Keanu Reeves' Gritty Revenge Franchise-Starter Proves Unstoppable on Streaming

The 101-minute action blockbuster that changed Hollywood has become a late-night sleeper hit.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Keanu Reeves' breakout action role in the 1999 hit The Matrix transformed him into one of Hollywood's biggest action stars. But it wasn't until 2014's John Wick that Reeves truly cemented his status as an action icon. The gritty revenge thriller, which sees Reeves play a former hitman pulled back into the game, has found new life on streaming, where it's been one of the top 10 most popular movies on HBO Max for over a week.

Why it matters

The success of John Wick on streaming highlights Reeves' enduring appeal as an action star and the continued popularity of the franchise. With Lionsgate developing a new John Wick movie and a spin-off film focused on Donnie Yen's character, the franchise shows no signs of slowing down.

The details

John Wick, which was made on a $20 million budget, grossed $86 million at the box office and earned critical acclaim, with an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film tells the story of a former hitman who is pulled back into the criminal underworld after his beloved dog is killed and his car is stolen. Reeves' performance as the stoic, revenge-driven Wick struck a chord with audiences and launched a new action franchise.

  • John Wick was released in 2014.
  • A fourth Matrix movie was released in 2021, but it was unsuccessful.
  • Lionsgate confirmed last year that they are developing another John Wick movie.

The players

Keanu Reeves

An acclaimed actor who rose to fame with his roles in classic action thrillers like Point Break and Speed, before cementing his status as an action icon with The Matrix and John Wick franchises.

Chad Stahelski

The director of the John Wick films, who is set to return for the next installment in the franchise.

Donnie Yen

The actor who was introduced in John Wick: Chapter 4 and is set to star in and direct a spin-off film focused on his character.

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What’s next

Lionsgate is hard at work on another John Wick spin-off film focusing on Donnie Yen's character Caine, who was first introduced in John Wick: Chapter 4. Yen will star in and direct the spin-off.

The takeaway

The enduring popularity of the John Wick franchise, anchored by Keanu Reeves' iconic performance, highlights his status as one of Hollywood's top action stars. With new films in development, the franchise shows no signs of slowing down and continues to captivate audiences on streaming platforms.