed a distinctive action style for the film Safe, starring Jason Statham. Though the producers of Safe didn’t use it, they later brought it to John Wick. This style features extended, complex fight scenes where the actor – Keanu Reeves in John Wick – uses both martial arts and guns against multiple opponents.

The action sequences in John Wick were stunning, drawing on everything the directors and Keanu Reeves had learned from other action films. The movie earned $86 million worldwide on a $20 million budget (according to The Numbers), but it became even more popular after its release on DVD, Blu-ray, and streaming services.

Before long, the first John Wick film launched a whole movie series. It also heavily influenced action movies that followed. Now, most action films feature actors performing their own stunts and use extended, unbroken shots of fight scenes – a style directly inspired by John Wick.

Films like Atomic Blonde (directed by Leitch), the Extraction movies starring Chris Hemsworth, Kate, and the action-comedy Nobody all share a similar style to John Wick. These films also played a role in bringing back more moderately-budgeted, R-rated action movies that had become rare.

John Wick Rejuvenated Keanu Reeves’ Career

Beyond the action, the John Wick movies reminded audiences just how talented Keanu Reeves is. Before his career resurgence in 2014, Reeves had starred in a few films that didn’t quite hit the mark, like The Day the Earth Stood Still and 47 Ronin. 47 Ronin is particularly known for its difficult production and how much money it cost.

Honestly, some of Keanu’s more low-key, indie films, like Generation Um…, were pretty tough to get through. But I was really surprised by how good Man of Tai Chi – his first time directing – actually was! It didn’t get much attention when it came out in 2013, which was a shame. And then, right around that time, the “Sad Keanu” meme blew up – that picture of him looking bummed while eating a sandwich just went viral everywhere, and it kind of stuck with him for a while.

Simply put, John Wick was the perfect role for Keanu Reeves. The film played to his strengths and showcased him brilliantly. He’s a major reason the movie is so effective, and he convincingly portrays both a heartbroken man lost after his wife’s death and a remarkably skilled and deadly assassin.

The John Wick Franchise Is Still Going Strong (Despite The Creator Trying To End It)

Chad Stahelski continued to direct all of the John Wick sequels, and each film featured even more impressive action. However, he’s mentioned several times that the story could have ended after any of the films. He believes the cliffhangers in either Chapter 2 or Chapter 3 would have been fitting conclusions for John Wick’s journey.

After the conclusion of John Wick: Chapter 4, both the character and actor Keanu Reeves reached a satisfying endpoint. They focused all their effort on creating spectacular action sequences for the sequel and appeared to kill off John Wick in the final scene. Initially, they intended for John’s death to be definitive, but they ultimately included a small possibility of survival in the finished film.

The latest John Wick movie was a huge success, and Lionsgate plans to continue the series despite Keanu Reeves and the director wanting to conclude it. Reeves will be back for both a fifth John Wick film and an animated spin-off. The franchise also explored new directions with From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, featuring Ana de Armas.

Although many hoped for more films in the series, the movie’s modest $137 million earnings probably mean sequels are unlikely. However, Lionsgate is considering a standalone film starring Donnie Yen, who will reprise his role as the blind assassin Caine and also direct. It’s currently unclear if Keanu Reeves will be involved.

Keanu Reeves probably doesn’t have many more John Wick movies left in him due to the demanding physical nature of the role, but fans would love to see a couple more. It’s also amazing to consider that a small action movie most critics didn’t expect much from eleven years ago ended up redefining the action genre.

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2025-10-24 16:59