Hailed as a new action classic among its release, John Wick: Chapter 4, the nearly three-hour “gun-fu” flick starring Keanu Reeves, had a strong opening weekend, selling $73.5 million ($137 million worldwide).
I’m more than fine with this one doing well and wouldn’t be surprised if its the first “new classic” of 2023. Will it be in the Oscars conversation early next year? For technical awards, yeah, sure. Beyond that? I don’t know anymore.
Directed by Chad Stahelski and shot by Dan Laustsen, John Wick: Chapter 4 features a great cast alongside Reeves, including the great Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, the late Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, and Ian McShane.
So far, the film is a 7.8/10 on Metacritic, with IndieWire, Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, The Boston Globe, and The New York Post all hailing the film a new masterpiece.
Here’s where I’m a nerd … I get bored with long choreographed fight set pieces. I like story and character most often. But these John Wick films are undeniably impressive in their scope, execution, and entertainment value. And, obviously, those crazy set pieces will probably go down in history as some of the greatest action sequences.
Also at the Box
Michael B. Jordan’s Creed III took the No. 2 spot over its fourth weekend of release, selling another $10.44 million, upping its total to a whopping $246 million worldwide. Gotta be happy for MBJ.
DC dud Shazam! Fury of the Gods took the No. 3 spot over its second weekend, bringing in another $9.7 million. The franchise film has sold just $46 million in tickets in the U.S. and $102 million worldwide. Those aren’t your normal superhero box numbers.
On down the line, Scream VI ($8.4 million) and 65 ($3.2 million) rounded out the Top 5.
Avatar: The Way of Water sold another $1.4 million in the U.S., bringing its 100-day worldwide sales total to just over $2.3 billion. My goodness, James Cameron. The Way of Water is now the No. 3 highest-grossing film of all time, sharing company with the original Avatar at No. 1 ($2.9 billion) and Avengers: Endgame at No. 2 ($2.8 billion). Titanic is now No. 4 with $2.3 billion. For those keeping track, Cameron is responsible for three of the four highest-grossing films ever made. What on Earth is wrong with you people?
New this Week
More than likely, this weekend will see John Wick: Chapter 4 continuing to kick some butt. Will it hold down the No. 1 spot at the U.S. box office? Maybe, but it’ll see some strong competition from the wide release of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Justice Smith, and Sophia Lillis.
I know a few D&D people who saw early screenings and were surprisingly happy with the film.
Also be on the lookout for Spinning Gold, Smoking Causes Coughing, A Thousand and One, and the wide expansion of Zach Braff’s A Good Person.
