--- title: "John Wick: Chapter 4: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/john-wick-chapter-4/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/john-wick-chapter-4" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 18 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 4 (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 18 reviews: 12 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics come away satisfied, and the praise lands in one place: the fights. Review after review singles out the clarity of the choreography, the long unbroken takes and the staging of the set pieces, with an extended staircase sequence and a climactic race picked out in particular. Donnie Yen’s blind assassin Caine is the performance most often mentioned, and several reviews find Keanu Reeves’ weary, laconic turn the right anchor for it. The locations and production design get their share of credit too. The reservation is the running time, and almost nobody is without it. At close to three hours, even the warm reviews call the film bloated; the hostile ones say the action itself drags and repeats. The spread is wide. IndieWire and /Film rate it near the top of the series, while The Guardian and The Times find it cumbersome and self-important, and Slant Magazine worries the lore is swallowing the franchise. ## IndieWire — Rafael Motamayor Rating A. 14 March 2023. Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves deliver the biggest, most elaborate, and best film in the saga, the best action blockbuster since Fury Road. It highlights the inventive, over-the-top action and the series' peak form. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/john-wick-chapter-4-review-1234819284/) ## Little White Lies — Kambole Campbell Rating 3/4/4. 22 March 2023. The critic praises the inventive and elaborate action sequences and choreography that keep the fights fresh and exciting. Notes that the film is probably too long but uses the runtime effectively for standout franchise action. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/john-wick-chapter-4) ## Radio Times — Kevin Harley Rating 4/5. 21 March 2023. The critic finds excess is not a problem and the film largely fulfils its goal of outdoing predecessors with bone-breaking fights and globe-trotting opulence. Notes the plot is blunt but the action delivers satisfaction for fans. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/john-wick-chapter-4-review/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 March 2023. The film commits nobly to its self-seriousness, bordering on camp, yet earns its boldness with ingenious action sequences that are a total feast for the eyes. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/john-wick-4-review-release-date-b2307236.html) ## The Telegraph — Tim Robey Rating 4/5. 23 March 2023. The film is wildly over the top and bloated at nearly three hours but remains a brilliant, turbo-charged blast thanks to its proud excess and strong plotting and cast since the first entry. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/john-wick-chapter-4-review-keanu-reeves-returns-bloated-brilliant/) ## Total Film — Kim Taylor-Foster Rating 4/5. 13 March 2023. Every aspect is dialled up, with blistering fight sequences and standout characters like Donnie Yen's blind assassin Caine; the near-three-hour runtime may prove a sticking point for some, but at its best it burns oh-so-brightly. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/john-wick-4-review/) ## Vulture — Angelica Jade Bastien Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2023. The film is blissfully entertaining with gorgeous visuals, clear choreography, and inventive, balletic violence that synthesizes Looney Tunes energy and martial-arts mastery. It singles out the stunning production design and fight sequences for praise but notes reservations about narrative choices and underused supporting characters. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/john-wick-chapter-four-movie-review.html) ## Empire — Alex Godfrey Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 March 2023. It is relentlessly violent and a bone-crunching masterclass in action, but the endless fighting can become a slog and the film is a bit much overall. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/john-wick-chapter-4/) ## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith Rating 2.5/4. 14 March 2023. The bloated sequel expands the mythology with filler conversations and rehashed set pieces, proving the franchise is doomed to further Marvelization. It criticizes the excessive length and convoluted lore while acknowledging some fresh fight choreography and new cast members like Donnie Yen. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/john-wick-chapter-4-review-keanu-reeves/) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2023. Keanu Reeves brings weary energy to the assassin pursued by killers as he settles accounts with the High Table across global locations, leaving corpses in his wake. The murderous virtuosity often feels technical and wearying, though an intricate climactic race delivers clever suspense and swashbuckling fun. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/john-wick-chapter-4) ## Time Out — Olly Richards Rating 3/5. 