The Surprising Movies That Inspired ‘John Wick’
Want to dive deeper into John Wick‘s universe? Check out these action classics and foreign films that inspired the franchise.
John Wick is more than an action movie franchise (with a new spin-off, The Continental, that just debuted this weekend)–it’s a love letter to filmmaking and an homage to creators. Over the course of four movies, director Chad Stahelski has paid tribute to great directors, characters, stories, and entire genres. These are a few he’s mentioned in interviews over the years, and where you can watch them.
Yojimbo
This dark comedy from Akira Kurosawa stars frequent collaborator Toshirô Mifune as a rōnin who gets involved in a dispute destroying a town. It laid the groundwork for the modern American Western (Leone remade it, called it A Fist Full of Dollars, and didn’t credit Kurosawa until TOHO sued him) and is Kurosawa at his best. It’s on Max right now.
A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.
The Warriors
A turf battle rages through the streets of New York City after the Warriors are erroneously blamed for the death of a gang leader. Every gang in the city is out to get revenge. The movie is directly referenced to in John Wick 4 and a dangerous run across NYC is a big part of Parabellum. You can come out to play and watch this one on VOD.
Amélie
The quirky romantic comedy from French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet was one of the inspirations behind the location of the bonkers Rue Foyatier fight and the choice of using the Sacré-Cœur as a backdrop. The movie features a lot of the Paris locations used in John Wick 4. You can watch the film on VOD.
Amélie is a fanciful comedy about a young woman who discretely orchestrates the lives of the people around her, creating a world exclusively of her own making. Shot in over 80 Parisian locations, acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Jeunet invokes his incomparable visionary style to capture the exquisite charm and mystery of modern-day Paris through the eyes of a beautiful ingenue.
Lawrence of Arabia
Stahelski has mentioned his love for this David Lean masterpiece multiple times. He saw it as a child; while the story didn’t make sense to him then, the visuals stayed with him. There’s an obvious homage in the opening scene of John Wick: Chapter 4, and the two movies share some filming locations. It’s currently available on VOD.
Due to his knowledge of the native Bedouin tribes, British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence is sent to Arabia to find Prince Faisal and serve as a liaison between the Arabs and the British in their fight against the Turks. With the aid of native Sherif Ali, Lawrence rebels against the orders of his superior officer and strikes out on a daring camel journey across the harsh desert to attack a well-guarded Turkish port.
The Killer / Hard Boiled
Chow Yun Fat’s killer cool and wardrobe in the two John Woo classics inspired the creation of Donnie Yen’s Caine. The initial version of the character was more Zen master until the actor told Stahelski that he should be smooth, stylish, and have more personality. Glad we got the wise-cracking, cool version.
You can catch Hard Boiled on Amazon. You’ll have to track down a physical copy to watch The Killer – it’s worth it, though.
Fallen Angels
You can see director Wong Kar Wai’s fingerprints all over the Wick franchise – its use of color, light, and atmosphere. Fallen Angels takes place under the neon lights of Hong Kong at night time. A contract killer and his infatuated partner, a drifter looking for her ex-lover, and an eccentric mute wanted by the police cross paths. It’s bold, visually striking, and surreal at times. This, and several other fantastic Wong Kar Wai films, are on Max.
Point Blank
Lee Marvin is pitiless, cold vengeance in a suit. You can watch this one on VOD.
A ruthless crook, Walker, is betrayed by his partner, Mal Reese, who leaves him for dead on Alcatraz Island. Having survived, Walker returns years later to get revenge. He gets his first lead when a mysterious man tells him that Reese is now part of a vast criminal organization and dating Walker’s wife’s sister, Chris. But after contacting Chris, Walker discovers that, in truth, she loathes Reese and is willing to help him get justice.
The Raid 2
Long considered one of the best action movies ever made, The Raid‘s formula has been copied more than a few times. The onslaught of violence includes some fighters (from John Wick 3) and an overhead shooting style you may find familiar. This one is on Netflix.
After surviving a bloody fight with powerful gangsters, rookie Jakarta cop Rama (Iko Uwais) thinks he can resume a normal life. However, his exploits during that fateful incident have attracted the attention of criminals even more deadly than the last. His family at risk, Rama has no choice but to go under cover. He gets himself thrown in prison, where he befriends the son of a prominent crime kingpin. Rama must lay his own life on the line to finally destroy the criminal empire.
Zatoichi: The Blind Swordman
The character, created by novelist Kan Shimozawa, first showed up in print in 1948. It wasn’t until Daiei Film and actor Shintaro Katsu brought Zatoichi to the screen that he became an icon. The blind swordsman uses a shikomi-zue (sword cane) as his weapon of choice, and his reflexes are lightning-fast. His adventures focus on fighting the yakuza and saving innocent people from injustice and oppression.
There are 26 movies in the original series and a 100-episode television series – you can watch them via VOD, and some are on YouTube. If you want something more contained, the 2003 revival starring Takeshi Kitano as Zatoichi (watch the trailer) is available on VOD.
Le Samouraï
This sparse neo-noir crime film does a lot with a little. The movie’s style and lead character inspired John Woo’s The Killer and Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive, among others. It can be argued that John Wick’s lack of dialog is based on Le Samouraï. You can watch it on Max right now – go with subtitles; the dub is distracting.
Hitman Jef Costello carries out a hit on a nightclub owner. Always thorough and cool in his job, Costello is disconcerted to discover a witness to the killing, the club’s female piano player. But before he can act, the police arrest him in a sweep of suspects. Released when the main witness does not come forward, Costello goes from being the hunter to the hunted, trailed by the determined police as well as his crime bosses.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Sergio Leone’s masterpiece exemplifies the director’s cinematography and his distinctive use of violence. The final gunfight is a study in how to build tension. It’s inspired every action director since it came out in 1966. Cinemax has it right now.
In the Southwest during the Civil War, a mysterious stranger, Joe, and a Mexican outlaw, Tuco, form an uneasy partnership. Joe turns in the bandit for the reward money, then rescues him just as he is being hanged. When Joe’s shot at the noose goes awry during one escapade, a furious Tuco tries to have him murdered. The men re-team abruptly, however, to beat out a sadistic criminal and the Union army and find $20,000 that a soldier has buried in the desert.
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