The fourth installment in the Keanu Reeves assassin series, John Wick: Chapter 4, debuted with a franchise-best US $73.5 million at the US box office, according to studio estimates on Sunday. The film also brought in US $137.5 million worldwide, bringing in the fourth installment in the Keanu Reeves assassin series.
Reeves played the reluctant-but-not-that- reluctant killer John Wick in the Lionsgate film, surpassing both expectations and previous opening weekends in the R-rated franchise. Since its first official launch in 2014 with John Wick US $14 million on its opening weekend, the Chad Stahelski-led series has steadily grown as a ticket-seller with each sequel. The follow-up opened with US $30.4 million in 2017 and the third chapter, Parabellum, opened with US $56.8 million in the year 2019.
But chapter 4, which runs two hours and 49 minutes and costs $100 million to produce, is the biggest film in the once-lean action series. Critics said it was a franchise high, scoring 95 per cent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
John Wick has been bigger at the box office with each new release of an enviable and rare path among Hollywood franchises, Chapter 4 brings some finality to Reeves' character. The actor hasn't completely dismissed continuing the series, telling interviewers never say never that the franchise is going to keep humming. A spin-off titled Ballerina starring Ana de Armas and co-starring Reeves has already been shot.
The release of John Wick: Chapter 4, which included a surprise premiere at SXSW, was bittersweet. Lance Reddick, who plays Continental Hotel concierge Charon in the films, unexpectedly died a week before the film's release at the age of 60.
The success of John Wick: Chapter 4 adds to a strong start for Hollywood in 2023. After ticket sales rebounded to 67 per cent of pre-pandemic levels last year, the release lineup has been steadier and more packed this year. Sequels have led the way, including Creed III and Scream VI.
There have been some exceptions. After its disappointing US $30.5 million debut last weekend, the superhero sequel Shazam! Fury Of The Gods slumped to second place with US $9.7 million in its second weekend. The Warner Bros release dropped 68 per cent from its launch.