How Do You Watch the John Wick Movies in Order?

By ReelVerse Editorial TeamPublished 6 min read

Abstract cinematic art of a lone figure in a long coat walking down a rain-soaked neon street at night

Quick Answer

There are five John Wick films: John Wick (2014), Chapter 2 (2017), Chapter 3: Parabellum (2019), Chapter 4 (2023), and the spin-off Ballerina (2025). Release order works fine, but in story order Ballerina goes between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, because its story runs alongside Chapter 3 and wraps up before Chapter 4.

On this page
  1. The John Wick watch order
  2. When does each John Wick movie take place?
  3. What is Ballerina, and do you need to see it?
  4. How did the John Wick movies change over time?
  5. What do you need to know before starting John Wick?
  6. Which John Wick movie should you watch if you only have time for one?
  7. How should you plan a John Wick marathon?
  8. Is John Wick for everyone?
  9. Will there be a John Wick 5?
  10. Frequently Asked Questions
  11. Our Take
  12. Sources

Key Takeaways

  • There are four main John Wick films and one spin-off, Ballerina.
  • In story order, Ballerina goes between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.
  • Ballerina works on its own, so newcomers do not need the other films first.
  • All five films are rated R and run about 11 hours in total.

The John Wick watch order

There are five films in the John Wick series: four main films starring Keanu Reeves and one spin-off, Ballerina. Release dates, runtimes, directors, and ratings in this guide come from Wikidata [1].

Release order

  1. John Wick (2014)
  2. John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
  3. John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum (2019)
  4. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
  5. Ballerina (2025)

Story (chronological) order

  1. John Wick
  2. John Wick: Chapter 2
  3. John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum
  4. Ballerina
  5. John Wick: Chapter 4

The only difference between the two lists is Ballerina, which came out last but is set before Chapter 4. TechRadar's chronological guide places it between the third and fourth films and notes that it mainly takes place in 2019 [2]. TheWrap adds that it technically takes place during the events of Chapter 3 [3].

Where should you start with John Wick? Flowchart: new viewers start with John Wick (2014); viewers who have seen the first three can watch Ballerina and then Chapter 4; Ballerina also works on its own. Where are you starting from? Brand new Start with John Wick (2014). Seen 1 to 3 Ballerina, then Chapter 4. Just Ballerina It works on its own. All five films are rated R.
Where to start depends on what you have already seen.

When does each John Wick movie take place?

The four main films take place in chronological order, so release order and story order match for all four. According to TechRadar's guide [2]:

  • John Wick takes place in 2014.
  • John Wick: Chapter 2 takes place in 2017.
  • John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum is set in 2019.
  • Ballerina is set mainly in 2019, alongside Chapter 3 and before Chapter 4.
  • John Wick: Chapter 4 is set in 2023.
Story years of the John Wick films Timeline of story years: John Wick in 2014, Chapter 2 in 2017, Chapter 3 Parabellum in 2019, Ballerina mainly in 2019 during the events of Chapter 3, and Chapter 4 in 2023. The Continental series is set in the 1970s. When each story takes place 2014 2017 2019 2023 John Wick Chapter 2 Parabellum Ballerina Chapter 4 The Continental (series): 1970s, before all films.
Story years from TechRadar's chronological guide.

The same guide lists The Continental, a prequel TV series set in the 1970s, at the very start of the timeline [2]. It is a series rather than a film, so it is not on our movie lists, but it is the earliest point in the story if you want everything.

What is Ballerina, and do you need to see it?

Ballerina, released in full as From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, is directed by Len Wiseman and stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, an assassin who begins training in the traditions of the Ruska Roma [3]. It is the first film in the series not led by Keanu Reeves [2].

You do not need it to follow John Wick's own story. TheWrap describes it as a stand-alone film with just enough tie-ins to remind you it belongs to a larger universe, and says newcomers can watch it without having seen the other films [3].

If you have already seen the first three films, watching Ballerina before Chapter 4 is the cleanest story-order run. If you are new to the series, start with the original John Wick instead; Ballerina is more rewarding once you recognize the world it borrows from.

How did the John Wick movies change over time?

The first film is a compact revenge thriller. Each sequel expands the hidden world of assassins, rules, and safe hotels, and the films get longer as they go.

Runtimes of the John Wick films Bar chart of runtimes in release order: John Wick 101 minutes, Chapter 2 122, Chapter 3 Parabellum 131, Chapter 4 169, and Ballerina 125, as listed in Wikidata. Runtime in minutes (Wikidata) John Wick (2014) 101 Chapter 2 (2017) 122 Parabellum (2019) 131 Chapter 4 (2023) 169 Ballerina (2025) 125 Release order. Magenta: the Ballerina spin-off.
Runtimes as listed in Wikidata.
No.FilmUS releaseDirectorRuntime (min)Rating
1John Wick2014-10-24Chad Stahelski, David Leitch101R
2John Wick: Chapter 22017-02-10Chad Stahelski122R
3John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum2019-05-17Chad Stahelski131R
4John Wick: Chapter 42023-03-24Chad Stahelski169R
5Ballerina2025-06-06Len Wiseman125R

Chapter 4 is the longest entry at 169 minutes, more than an hour longer than the 101-minute original. All five films together run 648 minutes, a little under 11 hours, based on these Wikidata runtimes.