13 March 2023. The critic highlights Keanu Reeves' charismatic presence and the relentless, inventive fight scenes in increasingly ridiculous scenarios. Complains that some sequences drag on too long and the 169-minute runtime may test viewers. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/john-wick-chapter-4-2023) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 14 March 2023. The critic calls it a flabby fourth instalment that aspires to be a sweeping epic but emphasises the franchise's limitations through too much mournful narrative between extraordinary fight sequences. Praises the balletic, gratuitous action but finds the bulk overshadows it. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/john-wick-chapter-4-review/5179778.article) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 14 March 2023. The critic finds the nearly three-hour film overlong and overstuffed, with action sequences that drag on redundantly and lack payoff. Stahelski confuses bigger and more for better in this bloated sequel. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/13/john-wick-chapter-4-movie-review-release-date) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 March 2023. The sequel is profoundly cumbersome and burdened by delusions of grandeur in its excessive runtime, turning a simple shoot-'em-up into something that thinks it is an epic, with action lacking dramatic tension beyond one inventive sequence. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/john-wick-chapter-4-review-bang-bang-bang-er-thats-it-p5x5cwqqv) ## Financial Times — Leslie Felperin Rating ★★☆☆☆. 23 March 2023. The film delivers many deaths and bravura action sequences indebted to wuxia traditions, with balletic fight choreography as highlights, but offers thin emotional content for those wanting more substance. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/60a81453-6926-4cb4-8e8c-a6379a94dccc) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang 22 March 2023. The latest and longest entry delivers globe-trotting, meticulously staged action with compositional elegance and clear fight choreography that stands out amid murky Hollywood fare. While the maximalist showmanship and extraneous world-building can feel exhausting and self-regarding, Reeves' weary performance and the craftsmanship sustain the spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-03-22/john-wick-4-review-keanu-reeves) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck 13 March 2023. The film outdoes its predecessors with bigger, bolder, and more spectacular action set pieces that play like elaborate dance numbers. It praises the virtuoso choreography, continuous shots, and Reeves' physical commitment while noting the excessive length. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/john-wick-chapter-4-review-keanu-reeves-1235347803/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 23 March 2023. The film aestheticizes violence in an unapologetic, over-the-top manner that draws on influences from Eastwood to Melville and Chan, centering on a laconic assassin who kills because it is what he does. The critic highlights the plush locations, inventive action sequences, and the series' conspiracy-laden underworld as sources of pleasure. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/23/movies/john-wick-chapter-4-keanu-reeves.html) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2023. The critic praises the film as an unqualified success and an action fantasia like no other, highlighting its precise and coherent action choreography as the series' special quality. They single out the extended staircase sequence and the performances, particularly Donnie Yen's Caine, for making the long runtime earn its keep. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1236571/john-wick-chapter-4-spoiler-review-an-action-fantasia-like-no-other/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating B+. 15 March 2023. The critic praises the film's ambitious and thrilling action sequences, especially in the second half, and singles out the inventive fight scenes and Keanu Reeves' performance. They note it as a goofy, ridiculous three hours of fun that doesn't overstay its welcome. [Read the review](https://collider.com/john-wick-chapter-4-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 13 March 2023. Festival review. The critic praises the film's expanded action sequences, locations, and length as a feast for fans, highlighting dazzling fight scenes and strong casting like Donnie Yen and Hiroyuki Sanada, while noting it ratchets up the franchise's signature style effectively despite the runtime. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/03/john-wick-chapter-4-review-keanu-reeves-1235298412/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 4/5. 23 March 2023. The critic finds the film a frequently astonishing epic that elevates the series with stunning action, humor, and some character reflection, continuing the franchise's even-numbered success streak. They single out Donnie Yen's performance as the standout for its depth and gravitas amid the stylized action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/john-wick-chapter-4-review-better-keanu-reeves-vs-donnie-yen/) --- © 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-4.md