John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Movie · 2023 · Action, Thriller, Crime · 2h 50m · R · English

Curator score: 7.9/10 (1.4M ratings)

No way back, one way out.

Overview

With the price on his head ever increasing, John Wick uncovers 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 foes.

Ratings

Director

Chad Stahelski

Production

Thunder Road, 87Eleven, Studio Babelsberg, Lionsgate

Cast

Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Lance Reddick, Clancy Brown, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Aimée Kwan, Marko Zaror, Natalia Tena, Shamier Anderson, George Georgiou, Yoshinori Tashiro, Hishofuji Hiroki, Daiki Suzuki, Julia Asuka Riedl, Milena Rendón

Where to watch

Max

Curator Review

Verdict

A maximalist, beautifully staged action sequel that turns gun-fu into visual spectacle. It’s long and occasionally repetitive, but the choreography, world-building, and sheer confidence make it a standout for action fans.

Best for

  • Viewers who want top-tier action choreography
  • Fans of stylized neo-noir crime worlds
  • People who enjoy long, escalating set pieces
  • Audiences who like sleek, highly visual filmmaking

Skip if

  • You want tight pacing over extended run time
  • You dislike hyper-stylized violence
  • You prefer grounded, realistic action
  • You’re not interested in franchise mythology

Overview

John Wick: Chapter 4 is the franchise at its most operatic, taking the series’ clean, brutal action grammar and stretching it across a globe-trotting revenge saga. The movie understands that the appeal is not just the kills, but the rhythm of movement, the clarity of geography, and the elegance of each escalation. It’s a rare blockbuster that treats action as choreography first and plot second, without losing its sense of momentum.

Worth noting

What makes it work is the precision: every fight has a distinct texture, every location feels designed for combat, and the film keeps finding new ways to turn architecture, costume, and camera placement into part of the spectacle. The result is both absurd and exhilarating, with a playful streak that keeps the violence from feeling monotonous.

Bottom line

It is also, by design, a very long victory lap. If the franchise’s mythic seriousness and repeated cycles of pursuit don’t appeal to you, this one won’t convert you. But for viewers who want action cinema as pure craft and escalation, it’s one of the most satisfying entries in modern studio filmmaking.

Top Letterboxd reviews

Dakota Joaquin (5★) · 19818 likes

I can’t wait to finally lose my virginity so I can say that this was better than sex

Hank (5★) · 13557 likes

John Wick's biggest enemy was those damn stairs

Patrick Willems (4★) · 11355 likes

Everyone is trying to rip off the way John Wick movies do action but I wish they would also try to rip off the way John Wick movies are really pretty and lit extremely well

Framesofnick (5★) · 8283 likes

Me and my best friend ending our 14 year long recess war story

Joe A (5★) · 7229 likes

I’ve seen God tonight and his name is John Wick.

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Topics

action thriller, neo-noir, gun-fu, stylized violence, revenge saga, crime underworld, high-octane, choreography, slick visuals, franchise spectacle

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