Image Source: Lionsgate
Wild to think it’s been over a decade since Keanu Reeves first stepped into the role of John Wick, right? The 2014 original still holds up, and Reeves says the intense training behind the film helped shape what would become one of modern action cinema’s most influential franchises.
How John Wick turned into a franchise phenomenon
What started as a lean revenge story quickly grew into a global hit. The original John Wick movie launched a franchise that now includes four main films, a spinoff, and constant talk about what could come next. Even so, the first John Wick film still stands out as the one fans return to most, especially as streaming continues to introduce the action movie to new audiences.
There’s something about John Wick’s simplicity, precision, and stylish action that makes it endlessly rewatchable. More than a decade later, the original action thriller still hits with the same impact it had in 2014.
Keanu Reeves says he went all in on John Wick from the start
A lot of why it still works? Keanu Reeves. He went all in from the start. Trained like crazy. Did most of his own stunts. You can tell when you watch it. The action feels real, physical in a way most action movies don’t. That’s what makes John Wick different from your standard shootout flick.
Reeves’ approach matched perfectly with director Chad Stahelski and writer Derek Kolstad, who wanted audiences to actually see the action instead of losing it in rapid cuts.
Why Keanu Reeves’ John Wick action still feels fresh today
Instead of doing that quick cut thing everyone does, they went with longer takes, wider shots, choreography that was actually planned out. The action ended up clean, easy to follow, intense. And then a ton of movies after it just copied that whole approach.
The first John Wick still feels current, which is wild. Shows how ahead of the curve it actually was.
Where to watch John Wick now
These days you can find John Wick on DVD, Blu ray, 4K, and digital platforms. It’s on HBO Max right now. Still getting new viewers even after all this time.
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