John Wick: Chapter 4 proves it's on target with audiences, as the neo-noir title is the most in-demand movie of 2023 so far, according to a new study.
Per The Wrap via ScreenRant, a study from Parrot Analytics found Chapter 4 attracted 216 times the demand of the average movie to become the most popular film of the year to date, beating multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe titles and the tenth Fast & Furious movie along the way. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 finished a close second in the ranking while Fast X rounded out the podium. The demand metrics were calculated through a propriety system aggregating account viewership, social media engagement and search engine queries, among other factors.
Chapter 4 didn't come close to matching the box-office success of Vol. 3, with the latest John Wick installment earning a franchise-best $432.4 million in worldwide ticket sales compared to the Guardians of the Galaxy threequel's take of $832.8 million. However, Chapter 4 proved to be the better critical success and was highly popular among viewers, with the Lionsgate feature earning a 94% critical rating and a 93% audience score via Rotten Tomatoes. By comparison, Vol. 3 boasts an 81% critical rating and 94% audience score. Meanwhile, Fast X has been a critical disappointment with an unspectacular box-office return, earning $711 million on its eye-raising $340 million budget. The star-studded Fast & Furious installment has just a 57% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What Makes John Wick: Chapter 4 So Special?
Deemed the best-ever film in the John Wick series, Chapter 4 saw Keanu Reeves' titular hitman fight for his freedom from the High Table, with Wick facing off against countless mercenaries until coming to a life-or-death showdown with Marquis da Gramont (Bill Skarsgård). The ending of Chapter 4 seemingly saw Wick meet his demise despite winning his freedom. However, it appears Lionsgate isn't ready to let the franchise die just yet, as it was recently confirmed that Chapter 5 is in development.
Directed by Chad Stahelski, Chapter 4 featured Reeves and Skarsgård alongside Donnie Yen (Caine), Laurence Fishburne (The Bowery King), Scott Adkins (Killa), Ian McShane (Winston Scott) and the late Lance Reddick (Charon), who passed away a week before the movie's release. Chapter 4 is the 9th-highest-grossing title of 2023 and received an MTV Motive & TV Award nomination.
Chapter 4 is now available on home video and will stream via Starz starting Sep. 26. Meanwhile, franchise spinoff series The Continental premieres Sep. 22 via Peacock, while a feature film in the John Wick universe, Ballerina, opens in theaters on Jun. 7, 2024.
Source: The Wrap via Screen Rant