Keanu Reeves Gets Brutally Honest On The Physical Toll Of ‘John Wick’ In New Documentary

Keanu Reeves Gets Brutally Honest on the Physical Toll of ‘John Wick’ in New Documentary

DRRA May 9, 2025

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Just a bit over a decade ago, a little indie action film by the name of John Wick was released to the masses. One may think that description is being facetious or sarcastic, but the original John Wick film was an independent production, and one that had just about all the odds against it at that. Unexpected financial difficulties, two first-time feature filmmakers, and a low point in the career of Keanu Reeves were just some of the obstacles facing the movie. Any other production might have folded under the pressure, and understandably so, but not John Wick.

Against near-impossible odds, John Wick did far more than simply secure a theatrical release. What started as a small-scale revenge thriller with a hook so good it went viral has now blossomed into a blockbuster billion-dollar franchise, spanning three impeccable sequels, a thrilling prequel series, and already amassing a small army of future spin-offs in the works. It’s an unprecedented dynasty that has maintained an equally unprecedented high level of quality, and this undeniably impressive rise to power is documented marvelously in the new documentary, Wick Is Pain.

What Is ‘Wick Is Pain’ About?

John Wick‘s rise to superstardom began with two individuals — Chad Stahelski and David Leitch. Both Stahelski and Leitch have a long history in stuntwork, but as is the case for almost everyone working in the entertainment industry, a desire to tell their own story quickly rose to the forefront. Thus, John Wick was born… well, almost born, thanks to the aforementioned trials and tribulations. Though ultimately, the two prevailed in bringing their vision of a practical, stunt-intensive, and wildly entertaining action spectacle that not only sparked one of the best new franchises still going today, but also completely changed the action movie landscape forever.

Most already know this part of the story, but still, there have been some questions surrounding the series that have been largely left unanswered in the public eye. Why did Stahelski and Leitch part ways as a directing duo after the first movie? What kind of physical toll has making four of these movies had on Reeves and the rest of the stunt crew? Is there even a snowball’s chance in hell that we’ll see John Wick: Chapter 5 someday? All of these questions are more are answered with some pretty engaging behind-the-scenes footage and first-hand testimonials.

‘Wick Is Pain’ Explains How ‘John Wick’ Almost Didn’t Get Made

Wick Is Pain goes well beyond what one would immediately expect from a documentary about the making of John Wick. If you’re looking to get a glimpse into how some of your favorite action sequences from the films were made, you’ll get plenty of that and might even be surprised by the results. Where Wick Is Pain takes things a step further is with a deep dive into the difficulties of making a movie in general, not just a big flashy neon-laced action flick.

This goes double for any independent production. These are huge undertakings that require even more meticulous planning, casting, budgeting, and more, and all of that has to be done without any sort of guarantee that the film will be picked up by a major distributor. John Wick is up there with the original Mad Max as one of the wildest and most unlikely success stories of all time, showcasing how a crushing series of low lows can still yield to something remarkable through sheer perseverance alone.

Wick Is Pain primarily looks at John Wick‘s history through the eyes of Chad Stahelski, which is fitting given that he’s directed every mainline entry in the saga so far. Stahelski shows a refreshing level of vulnerability and authenticity in sharing how his revolutionary work on the series has affected his life, both in positive and negative ways. Of course, the man behind John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves, also has a substantial presence in Wick Is Pain, and his own interviews are just as insightful and delightful to watch as one would hope.

‘Wick Is Pain’ Will Give John Wick Fans a New Appreciation for the Film’s Practical Spectacle

A bleeding John Wick (Keanu Reeves) in 'John Wick' — Image via Summit Entertainment

Both Chad Stahelski and David Leitch have long been considered champions in the fight to get stuntwork recognized as a serious artistic form at ceremonies like the Academy Awards. After seeing the jaw-droppingly impressive lengths that their teams go through to get the perfect takes on the four John Wick films, it’s no wonder why. To say some of the stunts in the John Wick movies are death-defying would be like saying John got a little upset when his dog died.

Even with the occasional CGI touch-ups, almost the entirety of the John Wick saga’s action is in camera, even the ones you typically wouldn’t expect. From John falling from the roof of The Continental in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum to the Arc de Triomphe roundabout car chase in John Wick: Chapter 4, each of these are deeply rooted in physically demanding stuntwork that is even more of a marvel to behold behind the scenes than in the final product. It’s not just the grandiose free-falls and street racing that are impressive, either. Some of the technical origins behind why the action setpieces in the John Wick films are also thoroughly explored, including how the films found a much safer alternative to using blank roads for the guns, something that Stahelski took very seriously, in part thanks to his being Brandon Lee‘s stunt double on The Crow.

Some who are critics of stunt performance in feature films tend to come from a place of safety. Is it worth putting human lives on the line for entertaining theaters full of audiences? As with most aspects of life, there is often a higher level of risk in pursuing something extraordinary. Like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton before them, the cast and crew of the John Wick series aren’t just doing stunts for stunts’ sake. Their goal is to tell a story that is equal parts enthralling as it is entertaining, commonly through actions rather than words. The result is the best action franchise of the century so far, let alone one of the best ever made, and the stories and footage chronicled in Wick Is Pain is a true testament to that.

Wick Is Pain is available on digital on May 9.