Ranking the John Wick films by their intensity: Which film delivers the most brutal blows?
In the world of action movies, the John Wick series has made a significant impact, with each instalment pushing the boundaries of cinematic violence and style. However, it seems that the original John Wick movie, released in 2014, holds a special place among fans and critics alike.
John Wick, a gritty revenge story executed by a heartbroken hitman, introduced the character of John Wick and set a new standard for action movies. It boasts an impressive 76% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, a rating that is considered reasonable and higher than the spinoff, Ballerina, which scored around 75%-76% initially but has seen some decline. Despite this, Ballerina enjoys a very high audience score of 93%-94%.
John Wick: Chapter 2, released in 2017, technically established John Wick as the ultimate killer in Hollywood. The film, which includes a notable mirror room fight and a brutal pencil kill, features an international setting and a deep dive into the world of assassins. It also involves a double-crossing event in Rome.
The series continues with John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, released in 2019, and the much-anticipated finale, John Wick: Chapter 4, released in 2023. John Wick: Chapter 4 is said to have the most stylish send-off any assassin ever had, featuring epic shootouts and emotional goodbyes. Critics have commented that it is 'bigger, badder and bolder' than its predecessors.
Interestingly, Ana de Armas appears in Keanu Reeves' world again in the movie Ballerina. Meanwhile, Jason Statham’s “The Beekeeper,” described as a John Wick-esque film, scored 71% critics and 92% audience, which is lower than the original John Wick movie's critic score.
As the John Wick franchise comes to a close with John Wick: Chapter 4, it's clear that the series has left an indelible mark on the action genre, with the original film standing out as a critical favourite.
References:
[1] Rotten Tomatoes - Ballerina (2021) - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ballerina_2021 [2] Rotten Tomatoes - John Wick (2014) - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/john_wick_2014 [3] Rotten Tomatoes - The Continental (TV Series) - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_continental/s01 [4] Rotten Tomatoes - The Beekeeper (2021) - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_beekeeper_2021 [5] IMDb - Ballerina (2021) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9354356/ [6] IMDb - John Wick (2014) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2359926/
The original John Wick movie, released in 2014 and boasting a critic score of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, stands out as a critical favorite within the action-packed John Wick franchise, while the spinoff, Ballerina, scores around the same range initially but has seen some decline. Meanwhile, Jason Statham’s "The Beekeeper," advertised as a film in the vein of John Wick, gained less acclaim with a 71% critic score.
