Is John Wick Dead in Chapter 4? What Happened to Him in the Movie?
by Alaguvelan M
Updated Apr 28, 2023
John Wick Chapter 4
Directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, "John Wick: Chapter 4" is an American neo-noir action thriller movie. This film is the fourth installment in the John Wick franchise and a sequel to "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum" (2019). Starring Keanu Reeves as the titular character, the cast also includes Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Clancy Brown, and Ian McShane. The plot revolves around John Wick's quest for vengeance against the High Table and those who betrayed him and left him for dead.
Lionsgate confirmed the development of the fourth John Wick film even before its predecessor was released. The announcement was made in May 2019. Unlike the previous movies, franchise creator Derek Kolstad did not write the screenplay for this film. Shay Hatten was hired in May 2020, and Michael Finch followed in March 2021. Principal photography commenced in June 2021 and wrapped up in October 2021. Filming locations included France, Germany, New York City, and Japan.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial release date of May 21, 2021, for "John Wick: Chapter 4" had to be postponed [5]. However, the film had its premiere at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London on March 6, 2023, and was subsequently released in the United States on March 24 by Lionsgate. Critics praised the movie, and it has grossed a total of $371 million globally, making it the highest-grossing film in the John Wick franchise and the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2023.
On March 6, 2023, "John Wick: Chapter 4" premiered at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, with a special screening at South by Southwest on March 13, 2023. In India, the movie was dubbed and released in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, while in South Korea, it was released on April 12, 2023. The film is scheduled to be released on Amazon Prime Video on May 23, 2023.
Is John Wick Dead in Chapter 4?
In the finale of "John Wick: Chapter 4," John Wick is granted freedom from the High Table, but he sustains severe injuries. He collapses and has a vision of his deceased wife, Helen. As he reflects on his life, John seems to have found inner peace, and it appears that he welcomes his imminent death. The scene then transitions to John's gravesite, where he is laid to rest beside Helen.
Despite the implication that John Wick dies at the end of "John Wick: Chapter 4," his death is not confirmed. Since we never see his lifeless body, many fans have speculated that he could have been rescued after his collapse. Furthermore, some believe that John may have worked alongside Winston and the Bowery King to fake his own death, granting him a chance to live freely and independently.
Director Chad Stahelski alluded to John Wick's ultimate fate in the upcoming film, stating that "John Wick has found a way to be at peace." He suggests that the only way John could have escaped was by faking his own death or truly dying, or by shedding a part of his identity. Stahelski claims that the interpretation of this statement is left to the viewer's discretion.
John's funeral marks the concluding scene of the movie, where Winston and The Bowery King pay their respects. In the concluding moments, they stand beside his tombstone, situated next to his spouse's, which John had specifically asked to be inscribed with the words "Good husband."
Is John Wick Really Dead?
Yes, shockingly, it appears that John meets his demise towards the end of John Wick: Chapter 4. Here's how it unfolds: John and Caine both arrive at the Basilica just as the sun is beginning to rise. The Marquis is present along with the Harbinger (Clancy Brown), and the ritualistic duel commences. Each man is given antique guns loaded with three bullets.They are instructed to stand 20 paces apart, aim their guns, and fire. However, to everyone's surprise, neither of them is hit. They then walk five paces toward each other, reload their guns, and fire again, with neither of them being killed. Finally, they take five more paces toward each other and reload their guns, standing in very close proximity.
In this instance, Caine alone fires his weapon, striking John in the chest. John refrains from returning fire and is subsequently hit. Caine approaches the Marquis and inquires if his obligation to him and the High Table has been fulfilled. The Marquis replies affirmatively, departs from the scene, and retrieves a firearm. Assuming that John is fatally wounded and no longer a threat, the Marquis aims at him but overlooks the fact that John had not discharged his final bullet. As John points his weapon at the Marquis and fires, the Marquis realizes his mistake too late and is fatally shot in the head.
John stumbles away, collapses on the steps of the Basilica, and gazes at the sunrise as he succumbs to his wounds. The movie then jumps forward in time to a later date, where the Bowery King and Winston King visit a cemetery. The camera pans over two graves, one for Helen Wick and the other for John Wick, suggesting that he died from his injuries sustained in the duel with Caine.
While the film never explicitly depicts his death, any enthusiast of comics or pop culture understands that a character is only considered truly dead when their body is shown. The audience doesn't see John's corpse in John Wick: Chapter 4, only a shot of his grave with his name on it. This leaves room for speculation that John may have staged his death to disappear permanently, without the interference of the High Table or Continental, and live without the "Baba Yaga" title... until the potential release of John Wick: Chapter 5.
Where is John Wick Now?
While there is no definitive answer to where John Wick is now, some fans have speculated that he may have gone into hiding to protect himself and his loved ones from the High Table's retaliation. As a former assassin, John Wick has many enemies, and his actions in the previous installments have put him in direct conflict with the most powerful figures in the criminal underworld. In the latest film, John Wick: Chapter 4, he is hunted by the High Table for his role in the assassination of their leader, and he ultimately sacrifices himself to protect his friends from harm. However, the ending of the film has been left open to interpretation, and it's unclear whether he's really dead or not.
