John Wick: The Action Thriller Franchise That Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat


    John Wick: The Action Thriller Franchise That Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat

    John Wick is a popular American neo-noir action thriller media franchise created by Derek Kolstad and centered around John Wick, a former hitman who is forced back into the criminal underworld he had previously abandoned. The franchise began with the release of John Wick in 2014, followed by three sequels: Chapter 2 in 2017, Chapter 3 – Parabellum in 2019, and Chapter 4 in 2023. Two spin-offs are being produced: the limited series The Continental: From the World of John Wick in 2023 and the film Ballerina in 2024, while a fifth main installment, originally intended to be shot back-to-back with the fourth film, is also in development. The films have been critically acclaimed and earned a collective gross of more than $950 million worldwide.

    The franchise revolves around John Wick (Keanu Reeves), who was born Jardani Jovonovich in Belarus and raised as an assassin by the Ruska Roma crime syndicate. He became the top enforcer of the Russian Mafia and known as “Baba Yaga” (“the one you sent to kill [the] Boogeyman”) under crime boss Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist). He retired from being a hitman after undertaking an “impossible task” for Tarasov, wiping out all other organized crime syndicates in New York City in order to be allowed to leave to marry Helen (Bridget Moynahan) before her eventual death from cancer. However, his peaceful life is shattered when he is attacked by Tarasov’s son Iosef (Alfie Allen), who steals his car and kills his dog, the last gift from his wife. This triggers a violent rampage of revenge that sets him against the entire criminal underworld and the mysterious High Table, a council of twelve high-level leaders of world society that rules over the assassins.

    The franchise is known for its stylish action sequences, choreographed by director Chad Stahelski, a former stuntman who worked with Reeves on The Matrix trilogy. The films feature a variety of martial arts, gun fu, car chases, knife fights, and brutal hand-to-hand combat. The franchise also has a distinctive visual style, influenced by noir, comic books, anime, and video games. The franchise has a loyal fan base that appreciates its world-building, mythology, and lore. The franchise has spawned comics, video games, soundtracks, merchandise, and a potential cinematic universe.

    John Wick is one of the most successful and influential action franchises of the 21st century. It has redefined the genre and revived the career of Keanu Reeves as an action star. It has also inspired many other films and shows that feature similar themes and aesthetics. John Wick is a franchise that keeps you on the edge of your seat with its thrilling action, compelling characters, and immersive world.

    The franchise introduces a rich cast of characters that inhabit the world of John Wick. Some of them are allies, some are enemies, and some are both. Some of the most notable characters include:

    • Winston Scott (Ian McShane), the manager of the Continental Hotel in New York, a neutral ground for assassins and criminals. He is a friend and mentor to John, but also loyal to the High Table.
    • Charon (Lance Reddick), the concierge of the Continental Hotel in New York, who assists John with his weapons and equipment.
    • The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), the leader of a network of homeless spies and informants that operate under the radar of the High Table. He is an old acquaintance of John, who once spared his life.
    • Sofia Al-Azwar (Halle Berry), the manager of the Continental Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco. She is a former friend and ally of John, who owes him a favor for saving her daughter.
    • The Director (Anjelica Huston), the leader of the Ruska Roma crime syndicate and John’s former mentor. She is also a member of the High Table.
    • The Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon), a representative of the High Table who enforces its rules and punishments.
    • The Elder (Saïd Taghmaoui), the only person above the High Table, who resides in the Sahara desert. He is the one who can grant John his freedom.
    • Zero (Mark Dacascos), a master assassin and sushi chef who admires John and wants to kill him.

    The franchise also features many memorable antagonists that John has to face along his journey. Some of them are:

    • Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist), the former boss of John and head of the Tarasov crime syndicate. He tries to protect his son Iosef from John’s wrath, but ultimately respects him as a worthy adversary.
    • Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen), Viggo’s son and heir, who triggers John’s rampage by stealing his car and killing his dog.
    • Ms. Perkins (Adrianne Palicki), a female assassin who breaks the rules of the Continental by trying to kill John on its grounds.
    • Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio), a Camorra crime boss who forces John to honor his marker by killing his sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini), who holds a seat on the High Table.
    • Ares (Ruby Rose), Santino’s mute bodyguard and right-hand woman, who fights John several times.
    • Cassian (Common), Gianna’s chief bodyguard and former colleague of John, who seeks revenge for her death.
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