The first reviews for the much-anticipated action movie bonanza that isJohn Wick: Chapter 4are now in – and it continues to look like the hitman’s decision to come back again was well worth it. The latest outing in theJohn Wicksaga has debuted at 88% onRotten Tomatoes(no, Rotten Tomatoes is not the be-all-end-all but it at least gives us some idea) with critics loving the epic fourth adventure of Keanu Reeves’ unstoppable assassin.
We begin with MovieWeb’s own Matthew Mahler,who praisesJohn Wick: Chapter 4for reflecting “all that is exciting, gripping, and joyous”about the action genre, and felt that the sequel acts as the perfect epilogue.
“The film almost exists in its own universe, separate from the breathless and relentless trilogy of the first three films, and able to stand alone as a kind of epic epilogue.”
The applause continues courtesy of Variety’s Owen Gleiberman, who likensJohn Wick: Chapter 4to a spaghetti Western.
““Chapter 4” feels like the first “John Wick” movie that wants to be a Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western. It’s like Sergio Leone crossed with John Woo as seen in Times Square.”
John Wick: Chapter 4has the longest runtime of all the installments so far, and while some have found this a little trying, others have heaped praise on the epic scope. As Ian Sandwell of Digital Spy puts it…
“John Wick: Chapter 4 is an epic in every sense of the word: epic in length, epic in scale and epic in thrills. Not bad for a series that started out with a hitman avenging his dead puppy.”
Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly meanwhile wonders how such a long action movie can possibly work as well asJohn Wick: Chapter 4does.
“How does nearly three hours of wham-bam noise and nonsense, unmitigated by any meaningful plot, work as well as it does?”
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John Wick: Chapter 4 Casts a Shadow Over Other Action Movies
While some were not as enamored withJohn Wick: Chapter 4, The Guardian’s Charles Bramesco calls it a “lumbering, stultifying gargantua of a film” while Derek Smith of Slant Magazine states that the sequel “proves that John Wick is doomed to further Marvelization,” the celebrations continue courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck who says…
“As the title character says: “Yeah!"”
Jacob Hall of Slashfilm found much to enjoywatching Baba Yaga once again taking out fellow assassins, and pities other action movie outings.
“Every other Hollywood action movie should be ashamed of itself.”
Finally, IGN’s Tom Jorgensen givesJohn Wick: Chapter 4a perfect score of 10/10 and heaps praise on Keanu Reeves and the incredible action on display.
“Led by a committed Keanu Reeves, John Wick: Chapter 4’s incredibly staged set pieces, engaging ensemble, and stylish production design coalesce into a modern action masterclass.”
Directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch,John Wick: Chapter 4finds the titular assassin uncovering a path to defeating the High Table, but before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into new foes.
Starring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, and Ian McShane,John Wick: Chapter 4is scheduled to be theatrically released on June 04, 2025.
