TheJohn Wickfranchise isn’t exactly famous for its Easter eggs, but there are still plenty of fascinating hidden details for fans who know where to look. Chad Stahelski rarely makes his Easter eggs too obvious. Instead, they require the audience to think a little deeper. Stahelski has spoken about his fondness for classical music, Greek mythology, art and old action movies, soJohn Wickfans should pay extra close attention to these details.
With the firstJohn Wickspinoff,Ballerina,coming soon, audiences will be trying to pick up on some more subtle details. As theJohn Wicktimelinegets another knot, it’s worth remembering thatThe Continentalalso featured several Easter eggs, with references to the coreJohn Wickmovies and much more. SinceJohn Wick 5is also on the cards, there’s still plenty of time for fans to get keyed into Stahelski’s way of thinking.
10John Wilkes Booth’s Gun Is In Parabellum
Winston Has A Replica In His Collection
Winston’s collection of firearms inChapter 3 - Parabellumfits his stature as a man of class. Among his neatly arranged collection is a small pistol that doesn’t seem to fit in. Although the movie doesn’t exactly draw attention to it, history buffs might recognize it as a replica of the Derringer John Wilkes Booth used to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.
It’s a nice touch to draw parallels betweenJohn Wick’s killers and real assassins from history.
Booth is one of history’s most famous assassins, so it makes sense that Winston might have a token in his honor. Even though the assassins in theJohn Wickfranchise are primarily motivated by money - not politics - it’s a nice touch to draw parallels between them and real assassins from history.
9Chapter 4’s Casino Royale Tribute Goes Deeper Than You Might Think
John Wick References The James Bond Movie And The Novel
When John sits down for a high-stakes game of poker inChapter 4,it’s hard not to think aboutCasino Royale.Like theJames Bondmovie, the game has a lot more riding on it than the chips on the table or any money, butJohn Wick’s reference is deeper than it seems.
John Wick: Chapter 4’s poker scene is more accurate to Ian Fleming’s novel than theCasino Royalemovie in some ways.While Mads Mikkelsen plays the Bond villain Le Chiffre opposite Daniel Craig, his version of the character isn’t particularly faithful. Fleming describes the villain as an overweight gambler who puffs on an inhaler, more like Killa Harkan inJohn Wick.
8The Song The DJ Plays In Chapter 4 Is A Nod To The Warriors
John Wick References The ’70s Action Thriller
As John Wick tries to evade dozens of assassins in Paris, a DJ updates the criminal underworld on his movements using coded messages. This adds plenty of style to the drama, but it’s also a reference to the cult classic ’70s action flickThe Warriors.
John Wick: Chapter 4 goes even further with its homage toThe Warriors.As well as featuring a similar DJ character, it also plays a cover of “Nowhere to Run”.John Wick’s version is sung by Lola Colette, whileThe Warriorsfeatured a cover by Arnold McCuller.
7John Wick Pays Tribute To Keanu Reeves' Role In Point Break
The First Movie Has An Easter Egg Referencing Reeves' Heist Thriller
The firstJohn Wickmovie features a subtle reference to one ofKeanu Reeves' best movies, which came out years beforeThe Matrix.When one of Tarasov’s men can be seen playing a video game, he’s online with another gamer who uses the alias “Point Break”.
Point Breakstars Reeves as an FBI agent named Johnny Utahwho infiltrates a gang of bank robbers who share over their love of surfing. It’s a ridiculous premise, but Reeves and Patrick Swayze both deliver compelling performances, and Kathryn Bigelow’s direction makes it a heist thriller to remember.
6Greek Mythology References Run Throughout The Franchise
Charon Is Just One Nod To Greek Mythology
Theworld ofJohn Wickshares some similarities with chapters from Greek mythology.Some of these references are more obvious, like Charon’s name, and the fact that John pays him with a gold coin. Other allusions to Greek myth are harder to pick up, even if they help flesh out the world of the franchise.
One reference to Greek myth that fans might not have noticed on first watch is the name of John’s wife. Helen of Troy is said to be the most beautiful woman in the world, and Christopher Marlowe famously wrote that hers was “the face that launched a thousand ships.” InJohn Wick,Helen is the ideal of beauty and peace to John, and her death sends him to war.
5A Security Guard In John Wick Can Be Seen Reading A Book About A Master Assassin
Shibumi Could Be An Influence On John Wick
In one blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in the firstJohn Wickmovie, a security guard can be seen reading a copy ofShibumiby the American author Trevanian.Shibumitells the story of a highly skilled assassin who tries to live a peaceful life until a visit from a stranger drags him back to his old ways.
The parallels betweenShibumi’s story andJohn Wickare obvious, but it’s unclear if the book’s presence in the movie is merely an homage, or if it counts as Chad Stahelski’s way of highlighting one of his key influences. In August 2022,it was announced that Stahelski would direct an adaptation ofShibumi,although updates on this project have been hard to come by.
4Keanu Reeves Echoes One Of His Lines From The Matrix
By now, mostJohn Wickfans will know that Chad Stahelski worked as Keanu Reeves' stunt double in theMatrixfranchise. Laurence Fishburne’s casting inChapter 2provided aMatrixreunion for Neo and Morpheus, butJohn Wickresisted the temptation of a directreference untilChapter 3 - Parabellum.
John’s line “Guns. Lots of guns.",after his privileges at the Continental get reinstated, is exactly the same as one of Neo’s most famous quotes in the firstMatrixmovie.Reeves even delivers the line with almost identical intonation, proving that he’s in on the joke.
3John’s Watch Reveals A Clue About His Training
The Tracker Wears His Watch In The Same Way
TheJohn Wickfranchise is filled with small details which hint at John’s past, even if it never shows him while he’s still a working assassin. One subtle detail comes from the way that he wears his watch, which some people might recognize as a common military tactic.
John wears his watch on the inside of his wrist, so that it doesn’t get in his way while fighting, and so that the glare doesn’t give away his position if he’s trying to be stealthy. A few other characters use this trick, such as the Tracker.This is just one more point to illustrate the similarities between John and the Tracker.
2The Marquis Studies A Painting That Foreshadows His Downfall
John Wick: Chapter 4tells a story that spans the globe, and it ends in Paris. While this might just seem like another exotic location to add to the list, the history of France provides some clues as to why this is the perfect place for John’s final showdown with teh Marquis.
While the Marquis talks to Winston in the Louvre,one painting that’s displayed prominently isLiberty Leading the Peopleby Eugéne Delacroix. This painting depicts the spirit of the French Revolution, which echoes John’s fight to topple the High Table. The Marquis doesn’t see it at the time, but he represents the French nobility in this metaphor. His fate is the same as many members of France’s ruling class after the revolution.
1John Wick Repeatedly Pays Tribute To Buster Keaton
The Silent Film Star Was Famous For Doing His Own Stunts, Just Like Keanu Reeves
John Wick: Chapter 2starts with the image of Buster Keaton’sSherlock Jr.projected on a wall. Shortly afterward, there’s a motorbike stunt that looks strikingly similar to one from Keaton’s comedy.This may be the most overt reference to Keaton’s work in theJohn Wickfranchise, but it’s just one of many.
John’s fall from the rooftop inChapter 3 - Parabellumis another nod to Keaton.
Buster Keaton’s moviesshowcase some of the wildest stunts ever performed on film, which has made him a hero to stuntmen like Chad Stahelski. John’s fall from the rooftop inChapter 3 - Parabellumis another nod to Keaton, andChapter 4briefly features another projection during the scene in the Parisian metro station.