Chad Stahelski directed all four main films; Wikidata also credits David Leitch as a director of the first [1]. All five films are rated R, so this is a series for adult viewers.

What do you need to know before starting John Wick?

Very little, which is part of the appeal. The first film opens with a simple premise: John Wick, a retired hitman, is pulled back into violence after a personal loss and an attack on his home. Everything else is introduced as he goes.

What makes the series distinctive is its hidden world of assassins who follow strict rules and use certain hotels as neutral ground. The best-known is the Continental in New York, run by Winston Scott, a role Ian McShane has played across the films [4]. It also gives the prequel series its name.

Each sequel adds another layer of that world, so watching out of order makes the rules harder to follow than the plot. That is the main practical reason to start at the beginning: the action works on its own, but the world-building is cumulative.

Which John Wick movie should you watch if you only have time for one?

If you only watch one, we suggest the original John Wick (2014). It is the shortest film in the series at 101 minutes, it tells a complete story, and it is the clearest introduction to the character.

If you already know the basics and want the biggest version of the series, Chapter 4 is the most ambitious entry, but at 169 minutes it is a commitment, and it lands best after the first three films. Ballerina is the one to pick if you want a fresh lead and a self-contained story set in the same world.

How should you plan a John Wick marathon?

At about 11 hours, the series fits into a single weekend if you split it in two:

  1. Day one: John Wick, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3: Parabellum (354 minutes, 5 hours 54 minutes).
  2. Day two: Ballerina and Chapter 4 (294 minutes, 4 hours 54 minutes).

That split also keeps the story order intact, because Ballerina leads into Chapter 4 on the second day. If you cannot fit in a second day, stopping after Parabellum is a natural break: it ends a three-film run, and Ballerina and Chapter 4 work well as their own double feature later.

If you enjoy the series' choreographed action, two longer franchises make good next steps: the Mission: Impossible watch order for stunt-driven spy films, and the Fast and Furious watch order for big ensemble action.

Is John Wick for everyone?

No. All five films are rated R [1], and the series is built around extended fight scenes. If you enjoy the style but want something less intense, the stunt-driven Mission: Impossible watch order is a PG-13 alternative with a similar focus on practical action.

Will there be a John Wick 5?

A fifth main film has been discussed, but no official release date had been announced as of TechRadar's June 2025 report, which said that John Wick: Chapter 5 was still in very early development [4]. Until the studio announces a title and date, treat any plot or casting reports as unconfirmed. We will add it here once it is official.

In the same 2025 report, Ian McShane told TechRadar that an anime film and a possible series called Under the High Table were in the works [4]. Neither had a release date at the time, so we treat both as possibilities rather than confirmed titles, and we will place either one on the timeline once its setting is confirmed.

For another franchise with a growing set of spin-offs around a core series, see our Marvel watch order.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many John Wick movies are there?

Five: four main films from 2014 to 2023 and the 2025 spin-off From the World of John Wick: Ballerina.

Where does Ballerina fit in the John Wick timeline?

Between Chapter 3: Parabellum and Chapter 4. It mainly takes place in 2019, during the events of Chapter 3.

Do I need to watch John Wick before Ballerina?

No. Ballerina is a stand-alone story with a new lead, though it is more rewarding if you know the world from the earlier films.

Is The Continental part of the watch order?

It is a prequel TV series set in the 1970s, so it comes first in the story. It is not a movie, and you do not need it to follow the films.

Our Take

We think the best way to watch John Wick is the simplest: the four Keanu Reeves films in order, with Ballerina slotted in just before Chapter 4 if you want the full picture. The original film is still the tightest of the bunch, and in our opinion it is the right place to start even if you are mainly curious about Ballerina. We would not skip any of the main four, since each sequel builds directly on the last. Ballerina is the one optional entry. This is editorial opinion, not a ranking based on scores.

Sources

  1. Wikidata film records (release dates, runtimes, directors, MPA ratings). Wikimedia Foundation.
  2. How to watch the John Wick movies in order: chronological and release date. TechRadar.
  3. Do You Need to Watch All of the 'John Wick' Movies Before Seeing 'Ballerina'?. TheWrap.
  4. John Wick Chapter 5 is still in very early development. TechRadar.

Release dates, runtimes and ratings come from Wikidata and official sources and can differ by country or edition. We do not track which service is streaming a film right now, because that changes often.Spotted an error? Tell us.