John Wick was once the most feared assassin in the criminal underworld — known as “Baba Yaga,” the Boogeyman — until he fell in love and left the life behind. After completing an “impossible task” for Russian crime lord Viggo Tarasov that cemented the Tarasov empire, Wick retired to live in peace with his beloved wife Helen. When Helen dies of a terminal illness, Wick is left alone and devastated.

Helen’s final gift arrives after her death: a beagle puppy named Daisy, along with a note urging John to find something to love again. For a brief moment, there is hope — until Iosef Tarasov, Viggo’s arrogant and reckless son, breaks into Wick’s home, steals his prized 1969 Mustang, and kills the puppy. This act of cruelty reignites the killer within.

John Wick returns to the criminal underworld with a singular, unstoppable purpose: vengeance. The Continental Hotel, the gold coins, the intricate code of assassins — the entire shadow economy of killers — becomes the backdrop for a relentless one-man war against the Tarasov organization. With extraordinarily choreographed “gun-fu” combat that blends martial arts with tactical shooting, John Wick revitalized the action genre and launched one of the most successful modern franchises.

Director & Cast

Director: Chad Stahelski — a former stuntman and stunt coordinator (he was Keanu Reeves’ stunt double in The Matrix) who brought an unparalleled understanding of physical action to his directorial debut.

Cast: Keanu Reeves as John Wick, Michael Nyqvist as Viggo Tarasov, Alfie Allen as Iosef Tarasov, Willem Dafoe as Marcus, Adrianne Palicki as Ms. Perkins, and Ian McShane as Winston.

Behind the Scenes

Keanu Reeves trained for months in judo, jiu-jitsu, and tactical firearms, performing approximately 90% of his own stunts. The film’s “gun-fu” fighting style became its signature, combining close-quarters combat with precise gunplay in long, unbroken takes. Made on a modest $20 million budget, it grossed over $86 million and spawned three sequels.