It's worth noting that the John Wick franchise has continued to expand, with spin-off movies and TV shows in development, suggesting that the character's legacy will live on in some form. The spin-off movie Ballerina will focus on a new character in the John Wick universe, a ballerina with a dark past who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. It's also been reported that a prequel TV show is in development, which may shed new light on John Wick's early years and provide context for his character.
During a discussion about the possibility of a fifth installment in the John Wick series, Chad Stahelski stated that they aimed to include everything they could think of in John Wick: Chapter 4. He hopes that the series will continue to develop and improve and that there will be a time when he and the team come up with new ideas for the franchise.
Regarding Keanu Reeves' involvement, he shared with Entertainment Weekly that he is receptive to the notion of participating in John Wick 5. However, he emphasized that he wouldn't consider doing it without Chad Stahelski's involvement and that they would have to evaluate the possibility together. He also added that it would feel right if John Wick finally found peace.
What Happened to John Wick in Chapter 4?
The climactic sequence of John Wick: Chapter 4 involves an extended battle that takes place across various locations in Paris, as John Wick must fight off the bounty hunters hired by the Marquis to prevent him from reaching Sacré-Cœur by sunrise. This epic struggle is divided into three distinct parts, with each one taking place in a different part of the city.
The first takes place in the streets and buildings of Montmartre, the second occurs during a chaotic car chase through the nighttime traffic in front of the Arc de Triomphe, and the third and final phase unfolds as John ascends the famous Montmartre stairs, all 222 of them, while battling his foes.
The bounty hunters are alerted through a clandestine radio station situated atop the Eiffel Tower, and the battle commences. John Wick is caught off guard on the streets of Montmartre, as numerous assassins open fire on him from cafes, cars, and nearby structures. The fight soon spills into an abandoned apartment building, where John finds himself confronted by Mr. Nobody (played by Shamier Anderson), Chidi (portrayed by Mark Zaror), and a horde of mercenaries.
Following his escape from the abandoned building, John finds himself in another fight at the Arc de Triomphe. His car is targeted and crashes into other vehicles driven by additional bounty hunters. Despite the chaotic rush hour traffic, John faces numerous attackers, including the resurrected Chidi, in the center of the circular street. Although John sustains injuries from multiple car crashes, he manages to survive the battle. Meanwhile, many of the bounty hunters are killed by John's firearms, knives, Mr. Nobody's dog, and high-speed collisions.
John Wick faces a final obstacle on his way to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris: the 222 Montmartre steps. As he climbs, he encounters yet more bounty hunters determined to take him down. Just as he is about to reach the top, Chidi reappears and sends John tumbling back down the stairs. However, Caine intervenes and offers to fight John one-on-one. Together, they fend off the remaining bounty hunters.
John Wick 4 Ending Explained
The film spans several locations, including Morocco, Osaka, and Berlin, but the crucial final duel between John Wick and Bill Skarsgård's villainous character, Marquis Vincent de Gramont, takes place in Paris.
Earlier in the film, the duel between John Wick and the villainous Marquis Vincent de Gramont, portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, had been arranged with high stakes. Only the winner can survive, and if John emerges victorious, Winston will be reinstated as the manager of the newly constructed New York Continental.
During a meeting the night before the duel, the Marquis nominates Caine, a blind assassin from the High Table (played by Donnie Yen), to fight in his place, adding to the already high stakes. The terms of the duel are set: it will be a pistol fight at sunrise at Sacré-Cœur, and if John is late, both he and Winston will be executed. The Marquis takes advantage of this by raising the bounty on John's head to $40 million, resulting in a multitude of assassins trying to cash in on the contract and posing significant obstacles for John on his way to the duel.
Eventually, Caine helps John during his ascent to the top of Sacré-Cœur, and despite facing numerous challenges, they arrive just in time for the duel. Although John is seriously wounded during the fight, he manages to outlast the Marquis, who requests to replace Caine for the final round. However, John has not used his previous round, which enables him to shoot the villain from close range, resulting in his instantaneous death. John emerges victorious from the duel, but his happiness is brief as the injury he sustained earlier proves to be fatal, and he dies peacefully.
At the end of the film, John's funeral is held and is attended by Winston and The Bowery King. In the concluding scenes, the two stand over John's grave, which is placed beside his wife's and bears the inscription "Good husband," as John had wished.
Is John Wick Dead in Chapter 4 - FAQs
Yes, John Wick dies in the final moments of the movie due to a severe injury he sustained during the duel with Marquis Vincent de Gramont.
John Wick died from a fatal wound that he had earlier suffered during the fight with bounty hunters on his way to the duel with Marquis Vincent de Gramont.
Winston and The Bowery King attended John Wick's funeral in the movie's final scene.
It's uncertain whether there will be a John Wick: Chapter 5 after John's death in Chapter 4, as the filmmakers have not confirmed or denied its production yet.
The fan reaction to John Wick's death was mixed, with some fans expressing shock and sadness while others felt that it was a fitting end to the character's story. Many fans are also curious about what will happen next in the series, and how the filmmakers will continue the story without John as the main protagonist.