--- title: "John Wick: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/john-wick/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/john-wick" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 17 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): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 17 reviews: 14 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. 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. ## RogerEbert.com — Christy Lemire Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2014. 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 the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/john-wick-2014) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 September 2014. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.screendaily.com/john-wick/5078009.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Justin Lowe Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2014. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/john-wick-film-review-742842/) ## Empire — James Dyer Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2015. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/john-wick-review/) ## Little White Lies — Nick Newman Rating 3/4/4. 9 April 2015. 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 the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/john-wick/) ## Los Angeles Times — Robert Abele Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2014. 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 the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-john-wick-movie-review-20141024-story.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2014. 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 the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/23/john-wick-review-thrill-ride-relentless-vengeance-machine) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2014. 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 the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/10/john-wick-movie-review.html) ## Total Film — Matt Glasby Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 April 2015. 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 the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/john-wick-review/) ## The New York Times — Jeannette Catsoulis Rating Critic's Pick. 23 October 2014. 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 the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/24/movies/in-john-wick-keanu-reeves-as-an-avenger.html) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2014. Festival review. 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 the review](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-keanu-reeves-in-john-wick-1201331660/) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2014. 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 the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/john-wick/) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 3/5. 7 April 2015. 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 the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/john-wick) ## /Film — Germain Lussier Rating 8/10. 24 October 2014. 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 the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/534481/john-wick-review/) ## The Wrap — James Rocchi Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2014. 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 the review](https://www.thewrap.com/john-wick-review-keanu-reeves-willem-dafoe-adrianne-palicki/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B-. 23 October 2014. 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 the review](https://collider.com/john-wick-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2014. 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 the review](https://deadline.com/2014/10/john-wick-review-keanu-reeves-856205/) --- © 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.md