3 Years Later, Keanu Reeves’ $447 Million Blockbuster Makes Mincemeat of Streaming Competition

Keanu Reeves was among the highest-paid stars in Hollywood after The Matrix challenged norms and altered the landscape in 1999. Reeves spent the next decade or so working on smaller-scale projects, with the odd mega-budget tentpole thrown in. But those large-scale films — The Day the Earth Stood Still, Constantine, and 47 Ronin — weren't as commercially successful as expected. In 2014, Reeves headlined a pared-down action movie that took the audience by surprise — John Wick. Not only did it do solid box-office business, but it also became a home video sensation. It was clear that the film had struck a chord with the audience and that it deserved a franchise of its own. That's exactly what happened, with each new installment outgrossing the last. Collectively, the action franchise has generated more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office, with the most recent installment having debuted in 2023. The movie is witnessing a resurgence on streaming, as fans wait for a fifth film.