Summary
Keanu Reeves gained worldwide recognition as Neo in 1999’sThe Matrix, but theJohn Wickfranchise of the last decade actually became the iconic actor’s best overall franchise thanks to one key element. Derek Kolstad’s neo-noir action series revitalized the action genre in the mid-2010s, and has influenced orinspired a number of recent moviesand franchises. Recent examples likeThe Beekeeper,Monkey Man,Boy Kills World, andSilent Nightall reflect the high-octane fight choreography,diverse array of weaponsand underlying revenge narrative thatJohn Wickis built upon.
As impactful asJohn Wickhas been in the last few years,The Matrixhas stood as one of the most influential science-fiction franchises in all of American cinema. The first movie in the ongoing series is a veritable cornucopia of well-known quotes and moments, whether it’s choosing the red pill or blue pill, knowing kung-fu, or dodging bullets. DespiteThe Matrix’s level of impact on pop culture, theJohn Wickseries has already surpassed it as Keanu Reeves' best movie franchise, and it happened surprisingly fast.
30 Best Movies Like John Wick
The best movies like John Wick are the ones that–like John Wick the character and John Wick the film–go above and beyond what action fans expect.
John Wick: Chapter 2 Was A Better Sequel Than Reloaded & Revolutions
It was a legitimate improvement upon and expansion of the first movie
Of all the iconic moments fromThe Matrixfranchise, a vast majority come from the ground-breaking first movie. In fact, the average moviegoer would be hard-pressed to come up with a quote or scene details from any of the other entries in the franchise.None of the follow-ups to the original film came close to matching the originality or narrative strength ofThe Matrix,and in the case ofThe Matrix Revolutionsthe sequel was widely panned by critics and moviegoers alike. That is whereJohn WicksurpassesThe Matrixas Keanu Reeves' best franchise: the sequels.
John Wick: Chapter 2expanded the action-packed universe of hitmen and contracts without losing any of whatJohn Wickso entertaining.
John Wick: Chapter 2was far better than any sequel or tie-in (likeThe Animatrix) toThe Matrix, which is where theJohn Wickfranchise surpassedThe Matrixfranchise. While the sequels toThe Matrixwere regarded as disappointing in comparison to the due to overcomplication of the narrative and an over-reliance on special effects,John Wick: Chapter 2took all of the aspects of the first movie and improved upon them. It expanded the universe of hitmen and contracts without losing any of whatJohn Wickso entertaining.
As A Franchise, John Wick Is Already Better Than The Matrix
No sequel has ever measured up toThe Matrix
While none of its sequels ever came close toThe Matrixas far as overall quality is concerned, that hasn’t been the case with the John Wick franchise. WhileRotten Tomatoes' Tomatometerisn’t the final word on a movie’s quality, it does provide a good indication of the general consensus for both fans and critics. Judging by that,the John Wick franchise has actually gotten betteras it has progressed forward.
2014
86%
2017
89%
2019
2023
94%
TheJohn Wickfranchise has already spawned a spinoff TV show (Peacock’sThe Continental: From the World of John Wick), and it will expand again in 2025 with the spinoffBallerinastarring Ana de Armas. It may be too much to ask it to continue the upward trajectory of the franchise’s critic scores, but it’s a safe bet that the movie will maintain the franchise’s standards for quality and action. The fact thatthe expanding franchise has actually gotten better since its high-quality original movieis what makes it a far better franchise thanThe Matrix.
The Matrix Will Always Be Keanu Reeves’ Most Iconic Movie
It’s one of the most influential science fiction movies ever made
While the debate over quality will always rage on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes and Reddit, there is simply no denying which of Keanu Reeves' movies is the most iconic.His role as Neo is responsible for kick-starting his entire career, and the movie’s signficance to the movie industry makes it his most iconic role by a landslide. Add in the revolutionary nature of the special effects displayed inThe Matrixalong with the timelessness of its central story, and there’s virtually no way Reeves could ever appear in anything so iconic ever again.
In fact, you can see beats fromThe Matrix’s fight choreography seeded throughout theJohn Wickfranchise. The rhythmic, almost balletic hand-to-hand combat that’sthe standard in modern action movies bears echoes of Neo and Morpheus' fightswith the diabolical Agent Smith, even if it isn’t quite the same rhythm.John Wickmay be Keanu Reeves' best movie franchise, butThe Matrixwill always be his most iconic movie.
John Wick
“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.
