The John Wick franchise has built its reputation on brutal action, relentless choreography, and one of cinema’s most dedicated leading men. Now, a new documentary Wick Is Pain pulls back the curtain on how it all came together, from near-disaster to global phenomenon.
Releasing digitally on May 9, Wick Is Pain is a raw and unfiltered look at what it took to make the John Wick series the powerhouse it is today. Directed by Jeffrey Doe and produced by franchise staples Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski, the film features over a decade of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage. The documentary dives into the physical toll, creative risks, and sheer chaos that defined the series’ rise from indie gamble to billion-dollar brand.
The franchise had a rough start to life, plagued by financial problems to the point they were faced with being shut down. “We were panicked. This is Keanu fuckin’ Reeves. You do not wanna let him down,” recalls Stahelski, reflecting on the rocky production of the first film. Producer Basil Iwanyk adds bluntly, “We are doomed. We are completely fucked.” When things looked to be falling apart, the rescue came in the form of an unexpected investor: Eva Longoria, who stepped in with $6 million to get the movie back on track.
For Reeves, the documentary is about celebrating the grind. “I’m excited to share and be a part of taking fans behind the curtain on the extraordinary journey of making the John Wick films,” he says. That journey, of course, includes countless stunts performed by Reeves himself, a central reason the franchise helped inspire the Academy’s new stunt category and now stunt teams will be nominated for Oscars from 2028.
Doe said the filmmakers were committed to keeping the story “honest,” with what he calls “bold candor” from cast and crew. The result is, as he describes it, a “raw, unflinching” portrayal of the blood, sweat, and bruises behind the cinematic spectacle.
The documentary arrives just ahead of Ballerina (starring Ana de Armas), and with John Wick 5 and multiple spinoffs on the horizon, Wick Is Pain acts as both a tribute and time capsule. As David Leitch, a producer on the first film, puts it: “It’s safe to say that John Wick changed our lives.”
Wick Is Pain will be available digitally from May 9, check out the trailer below.
Source IGN
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