John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Chad Stahelski's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
- Before Keanu Reeves was cast, several major A-list stars turned down the lead role because they felt the script was too risky.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
John Wick: Chapter 2 is a 2017 American neo-noir action thriller film directed by Chad Stahelski, the sequel that expanded the John Wick franchise from a lean revenge thriller into an elaborately mythological action saga. Keanu Reeves returns as the legendary assassin, who is forced out of retirement when an Italian crime lord invokes a blood oath — a "marker" — that Wick is honor-bound to fulfill. After completing the assignment in Rome, Wick is betrayed and a $7 million contract is placed on his head, forcing him to fight his way through an army of assassins while navigating the increasingly complex rules and institutions of the criminal underworld.
Chapter 2 dramatically expanded the world-building that had been one of the first film's most intriguing elements — the Continental hotel system is revealed to be global, the bureaucratic "switchboard" of assassin contracts is introduced, and the rules governing criminal society are explored in greater detail. The action choreography, once again designed by director Chad Stahelski and his team of former stunt performers, reached new heights of complexity and creativity. The catacombs fight sequence and the mirror-filled art gallery finale were praised as some of the most inventive action set pieces in modern cinema.
Keanu Reeves performed the vast majority of his own stunts, including extensive firearms work that showcased his genuine proficiency with multiple weapon types. Common and Ruby Rose provided memorable adversaries, while Laurence Fishburne's appearance as the Bowery King reunited him with Reeves for the first time since The Matrix trilogy. Chapter 2 earned $171 million worldwide on a $40 million budget, more than doubling the original's box office and establishing John Wick as one of the most commercially viable action franchises of the decade.
