With John Wick: Chapter 4 out now and receiving rapturous praise from critics and audiences alike, there is one question that many people are now asking: What is the greatest action film of the 21st century? Mad Max: Fury Road, Skyfall, The Raid, The Dark Knight, and Mission Impossible: Fallout all have compelling cases. However, compiling the best action films of the last 23 years and not mentioning John Wick is a crime. Arguments could be made for all the John Wick movies; that’s how strong they are in the action genre.
John Wick started with a simple premise. Wick (The Matrix’s Keanu Reeves, who is no stranger to action), a former hit man, returns to the criminal world he left behind after the arrogant son of a Russian mobster kills his dog, which was a gift from his now-deceased wife. Hell-bent on revenge, Wick hunts down the son with reckless abandon, killing every single person who stands in his way. John Wick was a sleeper hit in 2014, and nine years later, the story about a legendary hit man mourning the loss of his wife and dog is a global franchise. The fourth film, John Wick: Chapter 4, just earned the highest opening weekend gross of the franchise.
Before watching Chapter 4 in theaters, catch up on the first three John Wick movies!
Where to watch all the John Wick movies
The first three John Wick movies are all available to stream on Amazon Freevee.
Watch John Wick Now Watch John Wick 2 Now Watch John Wick 3 NowWhen is it streaming for subscribers?
John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2, and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum are now streaming for everyone on Amazon Freevee.
How much does it cost?
Nothing! Freevee is a free-to-all service that acts kind of like a broadcast network. It’s free, but you have to watch the occasional block of ads. It’s worth it, though, for these John Wick movies, which are some of the best action movies ever made.
Are the John Wick movies worth watching?
Any action movie fan will appreciate the John Wick franchise. Each subsequent film raises the bar with its action sequences and stunt coordination. The highly-choreographed action scenes are some of the best in the 21st century. Plus, the films are easy to understand and provide audiences with a true form of escapism.
Chad Stahelski is the director behind every movie in the franchise. Stahelski famously worked as Reeves’s stunt double on The Matrix. Through four movies, the John Wick franchise registers an average of 88% on the Tomatometer and an 84% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. On Metacritic, the four films combine for a Metascore of 73 and a user score of 7.9.
For John Wick fans, read John Wick: Chapter 4’s ending explained, John Wick: Chapter 4’s best scene, 5 reasons why John Wick is the best action movie ever, and does John Wick die at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4?