John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Last updated:
May 23, 2025

John Wick: Chapter 4 continues the relentless saga of the legendary hitman portrayed by Keanu Reeves. Directed by Chad Stahelski, the film expands the lore, introduces new characters, and pushes the boundaries of action choreography even further. It is arguably the most epic and operatic entry in the series, packed with brutal elegance, philosophical undertones, and a haunting sense of finality.

Detailed Summary

The Global Manhunt Begins

After the events of Chapter 3 – Parabellum, John Wick is once again on the run. He’s hunted by the High Table for violating their sacred rules. At the start of Chapter 4, he’s recovering underground with the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), who provides him with new weapons and a tailored suit.

John is determined to destroy the High Table, not just run from it. His journey takes him from the underground tunnels of New York to the deserts of Morocco, where he exacts revenge on the Elder—the enigmatic figure who sits above the High Table—by putting a bullet in his head.

Marquis de Gramont and the New Antagonist

To stamp out Wick’s rebellion, the High Table appoints a sadistic and calculating emissary: Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård). Gramont is ruthless and political. He eliminates those who help John, including burning down the Continental Hotel in New York and executing Winston’s loyal concierge, Charon (played by the late Lance Reddick, in one of his final roles).

Gramont also manipulates a blind assassin and old friend of John’s, Caine (Donnie Yen), into hunting him. Caine is a father who wants to protect his daughter, and Gramont exploits this by threatening her safety unless Caine complies.

Osaka Showdown and New Allies

John flees to the Osaka Continental in Japan, run by Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), another old ally. Here, he fights off an army of Table assassins. The sequence blends samurai swordplay, bows, and John’s brutal gun-fu in a dazzling, neon-lit battle.

Koji is eventually killed by Caine, but his daughter, Akira (Rina Sawayama), survives and vows revenge. Akira becomes a potential legacy character for the franchise, and her exit is left deliberately open-ended.

Duel to End It All: Wick’s Gambit

John eventually travels to Berlin and gets reinstated into his former family—the Ruska Roma—so that he can challenge Gramont to a duel under the ancient rules of the High Table. The duel would grant him freedom if he wins.

But the path to the duel is steep. John must kill a High Table member, Killa Harkan (Scott Adkins), a grotesque crime boss in a fat suit who controls part of the underworld in Berlin. This scene plays out like a video game boss fight—stylized, brutal, and laced with dark humor.

The Climax in Paris

The duel is set to take place in Paris at sunrise, on the steps of Sacré-Cœur Basilica. But Gramont has no intention of playing fair. He places a multimillion-dollar bounty on John’s head, triggering every assassin in the city.

What follows is one of the most thrilling action sequences in recent film history: a frantic journey through the Arc de Triomphe, a bird’s-eye view shootout in an abandoned building, and finally, a relentless climb up the 222 steps to Sacré-Cœur, with John constantly being pushed down, injured, and ambushed.

Winston, who has agreed to act as John’s second, helps him strategize. Caine, still bound by duty to Gramont, is chosen as Gramont’s champion in the duel.

Movie Ending (Spoilers)

The duel begins at sunrise. Each man gets a single-shot pistol and must fire at ten paces. After a few rounds, both are bleeding, especially John. In the final round, Caine shoots John. But John does not return fire.

Instead, Gramont smugly steps in to deliver the final blow, violating the rules by taking John’s place without having fired a shot himself. But John had saved his last bullet—he shoots Gramont in the head, killing him instantly.

Winston confirms that John’s actions were within the rules. As per the High Table’s code, John is now free.

John, however, succumbs to his injuries. He walks down the steps, sits, and looks at the rising sun. He whispers his wife Helen’s name, then collapses. The next scene shows Winston and the Bowery King at his grave, next to Helen’s, with the epitaph: “Loving Husband.” Whether John actually dies or fakes his death is left open to interpretation, but all signs suggest this was his final chapter.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes, there is a post-credits scene.

In the scene, Akira approaches Caine in Paris as he visits his daughter. Akira pulls out a blade, walking toward him with murderous intent—presumably to avenge her father. The scene cuts before we see what happens.

This sets up a possible spin-off or continuation involving Akira and Caine.

Type of Movie

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a neo-noir action thriller with elements of martial arts, gun-fu, and revenge drama. It blends high-concept fight choreography with stylized cinematography and mythic storytelling.

Cast

Keanu Reeves as John Wick
Donnie Yen as Caine
Bill Skarsgård as Marquis Vincent de Gramont
Ian McShane as Winston
Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King
Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu Koji
Rina Sawayama as Akira
Scott Adkins as Killa Harkan
Lance Reddick as Charon

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard, continuing their work from the previous films. The soundtrack balances electronic, orchestral, and rock elements, perfectly matching the film’s stylized brutality.

Filming Locations

Paris, France – The Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and Sacré-Cœur Basilica feature heavily. These historic landmarks enhance the mythic, operatic scale of the story.
Berlin, Germany – The techno club scene was shot here.
Osaka, Japan – While most of it was recreated on set, the Japanese aesthetic heavily influences the Continental’s design.
New York City, USA – The story begins here and ties back to earlier chapters.

These locations aren’t just exotic backdrops—they reinforce the global scope and the labyrinthine network of the assassin underworld.

Awards and Nominations

Nominated for several technical awards, including Best Stunt Ensemble at the SAG Awards.
Praised at the MTV Movie & TV Awards for Best Fight Scene.
No Oscar nominations, but it received universal acclaim for action and choreography.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Keanu Reeves trained for months in jiu-jitsu, judo, and weapons handling.
Donnie Yen improvised much of Caine’s fighting style to reflect his blindness and elegance.
The stairway scene in Paris took seven nights to film and involved dozens of stunt performers.
Director Chad Stahelski was once Keanu Reeves’ stunt double on The Matrix.
Over 14 action sequences were storyboarded with input from martial arts experts.

Inspirations and References

Heavy influence from samurai films like Seven Samurai and spaghetti westerns like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Visual style pays homage to classic noir, especially in use of lighting and color.
The dueling rules are inspired by historical European codes of honor and Bushido ethics.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

A longer version of the post-credits scene exists, showing more of Akira and Caine.
An alternate cut reportedly showed John surviving more definitively, but was dropped to preserve narrative weight.
Several action sequences were trimmed to avoid a three-and-a-half-hour runtime.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There are no official books the movie is based on, but a John Wick comic series and lore guides exist. The movie is not a book adaptation but builds its own universe with deep mythological references.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The Osaka Continental battle.
The staircase fight in Paris.
The duel at Sacré-Cœur.
The dog-assisted escape scene with Mr. Nobody.

Iconic Quotes

John Wick: “Those who cling to death live longer.”
Marquis: “You were a ghost in the system. I gave you a face to kill.”
Caine: “Friendship means little when it’s a choice between you or my daughter.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The dog used by Mr. Nobody is a Belgian Malinois, a callback to the dogs in Chapter 3.
The phrase “Si vis pacem, para bellum” appears subtly again.
The Bowery King references The Warriors when rallying John.

Trivia

Keanu Reeves performed 90% of his own stunts.
The film has over 14,000 rounds of ammunition used in total.
Stahelski and Reeves have stated this might be their last John Wick film.
Lance Reddick’s scenes were filmed shortly before his sudden passing.

Why Watch?

If you love high-octane action, gorgeous cinematography, and characters that feel like mythic archetypes, John Wick: Chapter 4 is unmissable. It’s a masterclass in action filmmaking, blending emotion, choreography, and visual poetry in a way few franchises can match.