---
title: "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum"
critics_score: 76
critics_reviews: 22
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019): what the critics said

Critics' score 76 from 22 reviews: 17 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics like it, and they like it for the same reason: the fighting. Nearly every review singles out the action choreography and Chad Stahelski’s staging, with the antiques-shop knife fight, the glass-walled offices, the horses and the dogs named as the set pieces that earn the ticket. Keanu Reeves is generally credited with holding it together, tired-looking and sincere. Several reviews also welcome the expanded mythology, though mostly as a bonus rather than the draw.

The reservations cluster around length and repetition. Variety and Collider find the mayhem hollow without stakes or character to attach it to; The Times feels the film-makers run out of puff by the final act, and The Independent finds the violence one-note. The Casablanca stretch with Halle Berry divides opinion: The Guardian calls it the weakest section while Radio Times enjoys it. The spread is narrow, with no outright negative reviews; the sharpest dissent comes from The New Yorker, which finds the extended fights numbing.

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 18 May 2019. 

The third instalment overwhelms with opulent martial arts set pieces and a riotous, relentless aesthetic of hi-tech baroque spectacle. It makes an art of pain in a curiously life-affirming way, though the Casablanca segment with Halle Berry is the weakest.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/18/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review-keanu-reeves)

## Empire — Nick de Semlyen

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2019. 

The review lauds the gloriously raucous entry that deepens the mythology and delivers inventive, wince-inducing action sequences, singling out the magnificently orchestrated dust-ups and confident world-building for praise while noting the self-serious tone enhances the fun.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review/)

## Evening Standard — Matthew Norman

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 May 2019. 

The review praises the film as massively entertaining for viewers with a high tolerance for stylised lethal force, highlighting Chad Stahelski’s kinetic direction that turns gruesome action into something fluid and almost beautiful, along with Keanu Reeves’ gravitas.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review-keanu-reeves-really-kills-it-over-and-over-and-over-again-a4144656.html)

## Film Comment — Michael Sragow

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 May 2019. 

The critic praises the sustained hyperbole, dark whimsy, and Chad Stahelski's direction of the action sequences, noting that Reeves convinces viewers Wick is worth rooting for through his mix of agility, shrewdness, and sincerity.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum/)

## Little White Lies — Matt Thrift

Rating 4/4/3. 16 May 2019. 

Praises the film's astonishing action set-pieces and staging while noting it remains a solid franchise entry despite being the longest and somewhat bloated by digressions.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum)

## Los Angeles Times — Jen Yamato

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 2019. 

The critic notes the film bursts with sleek and squishy top-notch action and winking humor that breaks the characters out of genre bounds. She singles out the sublimely inventive close-quarters fights with the lethally graceful Reeves for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review-keanu-reeves-20190515-story.html)

## Radio Times — Alan Jones

Rating 4/5. 

Finds the nonstop kinetic fights and over-the-top gun battles inventive and engaging, singling out Halle Berry's cameo and the dogs for praise while noting the finale slightly over-extends.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-4vswph/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — John DeFore

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2019. 

The critic praises the film as an epic of choreographed mayhem that expands the Wickiverse in mostly pleasing ways, destined to satisfy fans of the franchise. They single out the inventive, thrilling action sequences such as the antiques store knife fight and the glass offices showdown.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review-1209471/)

## The i Paper — Adam Sweeting

Rating ★★★★. 16 May 2019. 

The critic calls the action cranked to melting point and praises the blindingly simple set-up as part of the allure, noting that Wick fans will adore this third instalment that keeps the thrills coming over its long runtime.

[Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review-keanu-reeves-291792)

## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf

Rating 4/5. 9 May 2019. 

Celebrates the rigorously conceived and coherent action sequences as the highlight, calling the film a fever dream of an action movie that is gloriously dumb but remarkably well-staged.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum)

## The New York Times — Jeannette Catsoulis

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2019. 

The critic describes the film as a symphony of dazzlingly sterile, cartoonish abuse with guns having more dialogue than the hero. She singles out the staggeringly accomplished fight choreography for praise while noting the minimal time spent on other elements like the High Table headquarters.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/16/movies/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review.html)

## Variety — Andrew Barker

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2019. 

The critic calls it unquestionably great action filmmaking on a level of pure craft, the most technically accomplished of the series. He singles out the diminishing returns from watching two-plus hours of mayhem without palpable dramatic stakes or emotion.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/john-wick-3-review-film-parabellum-1203210529/)

## The Independent

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2019. 

The critic finds the film stylish and inventive in its action but notes that the relentless, stylised violence risks monotony and that it remains a one-note exercise with little nuance or characterisation beyond the set pieces.

[Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-chad-stahelski-keanu-reeves-ian-mcshane-halle-berry-a8914796.html)

## The New Yorker — Richard Brody

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 17 May 2019. 

The critic finds the extended fight scenes range from numbing to repellent, succeeding less as martial-arts spectacle than as a post-apocalyptic political drama. He singles out the remarkable overarching conceit that leaves a chill despite evacuated particulars.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-reviewed-empty-fight-scenes-with-a-paranoiac-chill)

## The Telegraph

Rating 3/5. 16 May 2019. 

The sequel pushes Reeves and the premise to the limit with bravura long-take choreography and meaty set pieces every reel, standing comparison with The Raid 2, though the saga has ballooned in scale.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review-keanu-reevess-bravura/)

## The Times

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 18 May 2019. 

The combat scenes are stupendous in ridiculous locations, with the best of them showcasing printed books as weapons; enjoyed more than Chapter 2 but still brain-numbing at times, with the film makers running out of puff by the final act.

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/article/film-review-beats-and-john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-l80zr39t0)

## /Film — Chris Evangelista

Rating 9/10. 10 May 2019. 

The critic hails it as an action masterpiece that ups the stakes with jaw-dropping sequences and strong world-building, noting the playful humor and Reeves's tired but compelling performance. The verdict is that each new entry improves on the last and viewers will be ready for more.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/566326/john-wick-chapter-3-review/)

## NME — Alex Flood

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2019. 

The critic describes the film as exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure and calls it the best chapter in the franchise, praising the top-notch performances, especially from the female cast, and Stahelski's mastery of combat scenes.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/john-wick-3-review-parabellum-keanu-reeves-2487920)

## Den of Geek — Richard Jordan

Rating 4/5. 16 May 2019. 

The review calls the film an absolute riot for fans, highlighting its breathless pacing, jaw-dropping stunts, and strong new characters like Zero, while noting a few stumbles with Wick's superhuman elements.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-review-a-roaring-rampage/)

## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 January 2020. 

The critic praises the film's relentlessly inventive and realistic fight choreography and stunning stunt work with dogs, calling the editing and cinematography top-notch. The verdict is that it is strictly for action fans but very good at what it does, remaining watchable despite little plot.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-2019-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)

## Collider — Matt Goldberg

Rating B. 16 May 2019. 

The critic praises the jaw-dropping stunt work and action set pieces but finds the film hollow because it fails to connect the action meaningfully to story or character development.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/john-wick-3-review/)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 2019. 

The critic finds the film a mostly enjoyable threequel that delivers slick, gonzo action sequences, though the franchise strain is starting to show. They single out the inventive and thrilling action choreography, particularly the knife fight and horse kicks.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/john-wick-3-film-review-keanu-reeves-halle-berry-parabellum/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum.md