6. ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ (1966)

The fourth installment of the “John Wick” series pays homage to Sergio Leone’s classic Spaghetti Western ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.’ A short fight scene between two unknown cowboys in the middle of a desert landscape is highly reminiscent of the iconic Mexican Standoff featured in Leone’s iconic film.

BBC Lifestyle / ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ (1966) is one of the iconic movies of the 1960s that “John Wick” makes reference to.

5. ‘The Killer’ (1989)

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ also includes several references to John Woo’s classic action movie – ‘The Killer,’ including an opening shootout sequence set in a train station that replicates the same setup used in Woo’s film.

Furthermore, the film also references Woo’s signature move: ‘Gun Fu,’ where John Wick gracefully twirls his pistols in an acrobatic-like fashion.

4. ‘The Matrix Revolutions’ (2003)

This latest installment of the ‘John Wick series’ also pays tribute to ‘The Matrix’ trilogy with a scene featuring Neo’s iconic phrase – “I know kung fu.” This is reminiscent of the famous fight scene between Neo and Agent Smith in ‘The Matrix Revolutions.’

In this scene, Neo dodges bullets while performing martial arts moves.

3. ‘The Exorcist’ (1973)

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ features several subtle nods to William Friedkin’s horror classic, ‘The Exorcist.’ The most notable reference is the film’s iconic demon – Regan, who appears in a brief appearance during one of the fight sequences.

USA Today / ‘The Exorcist’ is one of the iconic films “John Wick: Chapter 4” makes reference to.

2. The Grandmaster (2013)

The ‘John Wick’ series also references Wong Kar-Wai’s martial arts epic ‘The Grandmaster,’ with a brief but pivotal scene featuring John Wick facing off against an unknown master martial artist in a deserted alleyway.

This scene showcases some of the same moves featured in The Grandmaster, such as lightning-fast strikes and acrobatic leaps.

1. ‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998)

‘John Wick 4’ pays homage to the anime classic ‘Cowboy Bebop’ with a short showdown between two bounty hunters, replicating the iconic fight scene between Spike Spiegel and Vicious in ‘Cowboy Bebop.’ This scene features some of the same martial arts moves seen in the anime, such as aerial kicks and roundhouse punches.

IMBD / One of the historic movies “John Wick: Chapter 4” makes reference to is “Cowboy Bebop.”

Thus, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is a thrilling action movie that pays homage to classic films from different genres. Whether it is Westerns, horror movies, martial arts epics, or even anime, this fourth installment masterfully blends references to these iconic films into one exhilarating experience—a must-watch for any fan of John Wick or action movies in general.

Parting Thoughts

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is an adrenaline-filled ride through some of history’s most popular action films. From Sergio Leone’s Western classic to Wong Kar-Wai’s martial arts epic and even anime, this film has something for everyone. With its thrilling action sequences and witty references to iconic films, “John Wick: Chapter 4” is a must-watch for any fan of the genre.

However, another fascinating thing is that the blockbuster makes references (numberless references) to cult classics. And these references only add up to the beauty of the film.

Sven Kramer

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