The first three John Wick movies will leave Netflix on March 31st. As a fan of the franchise, I’ve tracked their appearances and disappearances from various streaming services. They used to live on HBO Max, Peacock, and elsewhere, but they keep slipping away. Like Keanu Reeves’ title character, these films stay on the run. While the most recent entry never dropped onto the streamer, the initial trilogy prominently occupied Netflix’s action section. That streak ends soon.
John Wick 1, 2, and 3 Will Run and Gun Past Netflix This Month
John Wick changed action cinema forever. Across four films, a TV show, and several follow-up projects still in production, Wick inspired enough homages to impact the genre. The straightforward approach to a gritty neo-noir revenge film touched everything from Atomic Blonde to Deadpool. This legacy brings the first film’s modest origins into focus. Before John Wick made it to Netflix, it was a humble spec script called Scorn. Inspired by revenge thrillers and a host of other projects, writer Derek Kolstad envisioned a retired underworld legend. Kolstad imagined a killer achieving redemption, only to have it ripped away. He eschewed the old murdered wife motivation for a dead dog to keep the character sympathetic. He populated the world with a complex network of criminal dealings beneath society and sent his killer to wipe out the monsters he once served. That simple premise became an instant classic and inspired a franchise.
The draw of the John Wick franchise is its unique, peerless approach to fast-paced action. Wick became one of the most feared protagonists in cinema history with his iconic gun-fu fighting style. Each entry escalates the drama, adding countless bodies to the mountain Wick leaves in his wake. The first film saw Wick shoot, stab, and strangle his way through crowded nightclubs and elegant mansions. The sequel introduced more powerful rivals, like Common’s Cassian and Ruby Rose’s Ares. The third outing saw him add animal companions, hilarious environments, and globe-trotting adventures to his repertoire. While Netflix never enjoyed John Wick: Chapter 4, the trilogy remains impressive. Beyond the violence, Wick commands a beautiful understanding of efficient world-building. Every dive into the criminal underworld beneath the High Table reveals fascinating hints of new information. There’s still so much to explore in Wick’s unique world.
As Keanu Reeves’ beloved John Wick franchise leaves Netflix on March 31st, fans will struggle to find it streaming for free. We can rent any entry from outlets like Amazon Prime Video, but no service has it set to premiere next month. Fear not, however. John Wick has slipped from one streamer to the other since its first film left theaters. Wick watchers will have their favorite franchise at their fingertips again soon. He may have gotten out again, but Wick never stays away for long.
