John Wick: Chapter 4 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 91
from 10 reviewers
Review Date:
John Wick: Chapter 4 delivers stunning visuals, top-notch Dolby Vision and Atmos, and relentless, superb action, making it a must-have 4K UHD demo-worthy release.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 95
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'John Wick: Chapter 4' offers a phenomenal native 4K transfer with Dolby Vision HDR, showcasing razor-sharp detail, inky blacks, and vibrant color palettes. The dynamic contrast and superb shadow definition make it a standout reference-quality disc with visually stunning sequences and minimal CGI artifacts.
Audio: 98
John Wick: Chapter 4 boasts an immensely engaging Dolby Atmos track, characterized by deep LFE impact, thundering effects, precise dialogue, and ample surround activity. The immersive audio delivers balanced bass without overwhelming the mix, effectively utilizing atmospheric and directional elements for a demo-worthy experience.
Extra: 77
Lionsgate's 4K UHD Blu-ray release of John Wick: Chapter 4 includes over an hour of engaging, albeit brief, behind-the-scenes featurettes that delve into key aspects like fight choreography, set design, character psychologies, and iconic sequences. Despite some repetition and the absence of a unified documentary, fans will find the extras informative and entertaining.
Movie: 82
John Wick: Chapter 4 impressively sustains the franchise's high-octane action and intricate world-building, delivering nearly three hours of visually stunning, bone-crunching choreography and inventive set pieces. With exceptional performances, particularly from Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen, and meticulous audiovisual quality, it's an action-packed spectacle that's both audacious and satisfying.
Video: 95
Lionsgate's 4K UHD Blu-ray of "John Wick: Chapter 4" is a visual marvel, encapsulating the legendary cinematography of Dan Laustsen. Captured digitally at 4.5K resolution using ARRI ALEXA LF and ALEXA Mini LF cameras, and finished at a 4K digital intermediate, the film unfolds with exquisite detail and grandeur. Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, the HEVC (H.265) encoding perfectly complements the segments shot with Arri cameras, offering razor-sharp clarity, impeccable fine details, and superior texture resolution. From the beads of sweat on John Wick’s forehead to the intricately detailed fabric of his suits, the image quality is astounding, revealing every nuance in the textures.
The UHD presentation shines with Dolby Vision and HDR10, significantly enhancing the film's color palette and contrast. The neon-soaked visual aesthetics typical of the franchise are displayed in stunning clarity. The image quality in scenes such as the Osaka Continental, bathed in rich reds and blues, is particularly noteworthy. Shadows maintain exceptional detail, avoiding any crush, and inky blacks provide profound depth, enriching the night sequences throughout the film. The amber glows of dawn and dusk deliver breathtaking visuals, precisely outlined against cool bluish interiors.
Impressive HDR implementation elevates this transfer to a demo-worthy status. Colors are incredibly vibrant and well-saturated; neon lights and fiery explosions leap off the screen, contrasting brilliantly against black backgrounds. Notably, night scene cinematography benefits greatly from HDR's enhancements, bringing out subtleties in dark environments that standard Blu-ray presentations would lose. Even scenes with complex lighting schemes—like nightclub battles bathed in bright neon lights—remain sharp and vivid. This disc sets a new benchmark for reference-quality video transfer in modern home cinema.
Audio: 98
The Dolby Atmos track in "John Wick: Chapter 4" is a masterclass in immersive audio design. It delivers a ferociously dynamic experience that engages all channels with relentless precision. From the thunderous low-frequency extensions during opening combat sequences to the subtle ambient sounds in quieter scenes, this mix encapsulates the essence of high-quality cinematic audio. Gunfire, explosions, and vigorous hand-to-hand combat resonate with remarkable clarity and depth, making full use of the top and surround speakers. The infamous dragon-fire shotgun blasts stand out with their potent bass notes swirling around the listener.
Dialogue throughout the film is balanced and clear, maintaining clarity even amidst the chaos of intense action scenes. The musical score, crafted by Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard, harmoniously intertwines with the on-screen pandemonium, enriched by strong bass undertones that bolster the viewing experience. Height channels come to life with bullets whizzing past, glass shattering, and debris cascading from above, ensuring a profoundly enveloping audio environment.
In summary, "John Wick: Chapter 4" boasts an extraordinarily engaging Dolby Atmos track defined by its intricate layering and impactful dynamics. The interplay between directional effects, robust bass, and pristine dialogue makes this a standout entry in the series’ audio legacy. Surround and height channels are exploited to their fullest extent, creating a truly enveloping soundscape that elevates the action-packed narrative to new auditory heights. This track is undeniably demo-worthy and sets a high bar for home audio entertainment.
Extras: 77
Lionsgate's 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of "John Wick: Chapter 4" offers a robust collection of behind-the-scenes featurettes that cumulatively span over 77 minutes, available across both 4K and Blu-ray discs. These extras provide an in-depth look at the film's various aspects, from the intricate action sequences and character motivations to set designs and cinematography. While the individual featurettes are concise, averaging around five minutes each, they richly cover subjects like Keanu Reeves' rigorous training, Donnie Yen's blind assassin, and the elaborate one-shot sequences. Though some viewers may find the fragmented format less convenient than a consolidated documentary, there's no shortage of insightful content for aficionados of the franchise.
