Keanu Reeves stars as John Wick, a legendary hitman who comes out of retirement to seek revenge against the men who killed his dog, a final gift from his recently deceased wife.

The film also stars Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, and Willem Dafoe.

[11] Clarke Peters portrays Harry, a hitman;[24][25] Kevin Nash appears as Francis, a bouncer at the Red Circle night club;[26] and Munro M. Bonnell plays a corrupt priest protecting Viggo's vault beneath a church.

[6][32][33] The script included elements such as John's long-deceased wife, his elderly dog, the Continental, Charon, Winston, and the underworld gold coins; it had a kill count of 11 compared to the film's several dozen.

[42] Iwanyk read Kolstad's spec script, appreciating its subversive tone and emotional throughline, as well as the relatability and accessibility of a man seeking revenge after losing his wife, his dog, and his car; and his home being violated.

[33][42] Kolstad received multiple offers for the script, but his agent advised him to consider the lowest bid from Iwanyk because Thunder Road Films was ready to start work immediately.

Although filming there cost millions more than alternatives such as Baton Rouge, Chicago, and Detroit, Iwanyk said "if I shoot [John Wick] with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background, it feels like a big movie".

[76][90] Budget constraints meant some ideas were abandoned to prioritize financing for the location or departments such as art design and music deemed instrumental to creating the world of John Wick.

[91][92][93] Stahelski described the crime thriller Point Blank (1967) as a significant influence, as well as the classic visual composition of films from the period 1960–1990, including Le Cercle Rouge (1970) and The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)—a comedy in which hired killers pursue the central character.

[i] They also drew on Akira Kurosawa's style of holding on the composition,[51][54] John Woo's use of wide shots and multi-opponent combat in films such as The Killer (1989),[92][94] and spaghetti westerns by Sergio Leone.

[87][96] Further influences were drawn from the works of the director Quentin Tarantino;[51][92] graphic novels;[72][95] and action films such as Police Story (1985), Armour of God, Lethal Weapon (both 1987), Die Hard (1988), and The Matrix (1999).

Production designer Dan Leigh emphasized the visual transformation of the underworld, stating that it transcends reality with unique lighting, atmospheric textures, and unexpected elements scattered throughout.

[113] Scenes at The Red Circle nightclub were filmed at Surrogate's Courthouse (exterior), Edison Theatre (club interior), and Aire Ancient Baths (below-ground spa).

[119] Challenges arose during the club sequence due to incorrect gear acquisitions, including a holster that impeded Reeves's ability to draw his gun and the use of a silencer attachment that proved impractical.

[71][115] Filming also took place at Calvary Cemetery,[125] a gas station in Upper Nyack,[126] Republic Airport,[127] Manhattan Bridge, Schaefer Landing, and Bethesda Terrace and Fountain.

Stahelski wanted the action to be an integral continuation of the story rather than just a set piece, while Leitch emphasized the delicate balance needed to avoid being too cheesy, serious, funny, or action-oriented.

Additionally, Reeves's recent films, such as 47 Ronin and Man of Tai Chi (both 2013), had performed poorly, even in countries where he was expected to have a strong following, such as China and Japan.

Lionsgate Films emerged as the sole bidder, offering terms that included no upfront payment and a minimal release commitment, which Iwanyk interpreted as meaning John Wick would go straight to home video.

[157] Box office analyst Scott Mendelson wrote Lionsgate's marketing campaign had taken a film with little audience awareness and generated interest by turning a "theoretical B-movie action pick-up into something of an A-level event... [and] a coronation for its iconic star [Reeves]".

[13][189][190] Some publications highlighted John Wick's deliberate avoidance of shaky camera movements and quick editing in favor of long takes that help immerse the audience in the sleek choreography, which differentiated it from other action films.

[27] While critics generally described the narrative as a self-serious, cliché-filled, and predictable action script with a stylistic approach, they said it offered a novel setting, creating intrigue related to John's past and the mythology that developed around the criminal underworld.

[w] The mythology in John Wick was identified as a key aspect that differentiated it from other action movies, particularly the codes and rules that govern the criminals, and the Continental hotel, which provided a reprieve to the otherwise non-stop violence in the rest of the film.

[x] Entertainment Weekly praised the rich and stylish world-building, and The Guardian's Jordan Hoffman hoped for future films to explore this setting, even without the John Wick characters.

[219][220][221] The book They Shouldn't Have Killed His Dog: The Complete Uncensored Ass-Kicking Oral History of John Wick, Gun Fu, and the New Age of Action (2022) by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman, provides details of the making of the film.

This creates a mythic quality around John, aligning him with characters like Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) in The Crow (1994), who, like Wick, is portrayed as a revenant figure—someone who rises from the grave, driven by an unfulfilled quest.

His likability and good deeds outside the film industry elevate John's character, making his grief over his wife, his desire for peace, and the murder of his dog resonate on a deeper, more emotional level.

[235][236] However, when figures from his past invade his life and kill Daisy, it symbolizes the destruction of the future he yearned for—forcing him back into his former violent world—and serves as sufficient justification for John's actions, in the eyes of the audience.

[229] Professor Scott T. Alison and Doctor George R. Goethal said while John has faults and is a ruthless killer, he does not have to objectively do good and his heroism is retaining his integrity against the unjust, violent criminal underworld.

[aa] In contrast, publications described John Wick as a groundbreaking entry in the action genre, in part because of its extensively choreographed sequences and practical effects that were filmed in long takes.

The publication said Reeves's iconic status contributed to the character's popularity, and that his dedication to performing many of his own stunts and learning combat techniques led to similar approaches from other actors, such as Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde and Bob Odenkirk in Nobody.