Keanu Reeves is one of the biggest action stars of this century, but some John Wick action scenes have taken a surprising physical toll on him. Reeves has starred as the titular character in all four John Wick movies, and will reprise his role in the upcoming Ballerina spinoff. The franchise, which first began in 2014 with the breakout hit of the same name, has been praised for the many mind-blowing action scenes featured in the series, such as Chapter 4‘s prolonged staircase fight sequence and Chapter 3‘s horse chase.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Reeves recently attended a screening in Los Angeles to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the first John Wick movie. Speaking at the event, the actor reflected on filming some of John Wick‘s infamous action scenes, and revealed that he actually threw up on numerous occasions. Read his full quote below:
Every day is a gift. I had so many wonderful teachers and guidance and worked with so many talented actors, actresses, and stunt people in the sense of it’s such a dance and collaboration and cooperation.
There’s a couple of times where you throw up or puke or whatever,
but that’s what makes it good.
Reeves Is One Of The Best Action Stars Of All Time, & John Wick Could Be His Defining Role
Years before John Wick, Reeves also starred in another major action movie franchise: The Matrix. Sequences in The Matrix series were revolutionary thanks to their choreography and special effects, which led many to believe that Neo would be the role that Reeves would always be best known for. However, since the first John Wick movie hit theaters a decade ago, it is very possible that his performance as the dog-loving assassin is what most people identify as Reeves’ definitive role.
|
Every John Wick Movie |
Release Year |
RT Critics Score |
|---|---|---|
|
John Wick |
2014 |
86% |
|
John Wick: Chapter 2 |
2017 |
89% |
|
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum |
2019 |
89% |
|
John Wick: Chapter 4 |
2023 |
94% |
|
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina |
2025 |
n/a |
Similar to The Matrix, the John Wick franchise, which grew more and more ambitious with each entry, is full of several jaw-dropping sequences. Some of the best fight scenes in John Wick include the overhead shooter, the Osaka Continental battle, and the Paris staircase fight. Reeves’ dedication to performing these stunts has only made the movies better, and it’s impressive to see what he can pull off. His unfortunate physical reactions to some of these action scenes are only a testament to the work he puts in.
Our Take On John Wick’s Fight Scenes Making Keanu Reeves Sick
Reeves’ Dedication Is Impressive
There is no doubting that John Wick is one of the most critically-acclaimed and financially successful action franchises of the last decade. It is clear that Reeves and the entire team behind the John Wick films, including director Chad Stahelski, put everything they had into each movie. Therefore, Reeves admitting that he had to throw up on several occasions while filming further proves how committed he was to making the films the best they could be. Wick has become one of the most popular characters to emerge in recent years, and it will be exciting to see him return in the Ballerina spinoff.
Source: Entertainment Weekly