--- title: "John Wick" year: 2014 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/john-wick" fi1m_score: 80 critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 17 published: "2026-09-17T08:04:19.519149+00:00" updated: "2026-09-17T08:04:20.059516+00:00" region: "US" 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 (2014) Directed by Chad Stahelski · 1h 41m · MPA R · Action, Thriller **Fi1m score: 80** · Critics 76 from 17 reviews *In a sentence:* Keanu Reeves does the fighting, and for once the camera lets us check his work > Chad Stahelski gives *John Wick* the clear, patient action staging its thin revenge plot scarcely deserves. Keanu Reeves makes the violence compelling; repetition is the price of an otherwise brisk evening. ## Synopsis John Wick (Keanu Reeves), a former assassin, returns to violence in pursuit of revenge. His path leads through a criminal underworld with its own rules and codes, where a hotel caters to contract killers. Among the people he encounters are Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist), Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen) and Marcus (Willem Dafoe). John sets about using the skills of his former profession against the people standing in his way. His pursuit involves gunfights and close combat within a community that treats killing as a business with established working arrangements. ## Review *John Wick* is a good reminder of how satisfying an action film can be when we can see what the actors are doing. Chad Stahelski gives Keanu Reeves the space to fight, and gives us enough time to follow each movement before the next arrives. We recommend it warmly for that precision, with a caveat about a revenge story that sometimes slips into repetition across its 101 minutes. The pleasure comes from watching difficult physical work without having to guess what happened between cuts. Derek Kolstad’s screenplay gives the lead a former assassin to play and a reason to resume killing, then keeps the explanations out of the way. That economy suits an actor whose physical presence can do more here than another speech about his dangerous past. Keanu Reeves gives John Wick enough weight for the revenge to matter, without asking us to mistake him for a complicated man. Some of the plotting is convenient, but the performance keeps attention on the immediate task. Jonathan Sela’s cinematography makes the choreography readable: bodies remain visible within the frame, and the camera does not shake the movement into confusion. Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir’s editing allows stretches of action to play out rather than assembling each exchange from a blur of separate impacts. We were exhilarated by the fights because we could follow Keanu Reeves completing the movements, instead of merely being told that he had won another exchange. The sustained takes make skill, effort and timing part of the entertainment. Michael Nyqvist gives Viggo Tarasov a droll weariness that works particularly well beside Alfie Allen’s less restrained Iosef Tarasov. Neither role has much depth, but there is humour here that never makes the danger feel harmless. Alfie Allen is effective in a narrower way, playing unpleasantness so directly that further explanation would be redundant. The supporting performances provide welcome interruptions to the fighting, although the screenplay still gives its central pursuit too little variation. Dan Leigh’s production design helps the criminal underworld feel like a place with working arrangements, particularly its hotel for contract killers. The idea of such a hotel gives the film some welcome humour: even murderers apparently need somebody to organise accommodation. These rules and codes suggest lives continuing beyond John Wick’s immediate grievance, and they give the otherwise narrow story somewhere interesting to pause. The attention paid to how this community functions makes it worth spending time there between confrontations. Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard keep the score pressing forwards, an effective choice that also contributes to the sameness of some encounters. We came away remembering the choreography far more clearly than the music. The repetition matters because Derek Kolstad’s revenge plot cannot always provide fresh interest when the thrill of another cleanly executed fight begins to fade. At those points, the film could do with a pause rather than more encouragement to keep moving. Measured against the revenge thriller’s usual promise of efficient, satisfying violence, *John Wick* delivers. It takes the physical work seriously, has enough wit to avoid solemnity, and does not require us to pretend that the plot is richer than it is. We would have liked more variation, but not at the expense of the clear staging that makes the film worth an evening. Choose it for Keanu Reeves in motion; anyone hoping for a searching account of vengeance should make other plans. *Fi1m score 80, published 17 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics welcome John Wick as a confident revenge thriller whose familiar premise benefits from unusually clear, precise action. Praise centres on the choreography: longer takes, readable movement and restrained cutting let the performers’ physical work carry the fights. Keanu Reeves also earns broad approval for his physicality and suitability for the role. Several reviews find additional pleasure in the dry humour and the criminal underworld, particularly its rules and hotel for contract killers. The reservations concern how little story supports that craft. For most critics, the thin plotting and absurdities are acceptable costs of the entertainment; for others, they limit its appeal. Slant Magazine finds the action repetitive and the themes thin, while Collider questions the half-hearted storytelling and lack of memorable action moments. The spread runs from enthusiastic to mixed, with no outright negative verdicts: the disagreement is chiefly over whether skilful execution makes the generic revenge material satisfying. ### Reviews we read (17) - **RogerEbert.com**, Christy Lemire (90/100, inferred): The film breathes exhilarating life into a tired revenge premise through dazzling action choreography and a strong anti-hero performance from Keanu Reeves. The directors, veteran stuntmen, deliver confident, well-choreographed fight scenes without shaky-cam or excessive editing. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/john-wick-2014) - **Screen Daily** (90/100, inferred): Keanu Reeves successfully reinvents himself as a former assassin in this lovingly nostalgic shoot-em-up from stunt pros turned directors. It is an enthusiastically violent slice of escapism devoted to old-school practical action techniques. