Having been in the spotlight for several decades,Keanu Reeveshas become one of the most admired actors in the industry, and two of his biggest franchises almost went head-to-head in 2021.Among his many exciting projects over the years, Reeves has become synonymous with two major action franchiseswhich were both originally set to have sequels in the same year, and the results were completely one-sided. Long beforeReeves voicedSonic 3’s Shadow the Hedgehog, the actor turned several films into big hits, but it was his work inThe MatrixandJohn Wickthat really stood out.
Both have become massive franchises - largely thanks to Reeves' performances - and have easily provided his more recognizable roles. The two series are full of personality and have fun concepts that have kept audiences returning for years to come. In addition, both Neo and John Wick are amongKeanu Reeves' best-ever characters, proving how important each franchise is to him. As a result, it’s not surprising that he was willing to return for another installment ofThe MatrixandJohn Wick, but they almost competed against one another, and there was one clear winner.
The Battle Between John Wick 4 & The Matrix Resurrections Was Set For 2021
COVID Delayed John Wick: Chapter 4 To 2023
After an 18-year hiatus,The Matrixfranchise returned in 2021 withThe Matrix Resurrections, andJohn Wick: Chapter 4was initially set to be released alongside it. The first twoMatrixfilms were fantastic, helping the franchise become a cinematic classic, but the third installment failed to meet the same expectations. Still, a trilogy at least felt like the right place to leave the series, but with the popularity of remakes and sequels skyrocketing in the late 2010s,The Matrixreturned with a fourth film in 2021; and, it wasn’t the only Reeves franchise scheduled to make a comeback.
While the setback may have seemed like a bad thing on paper, it actually worked out for the better as Chapter 4 became the bestJohn Wickmovie yet.
UnlikeThe Matrix,John Wickwas still a very active franchise, and despite Chapter 3 being released in 2019,John Wick: Chapter 4was supposed to drop just two years later.Parabellumperformed incredibly well, making the studio keen to cash in on its red-hot form with a new installment, but unfortunately, COVID-19 caused the movie to be delayed until 2023, meaning the battle between Reeves' biggest blockbusters never happened. While the setback may have seemed like a bad thing on paper, it actually worked out for the better as Chapter 4 became thebestJohn Wickmovieyet.
Still, the prospect of Reeves' two most iconic franchises competing sounds like a lot of fun, but given their contrasting fates, there would only have ever been one winner.
Keanu Reeves' John Wick 4 Turned Out So Much Better Than The Matrix Resurrections
The Matrix Resurrections Flopped, Whereas John Wick 4 Became The Franchise’s Most Successful Entry
The Matrix’s attempted comeback fell much flatter than the continuation ofJohn Wick, as they had entirely different receptions. Alongside becoming the best-received entry in the series,John Wick 4’s impressive box officewas an all-time high for the franchise. Between all four movies,John Wickofficially grossed over $1 billion, meaning the fourth installment cemented its status as a blockbuster hit. On the other hand,The Matrix Resurrectionsflopped at the box office and didn’t make a particularly big impression among critics or audiences, proving another movie really wasn’t needed for the classic sci-fi franchise.
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Although its reviews are slightly better across the board thanThe Matrix 3,Resurrectionsmade just $159 million from a $190 million budget. This was by farThe Matrix’s worst-performing movie financially, and while the fallout of COVID undoubtedly had an impact, it was clear audiences weren’t queuing up for a franchise that had been gone for close to two decades. Although some movie series do make impressive comebacks after a long hiatus,The Matrixwasn’t one of them, andResurrectionfell drastically short of expectations, especially compared toJohn Wick 4’s massive fanfare.
John Wick 4 Releasing In 2021 Would Have Hurt The Matrix Resurrections Even More
WhileThe Matrix Resurrectionsdidn’t perform how the creators would have hoped, it could have been so much worse ifJohn Wick 4had been released in the same year. The effects of COVID made cinema trips much less common, andif viewers had to choose between Reeves' two returning franchises, the results showJohn Wick 4would have almost certainly been the more desirable option. The previous three movies had won the trust of the fans, and given the modern audience was already invested in the story, seeing Chapter 4 was a no-brainer for those familiar withJohn Wick.
The Exact Moment John Wick Surpassed The Matrix As Keanu Reeves’ Best Movie Franchise
Keanu Reeves' gained worldwide recognition as Neo in The Matrix franchise, but John Wick surpassed the iconic sci-fi franchise at one pivotal moment.
Social media would likely have marketed the two against one another, and while both have mainstream relevancy,John Wickprobably would have won the online war. GivenThe Matrix Resurrectionsalso released in December,John Wick 4would likely have come out beforehand. Therefore, the exceptional reviews would’ve been a complete contrast toThe Matrix Resurrections, meaning people who didn’t go and see the film right away may have been put off compared toKeanu Reeves' other release.
A 2021 debut still could have hurtJohn Wick 4since the movie may have been rushed, but there’s no doubt it would have had a negative impact onThe Matrix Resurrectionsbox office, and the comparisons between the two may have even damaged the latter’s overall reception, proving how one-sided the battle would have been.
John Wick: Chapter 4
Following the events of Chapter 3 - Parabellum, John Wick Chapter 4 will see the titular character battle against some of his most dangerous foes yet. With a bounty on his head that continues to skyrocket, John decides to take the fight to the High Table on a global scale and battles across areas like Osaka and Paris to wipe out some of the strongest players in the underworld.
The Matrix Resurrections
Set sixty years after The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections is a sci-fi action movie that sees the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne moss nearly twenty years after the release of the previous film. Neo has become a game developer who struggles to grasp reality, and his concerns are validated when a new visage of Morpheus arrives to free him from his prison - a newly created Matrix. Learning that Trinity is alive and being held prisoner, Neo will join a new rebel force to save her and confront a new, dangerous foe known as the Analyst.
