If you have ever wondered what a one-man army looks like when he is truly, deeply angry, John Wick is your answer. What started as a small revenge thriller in 2014 quietly became one of the greatest action franchises in Hollywood history. Four films in, and the John Wick series has not just survived. It has completely changed the way action movies are made.
This is the full John Wick series review where we rank all four films, break down the story in simple terms, and tell you exactly why this franchise is worth every second of your time.
Why Does Everyone Love John Wick So Much?
Before we get into the rankings, let us answer the question a lot of people ask. Why is John Wick so popular when there are hundreds of other action movies out there?
The answer is honestly very simple. You can actually see the fights.
Most action movies today use shaky cameras and super fast editing to hide the fact that the actors cannot really fight. John Wick does the opposite. Director Chad Stahelski, who used to be a professional stuntman himself, shoots fights in wide angles with long takes so you can see every punch, every kick, and every creative kill clearly. It feels real even when it is completely over the top.
On top of that, the film builds a fascinating secret world of assassins with its own hotels, its own currency made of gold coins, its own rules and codes of conduct. It is the kind of world-building you usually only see in fantasy films, and it makes John Wick feel like nothing else in cinemas.
Now here are all four films ranked from worst to best.
Ranked 4th: John Wick Chapter 3 Parabellum (2019)
Rating: 8.2/10 | Runtime: 130 minutes | Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
This film picks up exactly where Chapter 2 ended. John has been declared excommunicado, which means every assassin in the world is now allowed to kill him for a huge reward of 14 million dollars. He has no weapons, no help, and only one hour before the hunt begins. The story takes him from New York to Morocco and back again as he tries to find a way to survive.
Chapter 3 has some of the most jaw-dropping individual scenes in the entire franchise. The opening chase through New York City where John fights off assassins using nothing but a library book is absolutely brilliant. There is also a horse chase through Manhattan streets that has to be seen to be believed.
The reason this lands at number four is simply that the second half of the film cannot keep up with the incredible first half. The story becomes a bit thin by the end, and it feels more like a long chase than a complete story. Still, an 8.2 out of 10 action film is an excellent film by any standard.
Best moment: The opening foot chase through New York City.
Ranked 3rd: John Wick (2014)
Rating: 8.8/10 | Runtime: 101 minutes | Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | Box Office: $86 Million
This is where everything began. John Wick is a retired hitman who gave up his violent life to be with the woman he loved. When she passed away from illness, her final gift to him was a puppy, something to keep him company and help him through his grief.
Then the son of a Russian mob boss breaks into John’s home, beats him up, steals his car, and kills the puppy. That last part is what sets everything in motion. It sounds simple but the film earns every moment of John’s anger because the puppy was not just a pet. It was his last connection to his wife and to the peaceful life he had built.
What makes the original so special is how tight and focused it is. In just over 100 minutes it builds an entire secret criminal underworld, introduces a genuinely sympathetic hero, and delivers some of the best fight scenes ever put on screen. The Red Circle nightclub sequence alone is a masterpiece of action choreography.
The only real limitation of the first film is its smaller budget, which means the scale cannot match what comes later in the series. But the heart and craftsmanship are completely there.
Best moment: The Red Circle nightclub fight scene.
Ranked 2nd: John Wick Chapter 2 (2017)
Rating: 9.0/10 | Runtime: 122 minutes | Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Chapter 2 is exactly what a sequel should be. It takes everything good about the first film and makes it bigger, richer, and more creative without losing what made the original feel special.
John is pulled back into the assassin world by a man named Santino who holds a blood oath marker, basically an unbreakable promise John made years ago. John is forced to travel to Rome to complete a job, and when it goes wrong he finds himself back in New York with a seven million dollar bounty on his head, no allies, and the entire criminal underworld hunting him down.
The action in Chapter 2 is more inventive than the first film. There is a fight in a hall of mirrors that looks absolutely stunning. There is a silent shootout on a subway train. The film also introduces Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King, one of the franchise’s best characters.
The ending of Chapter 2 is one of the boldest finishes in action movie history. Without spoiling it, the final scene sets up Chapter 3 in a way that makes you want to immediately start watching the next film.
Best moment: The mirror room fight, which is as much art as it is action.
Ranked 1st: John Wick Chapter 4 (2023)
Rating: 9.4/10 | Runtime: 169 minutes | Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | Box Office: $440 Million
Chapter 4 is the best action film of the past decade and one of the greatest action films ever made. That is not an exaggeration.
John is done running. He wants to destroy the High Table, the shadowy organization that controls the entire assassin world. To do it he must challenge their newest and most powerful representative, the cruel Marquis played by Bill Skarsgård, to a formal duel. Win the duel and John earns his freedom forever.
Standing in his way is his old friend Caine, played by Donnie Yen, a blind assassin who is arguably John’s equal in combat. Watching two old friends forced to fight each other gives Chapter 4 a genuine emotional weight that the earlier films never quite reached.
The action sequences in this film are on a completely different level. There is a nightclub fight in Berlin that uses fire and water in ways you have never seen before. There is a sequence filmed from directly overhead like a video game that is simply breathtaking. And the final duel on the steps of a Paris church at sunrise is one of the most beautiful and emotional action scenes ever filmed.
At nearly three hours long, Chapter 4 should feel exhausting. Instead it feels like it flies by.
Best moment: The overhead apartment building fight in Paris, which needs to be seen to be believed.
Quick Rankings at a Glance
| Rank | Film | Year | Our Rating |
| 1st | John Wick Chapter 4 | 2023 | 9.4/10 |
| 2nd | John Wick Chapter 2 | 2017 | 9.0/10 |
| 3rd | John Wick (Original) | 2014 | 8.8/10 |
| 4th | John Wick Chapter 3 | 2019 | 8.2/10 |
Final Thoughts
The John Wick franchise is proof that action movies do not have to be lazy or brainless to be entertaining. Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves built something genuinely special over the course of four films, and the fact that the series gets better with each installment is almost unheard of in Hollywood.
Whether you are new to the franchise or thinking about rewatching it, there has never been a better time to sit down with these films. Four movies. Zero bad ones. That is the John Wick legacy.
Have a favorite John Wick film or scene? Drop it in the comments below and let us know. And check out more of our movie reviews and recommendations right here on Todayblogz.
(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions About John Wick
Do I need to watch John Wick in order?
Yes, absolutely. Each film picks up right where the last one ended. If you start from Chapter 3 or 4 without watching the earlier films you will miss important story details and the emotional payoff will not hit the same way. Start from the beginning and watch them back to back if you can.
Why does John Wick get so angry over a dog?
This is probably the most asked question about the first film. The dog was not just a pet. It was the last gift from John’s wife who had just passed away. She arranged for the puppy to be delivered to him after her death so he would have something to love and care for. When the dog was killed it was not just an act of cruelty, it was the destruction of his last emotional connection to the person he loved most. That is why his reaction makes complete sense.
Is John Wick suitable for kids?
No. All four films are rated R and contain heavy violence, strong language, and very intense action sequences. These are adult films made for mature audiences.
Which John Wick film is the best for a first-time viewer?
Start with the original 2014 film. It is the shortest, the most focused, and a perfect introduction to the world. If you enjoy it, the remaining three films will feel like rewards for finishing the first one.
Is John Wick 5 happening?
Reports as of 2025 suggest that Lionsgate is developing a fifth installment, though no official confirmation has been made about whether Keanu Reeves will return. A spinoff film called Ballerina starring Ana de Armas was released in 2025 and is set within the same world.
Where can I watch all John Wick films?
All four John Wick films are available to rent or buy on major platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play. They are also available on Peacock for streaming.
