WICK IS PAIN

(director: Jeffrey Doe; editor: Nick Bradford; cast: Keanu Reeves, Chad Stahelski, David Leitch; Runtime: 126; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Josh Oreck, Gabriel Roth, Matthew Sidle; Lionsgate; 2025)

“Provides behind-the-scenes looks at how the film was made.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Ten years ago, in 2014, a low-budget action pic called John Wick was released with first-time directors, the former stunt performers Chad Stahelski and his partner David Leitch. The stylish and well-written film became a box office hit despite facing many obstacles (financially and creatively). Over the years there have been a total of four John Wick films and all of them were known for their fervor, and were acclaimed by the critics and were box office hits. It’s now a billion dollar franchise. This June, the fifth Wick film, Ballerina, a spinoff, is scheduled to be released. Leitch walked away from the franchise after the first film and was not missed.

Jeffrey Doe, directed Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud” music video, directs this lively and informative documentary and provides behind-the-scenes looks at how the film was made, shows unseen before archival footage and conducts interviews with the 60-year-old Wick star Keanu Reeves and its first film co-directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch.


The celebratory film is divided into four chapters, with the most significant one telling how their first film got made.


It should attract the Wick fan and might also attract those who never saw a Wick film.

REVIEWED ON 6/6/2025  GRADE: B
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