Looking for a charismatic and dynamic film character who is the first of a franchise that features a “central boogeyman character” that cannot be defeated, similar to the horror franchises of the ’80s.
John Wick is a thrilling American media franchise owned by Lionsgate, which follows the story of a retired hitman named John Wick, created by screenwriter Derek Kolstad. Portrayed by Keanu Reeves, John’s peaceful life is shattered when a gang breaks into his home, steals his car, and kills the puppy his late wife had given him. Seeking revenge, he delves back into the criminal underworld.
The franchise has gained immense popularity by releasing video games, comic books, and films. The series has become a favorite among action fans, with four highly successful films. To fully appreciate the thrilling journey of John Wick, it’s best to watch the John Wick movies in order.
Each installment has exceeded expectations at the box office, with the fourth being so exceptional that it lit the green light for a sequel and a spinoff. So, if you haven’t watched it already join us as we dive into the world of assassins and hitmen by watching all the John Wick movies in order of events and timelines.
In this article, we will provide you with the complete order of John Wick movies and briefly overview each film.
How to watch John Wick movies in order of events
- John Wick (2014)
- John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
- John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
- Ballerina (2024)
- John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
- John Wick: Chapter 5 (TBA)
John Wick (2014)
John Wick is an American action thriller directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch. The film stars Keanu Reeves as John Wick, a retired hitman/assassin seeking vengeance for the death of his beloved dog, which was a gift from his late wife.
After his wife’s death, John Wick retired from his job as an assassin and lived a peaceful life. However, when a group of Russian gangsters break into his house, steal his car and kill his dog, John is pulled back into the world of assassins and revenge.
John learns that the gangsters are part of the Russian mob and are led by Viggo Tarasov, the father of the man John worked for. Viggo is willing to do anything to protect his son, but John is determined to have his revenge.
As John hunts down the men responsible for his dog’s death, he encounters other hitmen and assassins, all of whom are determined to stop him. But John is a skilled killer who will stop at nothing to get revenge. The film ends with John finally getting his revenge and walking away, but it is clear that he has not yet escaped his violent past.
Learn here how you can watch John Wick. It is the first of John Wick movies in order.
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
In John Wick: Chapter 2, the titular character is approached by Santino D’Antonio, an Italian crime lord, who calls upon a blood oath that John made to him in the past. John reluctantly agrees to assassinate Santino’s sister, Gianna, who holds a position of power within a rival crime organization.
After completing the task, John is double-crossed by Santino, who puts a bounty on his head, making him a target for every hitman in the city. John fights his way out of numerous dangerous situations, including a high-speed car chase, a shootout in a subway station, and brutal hand-to-hand combat with fellow assassin Cassian.
Ultimately, John seeks out the High Table, a council of powerful crime lords who control the underworld, and demands release from his blood oath. The council refuses, and John is forced to go on the run, with his survival uncertain as the film ends.
Learn here how you can watch John Wick: Chapter 2. It is the second of John Wick movies in order.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
In “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” the ex-hitman John Wick is on the run after being declared “excommunicado” by the High Table, a powerful organization that controls the world’s assassins. With a $14 million bounty on his head, Wick must fight through waves of assassins to reach the High Table’s leader and plead for his life.
Wick seeks help from a former colleague, Sofia, who reluctantly agrees to assist him in exchange for a favor. Together, they fight through the streets of New York City, encountering various foes, including an assassin known as Zero and his team of skilled fighters.
Meanwhile, the Adjudicator of the High Table arrives in New York City to punish those who helped Wick in the previous film. She targets the Bowery King, a powerful figure in the city’s criminal underworld, and his network of homeless people who aided Wick in his escape.
Wick eventually makes his way to the High Table’s leader, the Elder, who gives him a choice to either die or complete an impossible task. After completing the job, Wick is given a chance to start a new life, but he decides to continue on his path of vengeance against those who wronged him.
Learn here how you can watch John Wick: Chapter 3. It is the third of John Wick movies in order.
Ballerina (2024)
Ballerina is a forthcoming action thriller in America, directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten and Emerald Fennell, based on Hatten’s story.
It’s the first spin-off of the John Wick franchise and stars Ana de Armas, Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves, Lance Reddick, and Anjelica Huston.
The movie follows ballerina-assassin Rooney, played by Armas, as she seeks revenge against those who killed her family.
The movie is set to be released on June 7, 2024.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
In John Wick: Chapter 4, the eponymous assassin seeks revenge against the High Table while hiding with the Bowery King in New York City. He travels to Morocco and kills the Elder, resulting in the High Table dispatching Marquis Vincent de Gramont to find and kill him.
De Gramont strips Winston of his duties as the New York Continental hotel manager, destroys the hotel and executes Charon. John seeks refuge in Osaka and faces off against High Table assassins and Caine, a blind, retired High Table assassin enlisted by De Gramont to kill him.
After fighting through multiple battles, John returns to New York and invokes an old High Table tradition to challenge De Gramont to a duel. With the help of allies, including the Bowery King, John faces off against De Gramont and ultimately kills him.
The Harbinger grants John and Caine their freedom from the High Table, and Winston is reinstated as a hotel manager.
However, John dies from his injuries, and a vengeful Akira approaches Caine in a post-credits scene. It is the fourth of John Wick movies in order of release dates but will be the fifth in the John Wick’s universe.
John Wick: Chapter 5 (TBA)
In August 2020, it was announced that John Wick’s Chapter 4 and 5 would be filmed back-to-back.
However, that plan still needs to materialize. After the end of Chapter 4, it was assumed that there would be no more movies. However, Lionsgate chair Joe Drake has said a fifth movie is possible.
He stated that there is a will and an openness to the idea, and the ending of Chapter 4 can be interpreted in various ways.
Drake also mentioned that Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski are very cautious about maintaining the audience’s trust, so they will work hard to ensure the movie meets expectations.
Although there is no guarantee, the team will take a break before exploring ideas for the fifth installment.
All John Wick movies in order of release dates
Here are the John Wick films in the order they were released.
- John Wick — October 24, 2014
- John Wick: Chapter 2 — February 10, 2017
- John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum — May 17, 2019
- John Wick: Chapter 4 — March 24, 2023
- Ballerina — 2024
- John Wick: Chapter 5 — TBA
How many John Wick movies are there?
The John Wick movie franchise comprises four movies, starting with the first release of John Wick, followed by its sequels: John Wick: Chapter 2, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and John Wick: Chapter 4.
A spin-off of the series called Ballerina is currently in production and set to be released in 2024. There are also talks about a potential sequel, John Wick: Chapter 5.
Is John Wick based on a true story?
The John Wick story is not based on a true story but was loosely inspired by an incident involving former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, as per IMDb
Luttrell wrote a book called Lone Survivor about his fire team’s experience during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan in 2005. After the ordeal, Luttrell was given a yellow Labrador puppy, which he named DASY after the initials of the members of his fireteam.
While John Wick’s story is not a direct adaptation of Luttrell’s experiences, it draws on some of the themes and emotions Luttrell experienced after losing his friends in combat.
Wrap up
In conclusion, the complete order of John Wick movies is as follows: John Wick (2014), John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).
Each movie builds on the previous one, providing viewers with an action-packed thrill ride. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the John Wick movies.
