John Wick

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
John Wick Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Action film is stylish, entertaining but extremely violent.

R 2014 101 minutes
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 36 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 138 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that John Wick is a brutally violent, frequently bloody thriller starring Keanu Reeves as an assassin. There's a very high body count: Characters are shot, maimed, stabbed, beaten, threatened, killed with firearms at close range, blown to bits in an explosion, strangled with bare hands, and more. And especially because so much of the violence is depicted in a stylized, semi-glamorized way, it's best reserved for the oldest teens and adults. Interestingly, a streak of humor also runs through it, and fight scenes choreographed so thrillingly that it's almost like watching ballet -- albeit a gunshot-riddled, rough-and-tumble one. You can also expect lots of swearing ("f--k," "s--t," and more) and a fair amount of drinking, as well as pot smoking.

Community Reviews

doctora
doctora Adult
June 10, 2022
age 17+

A bit predictable, but still a fun ride

A film that is both entertaining, stilted, charming, and egregiously violent. It is a mixed bag. I found the dialogue incredibly slow, predictable, and uninspiring. The action sequences are well choreographed, interesting, and fun to watch. Keanu lights up the screen and Willem Dafoe...Dafoe's it and you want to keep watching. I cannot speak for Keanu's Russian but it definitely does not portray the Russian mafia kindly, but it does not seem anyone will lose sleep over that. I wanted to see more of Palicki, Leguizamo and the always delightful Ian McShane.
HikesLikesbikes
HikesLikesbikes Adult
February 20, 2022
age 13+

the kids will love it. the parents will hate it.

first of all, i admit, this film is super violent with a lot of blood 'head shots' and a few stabbings. After 15 mins this film is non stop violent but the reason i think it should be 13 is because its something to get used to after a while and if you forget the violence you'll find out that it is SUPER entertainng and very fun to watch. the kids would love it.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 36 parent reviews

What's the Story?

JOHN WICK (Keanu Reeves) is a retired assassin who was once the best in the business. But after a long illness that leads to the death of his beloved wife (Bridget Moynihan), he's pulled back into a world that he left long ago for love. A chance encounter with the entitled, violent son of an old associate ends up with John bloodied in his own home and the dog his wife left him as a parting gift slaughtered. For John, there's now no other recourse but revenge.

Is It Any Good?

Few films in this genre are known for their intricate, layered dialogue or depth of feeling, and this doesn't exactly break these conventions. (Its most entertaining line may actually be "Oh.") But there's no denying the artistry that went into its filming. The frames are well-crafted, the pace quick and effortless, the fight scenes choreographed like a ballet. It looks fantastic. And although it's an action thriller, it has a streak of humor that confidently runs through it, making it even more entertaining. Reeves' impermeable face and economic acting work well in this context because he plays a mystery man who remains mysterious throughout. And the rest of the cast -- especially Willem Dafoe and Michael Nyqvist -- is great, too.

But there's no doubt that John Wick is deeply violent. It starts out quiet, and the first attack comes as a shock, which works well for the story. But after a while, all the fights begin to numb; although they're beautifully filmed, they lose their potency, since they come fast and furious without much room to breathe or process what's happening. And parents will want to know that the fighting is so ferocious that it borders on barbarous, making the movie best left for mature teens and adults.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why John Wick gets back in the "business." Are his reasons, in this messed-up world, at all reasonable? Is he a sympathetic character, despite his line of work? Why or why not?

  • John Wick is a violent movie. Does it glamorize the violence? If so, how? Does all the violence serve the story, or does it go too far?

  • John is strongly motivated by revenge. Is that understandable? Is revenge ever an acceptable excuse for violence?

Movie Details

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