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/john-wick/5078009.article) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Justin Lowe (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's nonstop action sequences and Reeves' return to form in a kinetic revenge thriller. They single out the directors' skillful framing of fight scenes for praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/john-wick-film-review-742842/) - **Empire**, James Dyer (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the inventive, precise gunplay and choreography in the action sequences, noting the film's self-aware humor and Reeves' strong performance. The thin plot serves mainly to deliver stylish violence. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/john-wick-review/) - **Little White Lies**, Nick Newman (3/4/4): Keanu Reeves delivers his best performance in years in this slick redemption-based actioner. The directors stage the fight scenes with respect for their performers and give the sequences breathing room. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/john-wick/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Robert Abele (80/100, inferred): The sleek revenge tale jabs above its weight class with Keanu Reeves' physicality and a mix of humor and expertly choreographed hyper-violence. It's a B movie made with A-student love for the thrill of bodies in brutal motion. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-john-wick-movie-review-20141024-story.html) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it a slick, propulsive and ridiculous crime picture with confidence and élan that twists genre conventions to exhilarating effect. They single out the fierce clarity of the action choreography by debut directors Stahelski and Leitch and the refreshing world-building around a hotel for contract killers. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/23/john-wick-review-thrill-ride-relentless-vengeance-machine) - **Vulture**, David Edelstein (80/100, inferred): The review highlights the film's beautiful, stylized violence and Reeves' mythic presence, praising its aesthetic ambitions over moral ones and singling out the fluid action choreography. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2014/10/john-wick-movie-review.html) - **Total Film**, Matt Glasby (75/100, inferred): The review highlights the well-choreographed action and the film's graphic novel-like world, commending Reeves' fitting role while noting it feels like a stuntman's showcase with some ridiculousness. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/john-wick-review/) - **The New York Times**, Jeannette Catsoulis (Critic's Pick): The crafty revenge thriller delivers with style and wit, making the execution of a familiar story near flawless despite limited substance. Director Chad Stahelski proves an elegant choreographer of fluid, coherent fight scenes. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/24/movies/in-john-wick-keanu-reeves-as-an-avenger.html) - **Variety**, Peter Debruge (70/100, inferred): Reeves reminds viewers what a compelling action star he can be while the director makes a remarkably satisfying debut with clean, efficient action. The material is generic but delivered with suave elegance and spectacular set pieces. [Read](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-keanu-reeves-in-john-wick-1201331660/) - **Slant Magazine**, Chris Cabin (60/100, inferred): The critic notes the film's competent B-movie action but criticizes its lack of ambition and substance, praising the clear action framing while complaining about repetitive elements and thin themes. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/john-wick/) - **Time Out**, Joshua Rothkopf (3/5): The cleanly designed shoot-em-up sequences are manna for action fans, but the revenge plotting is deeply dopey. The co-directors have designed the movie with an eye for impact and elegant sparseness. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/john-wick) - **/Film**, Germain Lussier (8/10): The critic praises the film's unique crime underworld and grounded, intense action choreography in long takes, while noting some conventional plot conveniences as minor flaws. It's an inventive action movie. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/534481/john-wick-review/) - **The Wrap**, James Rocchi (80/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a violent, stylish B-movie that stands out for its old-school action approach with long takes and choreography rather than quick cuts. It is ludicrous yet ludicrously entertaining despite a thin premise. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/john-wick-review-keanu-reeves-willem-dafoe-adrianne-palicki/) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B-): The critic praises the clean, efficient action choreography and the intriguing criminal underworld with its rules and codes, but faults the half-hearted storytelling, lack of memorable action moments, and the film's safe, mechanical approach to revenge. [Read](https://collider.com/john-wick-review/) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (60/100, inferred): The critic praises Keanu Reeves' return to action form but expresses uncertainty about the rest of the film overall. It may appeal strongly to fans of the star and the genre. [Read](https://deadline.com/2014/10/john-wick-review-keanu-reeves-856205/) ## Details - **Director:** Chad Stahelski - **Director:** Chad Stahelski - **Writer:** Derek Kolstad - **Cinematography:** Jonathan Sela - **Editor:** Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir - **Music:** Tyler Bates, Joel J. Richard - **Production design:** Dan Leigh - **Costume design:** Luca Mosca - **Producer:** Basil Iwanyk, Mike Witherill, David Leitch - **Cast:** Keanu Reeves as John Wick; Michael Nyqvist as Viggo Tarasov; Alfie Allen as Iosef Tarasov; Willem Dafoe as Marcus; Dean Winters as Avi; Adrianne Palicki as Ms. Perkins; Omer Barnea as Gregori; Toby Leonard Moore as Victor - **Runtime:** 1h 41m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 24 October 2014 - **Genres:** Action, Thriller - **Budget:** $20 million - **Box office:** $86 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r0s41Ju5XA ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: add-on - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd - Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-17.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, SE, TH, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *The Killer* (1989): For gunplay that gives its hired killer considerably more room to grieve. - *Le Samouraï* (1967): A quieter hired killer, whose professional routines become almost as compelling as violence. - *A Bittersweet Life* (2005): Another criminal professional discovers how quickly immaculate composure gives way to personal vengeance. - *Haywire* (2011), Fi1m 74: Physical skill and readable fights, with less fuss about the hero’s reputation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/haywire.md) - *The Raid* (2011), Fi1m 83: For close combat staged clearly enough to make every confined space feel dangerous. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-raid.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/john-wick