John Wick: Chapter 4 Review: Is This the Greatest Action Sequel Ever Made?

Movie: John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Director: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, and Ian McShane
Spoiler Level: Minor spoilers

Some action movies give you a few exciting fights and call it a day. John Wick: Chapter 4 looks at that idea, laughs, and then delivers nearly three hours of beautifully choreographed chaos.

Keanu Reeves returns as the legendary assassin, and this time, the stakes feel bigger than ever. With stunning locations, creative gunfights, and an emotional story about freedom, the fourth chapter tries to do something difficult: make an already successful franchise feel even more spectacular.

But does it actually deliver, or is this a case of more action simply meaning more of the same?

Let’s find out.

What Is John Wick: Chapter 4 About?

After challenging the High Table repeatedly, John Wick searches for a way to finally escape the criminal underworld.

Unfortunately, the powerful Marquis Vincent de Gramont is determined to eliminate him and restore the High Table’s authority. John must travel across several countries, face dangerous assassins, and find a way to win his freedom.

Among his most dangerous opponents is Caine, a blind assassin played by Donnie Yen. Their complicated relationship adds a personal layer to the action, making the conflict more interesting than a simple battle between good and evil.

The story eventually leads to a formal duel in Paris, where John gets one final opportunity to change his future.

The Action Is Absolutely Insane

Let’s be honest: people don’t watch John Wick movies for quiet conversations about financial planning.

They come for the action, and Chapter 4 delivers some of the best in the franchise.

The Osaka Continental sequence combines guns, swords, and close-quarters combat into an intense battle. Later, an overhead sequence featuring incendiary shotgun ammunition transforms a building into something resembling a violent video game.

And then there’s the Paris sequence involving the enormous staircase. Watching John repeatedly struggle to reach the top is both hilarious and painful. The man can defeat dozens of assassins, but apparently, gravity remains undefeated.

What makes these scenes work is their clarity. You can follow the movement, understand the danger, and appreciate how much physical effort each encounter requires.

Keanu Reeves Is Still the Perfect John Wick

Reeves doesn’t need long speeches to make John compelling. His expressions, movements, and quiet determination tell most of the story.

John is exhausted, wounded, and increasingly desperate to escape his violent existence. That emotional weight prevents the character from becoming just another action hero who never seems affected by anything.

Donnie Yen is another major highlight. Caine brings elegance, humor, and genuine danger to the screen. His fighting style feels distinct, and his personal motivations create one of the movie’s most compelling relationships.

Bill Skarsgård also makes the Marquis an entertaining antagonist. He’s arrogant, calculating, and convinced that wealth and authority put him above everyone else.

The World-Building Makes Everything Feel Bigger

One of the franchise’s greatest strengths is its strange criminal society, complete with hotels, traditions, mysterious rules, and powerful organizations.

Chapter 4 expands that world through locations such as Osaka, Berlin, and Paris. Each place adds a different atmosphere, while the elaborate costumes, production design, and music give the film a distinctive identity.

However, the world-building can occasionally feel excessive. The High Table’s rules sometimes become so complicated that you might wonder whether these assassins need a rulebook, a lawyer, or both.

Still, the mythology gives the franchise an identity beyond its gunfights.

Where John Wick: Chapter 4 Falls Short

The biggest issue is the runtime. At around 169 minutes, the film is long, and some action sequences continue after you’ve already understood how dangerous John is.

The story also relies heavily on familiar franchise elements: another powerful enemy, another group of assassins, and another attempt to escape the same criminal system.

Viewers looking for complicated character development or a tightly paced thriller may find the experience repetitive.

But the action is so inventive, and the performances are so entertaining, that these weaknesses rarely ruin the experience.

Is John Wick: Chapter 4 the Greatest Action Sequel Ever Made?

It has a very strong argument.

The movie takes the franchise’s signature style and expands it without completely losing its emotional core. Its inventive choreography, confident direction, memorable supporting characters, and striking visuals make it one of the most ambitious modern action sequels.

Is it objectively the greatest? That’s impossible to settle. Movies like Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Dark Knight make that competition extremely difficult.

But Chapter 4 absolutely belongs in the conversation.

Final Verdict: 9/10

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a spectacular action sequel that rewards fans with breathtaking fights, memorable characters, and a surprisingly emotional conclusion. It occasionally overstays its welcome, but when the action is this good, it’s hard to complain for long.

If you love stylish action movies, this one deserves a place near the top of your watchlist.