The John Wick franchise, created by Derek Kolstad and directed by Chad Stahelski, stars Keanu Reeves as a legendary retired hitman who is reluctantly pulled back into the criminal underworld. Spanning four films—John Wick (2014), Chapter 2 (2017), Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), and Chapter 4 (2023)—the series has grossed over $1 billion worldwide and is widely regarded as one of the greatest action film series of all time. The franchise has expanded with spin-offs like the prequel miniseries The Continental (2023) and the upcoming feature Ballerina (2025), produced under the oversight of Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk, and Erica Lee through Lionsgate, 87North Productions, and Thunder Road Films. The original plot sees Wick return to violence after Russian gangsters kill the puppy gifted by his late wife, while later chapters pit him against the shadowy High Table across global locations. Notably, Chapter 4 faced production delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Reeves' commitment to The Matrix Resurrections, finally releasing in March 2023 with new cast members such as Donnie Yen and Bill Skarsgård.