John Wick: Chapter 2

Right now you can watch John Wick: Chapter 2 in Australia on Stan, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 14,384 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Keanu Reeves anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Put it on tonight on Stan and see for yourself.

There is a reason John Wick: Chapter 2 keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting gives John Wick: Chapter 2 its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. John Wick is forced out of retirement by a former associate looking to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to aid him, Wick travels to Rome and does battle against some of the world’s most dangerous killers. Credit to Keanu Reeves and Common for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. It hit screens in 2017. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — John Wick: Chapter 2 passes that test consistently. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in John Wick: Chapter 2. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Keanu Reeves's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.