Premiere - John Wick: Celebrating 10 Years of Action Cinema Revolution

By Mulder, Los Angeles, AMC Century City 15, 3 novembre 2024, 03 november 2024

The revolutionary action film John Wick marked its 10th anniversary with special screenings organized by Fathom Events, celebrating a decade of cinematic excellence and cultural impact. Held on November 3rd, 2024, at the AMC Century City 15 in Los Angeles, the event brought together the core team behind the film: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, director Chad Stahelski, and producer Erica Lee. The night featured a sold-out screening and an in-depth live conversation moderated by Grae Drake, giving fans a chance to hear firsthand how this modestly budgeted movie grew into a cultural phenomenon that redefined the action genre.

In the ten years since its release, John Wick has transformed from a sleeper hit into a cornerstone of modern action filmmaking. Keanu Reeves, reflecting on the film's enduring legacy, described the experience as surreal yet rewarding. “It’s incredible that this story, these characters, and this world have resonated so deeply,” he shared. Reeves, who took on the role of the grief-stricken, revenge-driven assassin John Wick during a transitional phase in his career, expressed gratitude for the film's opportunity to return to the big screen. “This film was made for the big screen,” he said. “The stylized action, the immersive world—it’s all meant to be experienced in a theater with an audience.”

Reeves delved into the early discussions he had with Stahelski about the film’s vision. “We wanted something fresh, something that could combine intense action with a sense of style and character depth,” he said. The partnership between Reeves and Stahelski proved pivotal, as the two worked to develop a meticulously choreographed, highly immersive action aesthetic that avoided the overuse of CGI and rapid cuts common in contemporary action films. Stahelski echoed Reeves’ sentiments, stating that the goal was to create a film that was both an action-packed crowd-pleaser and an intimate character study of a man haunted by loss. “We wanted John Wick to be an urban legend come to life,” Stahelski explained. “Every punch, every shot, every scene had to mean something.”

Producer Erica Lee provided a behind-the-scenes perspective, recounting the uphill battle the team faced when initially bringing the project to life. According to Lee, John Wick initially struggled to secure a theatrical release, with many in the industry skeptical about a high-octane action film helmed by first-time directors and starring Reeves, whose career had cooled in the years leading up to the film. “It started slow,” Lee admitted. “Theatrical distribution was limited, and it wasn’t until the home video and streaming markets picked up the film that it really gained momentum. That’s when the fanbase began to grow.”

Lee also highlighted how each subsequent installment in the John Wick series has pushed boundaries, offering bigger action sequences, more intricate world-building, and a level of technical craftsmanship that continues to set the standard for the genre. “Chad [Stahelski] taught us to always push harder, to think beyond what we thought was possible,” she said. This relentless ambition has turned the franchise into a global phenomenon, spawning sequels, spin-offs like The Continental and Ballerina, and even video games and comic books.

Ian McShane, whose portrayal of Winston, the enigmatic manager of The Continental Hotel, has become one of the series' defining elements, spoke fondly of his involvement in the franchise. “When I first read the script, I thought it was a great little action movie with a lot of heart,” McShane said. “But what surprised me was how much room there was for the characters to grow.” McShane teased fans with hints about Ballerina and expressed his excitement for the evolving John Wick universe. “It’s been a joy to watch this world expand and to see the audience’s enthusiasm grow with it.”

The evening also included a heartfelt tribute to the late Lance Reddick, who played Charon, the stoic and loyal concierge of The Continental. Reddick’s calm intensity and nuanced performance added a layer of depth to the franchise, and his absence was deeply felt during the celebration. Both the cast and audience took a moment to honor his memory, with Reeves describing Reddick as “a cornerstone of the series, both on and off the screen.”

Chad Stahelski reflected on the film’s creation, calling it “a dream project” and emphasizing the importance of the theatrical experience. “This movie was always meant to be seen with an audience,” he said. “The collective gasps, the cheers, the laughs—that’s what makes it special.” Stahelski also spoke about the challenges of crafting the John Wick universe, from conceptualizing the criminal underworld’s unique mythology to executing the high-intensity, single-take action sequences that have become the franchise’s hallmark. “We wanted to create a world that felt real but also larger than life—a world where rules mattered, even in chaos.”

The celebration served as a reminder of how John Wick has not only revitalized the action genre but also set new benchmarks for storytelling, choreography, and world-building. The franchise's success is a testament to the vision of its creators, the dedication of its cast, and the unwavering support of its fans. As John Wick continues to expand, with a fifth installment and multiple spin-offs on the horizon, the world of the Baba Yaga remains as compelling as ever.

For fans, the 10th-anniversary screenings were more than just a trip down memory lane; they were a celebration of a cultural milestone. The journey of John Wick—from a grieving widower to a legendary assassin—mirrors the journey of the film itself, from an underdog project to a global phenomenon. As the world eagerly awaits the next chapter in the John Wick saga, one thing is certain: the legacy of this iconic character and his richly textured universe will endure for decades to come.

Discover the red carpet interviews :

itw Chad Stahelski

itw Keanu Reeves

itw Ian McShane

itw Erica Lee

Synopsis : 
Since the death of his beloved wife, John Wick spends his days restoring his 1969 Ford Mustang, with only his dog Daisy for company. He leads an uneventful life, until a sadistic thug named Iosef Tarasof notices his car. John refuses to sell it to him. Iosef doesn't want to be resisted, so he breaks into John's house with two accomplices to steal the Mustang and brutally kill Daisy... John follows Iosef's trail all the way to New York. An old contact, Aurelio, tells him that the thug is the only son of a major underworld boss, Viggo Tarasof. Word spreads quickly: the legendary killer is looking for Iosef. Viggo puts a price on John's head: whoever kills him will receive a huge reward. John now has every assassin in New York on his tail.

John Wick
Directed by Chad Stahelski
Written by Derek Kolstad
Produced by Basil Iwanyk, David Leitch, Eva Longoria, Michael Witherill
Starring  Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, ,Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, Willem Dafoe
Cinematography : Jonathan Sela
Edited by Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir
Music by Tyler Bates, Joel J. Richard
Production companies : Thunder Road Pictures, 87Eleven Productions, MJW Films, DefyNite Films
Distributed by Lionsgate Films (United States), Metropolitan FilmExport (France)
Release date : October 24, 2014 (United States), October 29, 2024 (France)
Running time : 101 minutes

Photos : Getty Images for Lionsgate Films