The ‘masterpiece’ fourth installment in a massively successful American thriller franchise wowed critics by upping the ante on what was an already polished and innovative series

Critics and fans alike have been besotted with this action franchise and the fourth – and possibly final – sequel is airing on ITV tonight.

The dark and brooding assassin John Wick returns again for another instalment and is once more out for revenge. Starring Keanu Reeves in the lead role in what was thought to be the last in the franchise, John Wick: Chapter 4 is on ITV tonight. After being left for dead in the last film, Parabellum, Wick is seeking vengeance against the High Table. With a stellar cast, including Laurence Fishburne, Bill Skarsgard and Ian McShane, many consider this release the best of the action-packed bunch. It was a huge box office smash and was met with largely positive critical response as well. Reviewers claim it’s “astounding” how the franchise managed to improve even more and hail it as a “masterpiece”.

Intended to be the sequel to Chapter 3, the film opens with legendary hitman John in hiding and recovering after seemingly being betrayed by his good friend Winston (McShane). He seeks revenge on the High Table and travels to Morocco to kill the Elder. After the New York Continental, which served as a neutral sanctuary for assassins, is destroyed, John takes refuge at the Osaka Continental. The Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont (Skarsgard) is recruited by the High Table to kill John who is also forced to fight numerous other assassins and more of his friends in his battle to finally free himself.

Directed by Chad Stahelski, Chapter 4 was scheduled for release in 2021 but was delayed, mainly due to the Covid pandemic. It was a huge hit at the box office when it was eventually released in 2023, grossing $447.3 million worldwide. It was nominated for numerous accolades, including Best Action Movie at the Critics Choice Super Awards, which it won. Thanks to its success, a fifth installment is now being made.

Critics also warmly welcomed it and it is often considered the best of all the movies in the series. Their views are shared on Rotten Tomatoes where it scores a massive, 94%, one wrote: “The newest installment of the franchise ups the ante on its reliably innovative and thrilling action sequences, looking sumptuously alive at every turn.”

Another simply stated: “Few sequels can one-up their predecessors.” While a third agreed: “It’s astounding how this franchise has steadily improved with each instalment, and this time around, Stahelski and co. laid all their cards down on the table and crafted an action masterpiece,” they raved. A fourth concluded: “You might have seen some of it before, but it has never been as big and brash as it is in this chapter… an action epic for the ages.”

John Wick: Chapter 4 airs on ITV at 10.10pm tonight, Sunday 21 December.