Parents' Guide to

John Wick: Chapter 2

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Assassin action sequel is thrilling but very bloody.

Movie R 2017 122 minutes
John Wick: Chapter 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 17 parent reviews

Robert L.
Robert L. Adult
May 11, 2023
age 7+
qrviecjdbmjdb
qrviecjdbmjdb Parent of 18+-year-old
October 30, 2022
age 12+

Really good movie but has some violence

Really exiting movie but really violent if your kid is ok with violence it should be fine the worst was a short scene where John wick kills two people with a pencil by jamming it in there ears

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 17 parent reviews

What's the Story?

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) left the life of an assassin to get married and settle down. But his decision comes back to haunt him in JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2, when Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio), the man to whom Wick owes his exit -- and who reminds him of a blood oath Wick gave as "payment" -- comes back to collect. It's an offer he can't refuse, but the assignment is horrific: Wick must kill Santino's sister, Gianna (Claudia Gerini), who now owns a seat at the High Table, a collection of the world's top criminal operators, which she inherited from her and Santino's father. Her death ignites a chain of events that will leave Wick the target of everyone's wrath, especially Santino, who's as cold-blooded as a man like him gets. (Laurence Fishburne and Ian McShane co-star.)

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (17 ):
Kids say (71 ):

If there's a plot in this fun-but-too-gory follow-up to John Wick, it's not there to serve the narrative. Instead, it exists as a bar on which to hang all the bloodshed that the film unfurls in its ferocious, vicious glory -- which appears to be the point of this entire enterprise. Not more than five minutes (okay, maybe 10 in one spot) pass in between fights, confrontations, and face-offs.

Perhaps because they're a welcome break from the nonstop violence, the witty, sometimes weirdly funny moments that thread through the film (and the series -- the first John Wick was similar) are all the more appealing. For instance, there's a sequence in which a "sommelier" describes guns as if they were Chardonnays and Chiantis. And Reeves' brand of tight-lipped spy soldier is perfect for the franchise: He's brawny and conflicted, tough and empathetic, and very well-versed in the ways of weaponry.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in John Wick: Chapter 2. Do you think it's all necessary to the story? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • Is John Wick a hero or a villain? How can you tell? Is it OK to sympathize with characters who do bad things?

  • What motivates John Wick? Do you understand where he's coming from? Does he have any acceptable excuses for violence?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate