Keanu Reeves’ John Wick 5 Looks All But Sure To Happen Despite Chapter 4’s Ending For 1 Simple Reason

After Chapter 4’s satisfying conclusion, John Wick 5 seemed impossible, especially with Keanu Reeves in the leading role, but a fifth installment looks inevitable thanks to one key reason. Despite John Wick 4 seemingly killing off its protagonist, Keanu Reeves will return in Ballerina, the franchise’s upcoming spinoff. At first glance, this may seem to contradict the recent entry’s ending, but Ballerina is set to take place between the third and fourth movies, making Reeves’ involvement more logical. However, this may not be the actor’s last performance as the Baba Yaga, as John Wick 5 is happening.

While there is no confirmation that Reeves will be back for the franchise’s next main movie, updates about John Wick 5 were frequent throughout 2024, with Chad Stahelski finally confirming the project. All kinds of theories have been floating around about what the film could be about, be it John in the afterlife or a new character taking the limelight. Although the status of the movie remains a relative mystery after false reports of shooting starting in 2025 and Reeves’ unconfirmed involvement, another chapter always appeared to be on the cards when looking at one crucial franchise trend.

Every John Wick Sequel Has Made More Than Its Predecessor At The Box Office

The Franchise’s Box Office Has Continued To Grow With Each New Installment

John Wick‘s increase in popularity over the years isn’t just hyperbole, as its box office trajectory highlights the rising interest. While the very first film made $86 million from an estimated $20-30 million budget, John Wick 4 grossed five times as much, and every new installment has made more than the last. Financially, the franchise is only growing, meaning it would be a strange time to stop now. The series is still continuing through spinoffs, but audiences clearly still have an appetite for Reeves’ character, even if the protagonist did get a perfect send-off in John Wick: Chapter 4.

Although the first film’s box office was impressive for the time, each new entry has gotten bigger, earning over $1 billion collectively. Even if Ballerina ends John Wick‘s box office streak, it only makes the demand for Reeves higher, as his character is still the main draw for audiences. From a story perspective, it makes sense for the franchise to branch off through spinoffs and introduce new assassins in the process, but John Wick is still hotter than ever, and its continued financial success makes it hard to see a world where Reeves doesn’t return for John Wick 5.

John Wick: Chapter 4’s Box Office Changed The Status Of The John Wick Franchise

Chapter 4’s $440 Million Box Office Haul Made John Wick A Blockbuster Action Series

The first three John Wick films all did well in comparison to their respective budgets, but Chapter 4’s $440 million haul turned the franchise into a mainstream blockbuster. No longer was John Wick the underrated action series that people overlooked, as the fourth outing confirmed it was a mainstream hit. Although it didn’t quite make it into 2023’s ten highest-grossing movies, it wasn’t far off, showing just how far the franchise has come in less than a decade. Additionally, with the fourth film performing so well critically and financially, it seems like John Wick 5 would certainly succeed as well.

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The franchise has garnered a massive reputation and every new film has continued the legacy of its predecessor, proving how trustworthy the series has become. Fans don’t just see John Wick as an action film that they’ll get around to, it has now become one of the must-see cinematic experiences with every release, hence the hype behind Ballerina. It’s safe to say that Keanu Reeves’ high-octane saga was already incredibly popular after the third movie, but John Wick: Chapter 4‘s incredible performance is what cemented it as a blockbuster franchise, and there’s no denying it still has more to give.

It’s Still Too Soon For The John Wick Franchise To End (Even With All The Spinoffs)

The Franchise’s Incredible Action Sequences & New Characters Have Only Gotten Better Over The Years

After John Wick 4, it felt like the curtain had closed on the main story despite the spinoff projects, but it still feels too early to end the franchise. The longer the series has gone on, the better things have got, as the movies continue to evolve their epic fighting sequences, while new characters have left a lasting legacy. Caine and Akira’s introduction in John Wick 4 has already set up a potential story between the two for a spinoff, while Halle Berry’s Sofia Al-Azwar and Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King are also worthy of their own projects.

However, regardless of how many new projects they do, people still love Keanu Reeves as John Wick, and he is key to tying everything together. His story may have met its natural conclusion, but without definitive proof he’s dead, there’s always the potential for the protagonist to come back. Reeves’ return would undo John’s peaceful ending, but those in his line of work are far from entitled to them, and with each movie only improving in practically every category, John Wick 5 seems necessary given there’s still a high demand for the Baba Yaga, which the box office highlights.

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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.

Created by

Derek Kolstad

Cast

Keanu Reeves
, Ian McShane
, Lance Reddick
, Willem Dafoe
, Michael Nyqvist
, Alfie Allen
, Laurence Fishburne
, Anjelica Huston
, Bill Skarsgard
, Mel Gibson
, Donnie Yen