Keanu Reeves’ ‘John Wick’ is the Greatest Action Movie of the 21st Century that Changed the Genre Forever

by

There’s a strangely satisfying appeal to watching someone get even with the villains. For a long time, that feeling came from movies like the Taken series with Liam Neeson, or the Bourne films starring Matt Damon, which both offered thrilling action. However, these films also popularized a frustrating trend: shaky camera work. This style used handheld cameras that bounced with the action, aiming to make fights feel more energetic. It also conveniently allowed editors to cover up awkward fight choreography with quick cuts and movement. But in 2014, Keanu Reeves helped usher in a new era for action movies, and the genre hasn’t been the same since.

As a huge action movie fan, I’ve definitely noticed a shift in how these films are made lately. Remember those super shaky, quickly-edited action scenes, like in Taken? They’re pretty much gone! Now, filmmakers are favoring longer takes, wider shots, and really letting you see the action clearly. Some are even doing entire sequences in one continuous shot – what they call an ‘oner’. And honestly, it all started with Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski’s John Wick back in 2014. That movie really changed the game.

Chad Stahelski, a director who started as a stunt performer, teamed up with fellow stunt expert David Leitch and writer Derek Kolstad to make John Wick. Keanu Reeves underwent intense physical training for months to play the role of a retired hitman seeking revenge for his dog. While the story of revenge isn’t original, the film’s groundbreaking action sequences were what truly set it apart. What could have been a low-budget action movie instead became a blockbuster franchise, and has influenced how action is filmed in countless movies since.

Why ‘John Wick’s Action Just Hits Different?

It would be simple to say the action in John Wick is just due to Keanu Reeves’ intense training, and stop there. And it’s true, Reeves dedicated himself to learning martial arts and gun skills for the first film, as he was 49 at the time. However, the fight scenes are effective for several reasons. A key factor is the background of directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, both experienced stunt professionals. Stahelski was Keanu Reeves’ stunt double in The Matrix, and both men have spent decades in the industry. This allowed them to create action sequences that were realistic, visually impressive, and pushed the boundaries of what’s possible on screen.

This approach also influenced the fight scenes in the film. Unlike the quick cuts and close-up shots used in movies like the Bourne series, John Wick features long, wide-angle shots of the action. This meant fight choreography had to change – big, visually deceptive punches were replaced with more realistic gunplay and grappling martial arts like wrestling, judo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. This not only looked better on screen, but it allowed the stunt performers – and Keanu Reeves – to perform at full intensity while keeping the set safe and minimizing injuries. The result is that the throws, strikes, and gunfights feel authentic because, for the most part, they actually are.

‘John Wick 5,’ When?

After the release of John Wick: Chapter 4 in 2024—which was intended to be the last movie in the series—fans immediately wondered if Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski would make another one. Reeves has already reprised his role as John Wick in 2025’s Ballerina: From the World of John Wick, alongside Ana de Armas. Even though John Wick: Chapter 4 seemed to conclude the story, most viewers would welcome a fifth film. Currently, John Wick 5 is reportedly in very early development, but there’s no certainty it will actually be made.

John Wick is currently streaming on HBO Max.

Read More

2026-04-13 15:36