Ten years ago this month, the son of a Russian crime boss stole a car and killed a puppy belonging to a grieving man. Little did they know that the man, John Wick, was once the most feared hit man, with many referring to him as “The Boogeyman.” Hellbent on revenge, John comes out of retirement and gets back to his violent lifestyle.
John Wick became a sleeper hit, as it revitalized Keanu Reeves’ career, established Chad Stahelski as an excellent director, and kicked off a successful franchise. The John Wick films have come to be known for intricate action sequences and excellent fight choreography. Some of these scenes are truly jaw-dropping. For its 10th anniversary, here we rank the seven best action scenes in the John Wick franchise.
7. John fights Cassian in John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
A stroll down the Italian streets transforms into a one-on-one fight between John and Cassian (Common). Against his better judgment, John honors his marker to crime boss Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) by killing Santino’s sister, Gianna (Claudia Gerini). As he tries to escape, John runs into Gianna’s bodyguard, Cassian, and the two engage in combat. John flees to the catacombs, where he’s double-crossed by Santino and his henchmen.
In the John Wick franchise, when one problem ends, another one begins. John might have escaped the catacombs, but he’s met by Cassian shortly after. The two fight throughout the streets of Rome before crashing into the Rome Continental, where they abruptly end their fight due to the rules. While not the best sequence, the highlight is the conversation at the bar. Despite wanting to kill each other, John and Cassian respect each other and the rules so much that they can put aside their differences and share a drink. Politicians should take note.
6. The knife shop fight in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
The John Wick franchise is best known for its gun fu sequences. However, the knife shop sequence in John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum is a terrific change of pace, backed by hand-to-hand combat and excellent fight choreography. After being labeled “excommunicado” by the High Table, John becomes the top target for all hitmen.
To survive, John must procure weapons, and he needs them fast. The titular hitman finds his way toward an antique arms shop. John quickly realizes that being incommunicado means everyone is after him and there’s nowhere to hide. Without a gun, John turns toward the next best thing: knives. This scene is pure comedy, as John throws knives like he’s in a snowball fight.
5. The hall of mirrors in John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
Walking into a funhouse is bad enough. It’s a confusing room that breeds claustrophobia. Now imagine if assassins were also trying to kill you. That’s the hall of mirrors scene in John Wick: Chapter 2. After seeking refuge from the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), John heads to an art museum to kill Santino.
What John didn’t expect was to fight in a house of horrors. Surrounded by mirrors on every side, John faces his biggest challenge to date. It’s one of the best-choreographed scenes in the franchise, considering the various reflections of John and the henchmen add an element of suspense. It’s a clever scene that leads to a memorable ending.
4. Home invasion in John Wick (2014)
In the first act of John Wick, the titular assassin is retired. The audience has heard about “Baba Yaga,” but they never saw him in action until now. After beating his son Iosef (Alfie Allen) for stealing John’s car and killing his puppy, Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist) reaches out to make amends to John. Unfortunately for Viggo, John has heard enough. He recovers his weapons, showers, puts on his suit, and prepares for battle.
The ensuing four minutes are chaotic, loud, and violent, as John eliminates the hit squad sent to his house. This scene sets the tone for what’s to come: John is the best assassin, and anything is possible with a gun in his hands. The home invasion was also an appetizer for Stahelski’s action prowess, which only improved with each movie.
3. The Osaka Continental in John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
This article could have included seven scenes from John Wick: Chapter 4. That’s how great the action is in the fourth John Wick installment. Twenty years from now, Chapter 4 could be considered the gold standard for action movies. From the direction and fight choreography to the creativity and visual style, John Wick: Chapter 4 is a masterclass in action filmmaking.
The first major set piece in Chapter 4 occurs in Japan. After killing the Elder, John seeks refuge from his friend Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada) at the Osaka Continental. High Table member Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont (The Crow‘s Bill Skarsgård) sends his goons and Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind and retired assassin, to kill John. Once Koji refuses to give John up, the action begins. Hands, guns, bows, arrows, swords, etc. If it can be used as a weapon, someone will do it. Just when you think it’s over, more henchmen go after John before they meet their demise. That happens multiple times, too. By the time John leaves Osaka, you’ll need an inhaler to catch your breath.
2. The Red Circle shootout in John Wick (2014)
If the home invasion is considered the appetizer, then the Red Circle shootout is the main course. After John defeats Viggo’s hit squad, John heads to the Continental while a cleanup crew disposes of the bodies. John learns from Winston (Ian McShane), the Continental’s owner, that Iosef is staying at a nightclub, the Red Circle.
Once John tells the bouncer to take the night off, he heads into the club and wreaks absolute havoc. As John chases Iosef, he must get past several assassins in a nightclub full of drunk partygoers. The bass-heavy music pounds your heart, and the flashing lights do a number on your brain. Nevertheless, John’s accuracy is impeccable as he shows off his elite gunwork and hand-to-hand skills. This is the scene that made John Wick an instant classic.
1. The Sacré Coeur stair fight in John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Only one scene could be the best, and it’s the one that takes place on a famous staircase in Paris. John is in Paris for a duel at sunrise with de Gramont in front of the Sacré Coeur Basilica. John must reach the duel on time, or he will be executed. Gramont puts a $40 million bounty on John’s head, hoping someone will kill him before the duel. John finally reaches the bottom of Sacré Coeur and must climb over 220 steps. There’s only one problem: every remaining assassin converges on the steps.
Then, John Wick shoots, punches, and kills his way to the top. Step by step and kill by kill, John reaches the top, only to be thrown back down to the bottom. John tumbling back down the stairs got an audible gasp in my theater. Like the Avengers coming out of the portal in Endgame, Caine comes to assist John, and the two hit men ascend the steps and kill every person in their path. It’s truly the crowning achievement of the franchise.
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