John Wick has all the makings of a comic book movie franchise without actually being based on one at all. Written by Derek Kolstad from his own original idea, this high-concept series starring Keanu Reeves in the title role features some of the most remarkable fight scenes ever put to screen — but the world-building in John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2, and John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum is just as exceptional.
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When he arrives at Gianna's ascendence party, a gorgeous affair set in Roman ruins, she knows what her brother has done. To maintain what little agency she has left, Gianna slits her own wrists and John only shoots her after she's dead. But because Santino can't leave well enough alone, he lies and puts a hit of $7 million out on John Wick for assassinating his sister that leads to another huge showdown between John, Santino's minions, and his assassin colleagues Cassian and Ares, all of whom John defeats.
Back in New York, John is forced to visit the Bowery King (Lawrence Fishburne), a low-level player but one with access to resources. The Bowery King gives John seven bullets, one for each million of the bounty, and John returns to the Continental for his showdown with Santino, who has taken up residence there. The rules don't permit assassinations on the property, but John kills Santino anyway.
"I'll kill them all": John Wick, excommunicado
Murdering someone on Continental grounds results in immediate excommunication from the entire underworld network that was once available to John Wick. Because Winston knew Santino set John up, Winston gives him an hour to escape before putting in the excommunicado order, a decision that would bite him back soon enough. The bounty on John's head has also doubled by John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum.