Extras included in this disc:
- Chad and Keanu: Through Wick and Thin: Overview of Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves' collaboration.
- Train Like a Killer: Coverage of Keanu Reeves' intense training sessions.
- Making A Killing: Exploration of set design and cinematography.
- The Psychology of a Killer: Insights into character motivations.
- The Blind Leading the Fight: Focus on Donnie Yen's portrayal of Caine.
- Suit Up / Shoot Up: Discussion on costume design.
- Packing a Punch: Behind-the-scenes look at major action set pieces.
- One Killer Shot: Analysis of a single-take action sequence.
- Killing at the Speed of Traffic: Examination of the traffic fight scene at the Arc de Triomphe.
- A Shot in the Dark: Challenges of night shooting.
- In Honor of the Dead: Homage to cinematic influences.
- Theatrical Trailer 1
- Theatrical Trailer 2
- The Continental: Sneak peek at the upcoming series.
Movie: 82
"John Wick: Chapter 4" marks a triumphant continuation and possible conclusion to the storied action franchise. Directed by Chad Stahelski, this near three-hour spectacle extends the saga's penchant for elaborate world-building and hyper-stylized action. Picking up directly after "Parabellum," the plot centers around John Wick (Keanu Reeves) regaining strength and waging war against the High Table. With relentless enemies like the Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård) and former friend-turned-foe Caine (Donnie Yen), the film's narrative evolves into an intricately choreographed mélange of vengeance and survival.
Technically adept, "Chapter 4" showcases a stunning blend of visual and audio fidelity that complements its frenetic pacing. The film embraces a vibrant aesthetic shift toward blues and yellows, deviating from its usual purples and teals, enhancing its exotic locales from the neon-lit Osaka Continental to a chaotic German nightclub. The Dolby Vision in 4K impressively handles these color dynamics, bringing each scene to life with striking clarity. Additionally, the film's score and sound design, powered by Dolby Atmos, deliver palpable impacts in every fight sequence, emphasizing gunfire, hand-to-hand combat, and vehicular mayhem with visceral intensity.
The film's cast elevates it further, with veteran actors like Laurence Fishburne and Ian McShane reprising their roles alongside exciting additions. Donnie Yen’s depiction of the blind assassin Caine introduces a new layer of combat artistry, often stealing scenes with his kinetic performances. Meanwhile, Skarsgård’s portrayal of the Marquis provides a cold and calculated villainy that contrasts well with Wick's relentless drive. Scott Adkins also delivers a memorable performance despite being heavily disguised, contributing to the film's layered and flamboyant action sequences.
Overall, "John Wick: Chapter 4" brilliantly combines innovative martial arts choreography, vivid cinematography, and elaborate set pieces to extend its legacy as a genre-defining series. This installment not only stays true to the original's essence but also transcends genre limitations, making it a must-watch for action enthusiasts and cinephiles alike.
Total: 91
"John Wick: Chapter 4" presents a relentlessly engaging and visually stunning action extravaganza that truly excels in holding the audience's attention across its nearly three-hour runtime. Keanu Reeves, in his portrayal of John Wick, commands the screen with a remarkable blend of stoicism and intensity. Directed by Chad Stahelski, the film combines imaginative and innovative action sequences with a uniquely over-engineered underworld setting. The technically proficient script by Shay Hatten, Michael Finch, and Derek Kolstad ensures there's never a dull moment. Indeed, the film's kinetic pace propels it forward with considerable momentum, overcoming the traditional pitfalls of longer cinema.
The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation from Lionsgate is an absolute triumph, featuring native 4K resolution and Dolby Vision HDR that accentuates every rich detail and vibrant color of the film's dynamic cinematography. The Dolby Atmos audio mix further immerses viewers with its meticulously designed soundscapes, ensuring that each gunshot and explosion leaves a visceral impact. This release is top-tier reference material for home theater enthusiasts, underscoring its status as essential demo content. Additionally, the package offers an array of engaging bonus features that delve into the film's production process and the expansive lore of the John Wick universe.
In summary, "John Wick: Chapter 4" continues the franchise's tradition of delivering high-octane action with style and substance. It may not convert those previously unimpressed by the series, but it is an essential watch for fans who crave more of John Wick's ballistic artistry. This 4K UHD Blu-ray release stands as a paragon of audiovisual excellence, making it a must-own for aficionados of modern action cinema. Highly recommended for those who appreciate meticulously crafted action spectacles.
avforums review by Casimir HarlowRead review here
Video: 100
The ultimate multi-genre blend, Christophe Gans 2001 period murder mystery action horror thriller - with Mark Dacascos and martial arts - is one of the great underrated gems from the last quarter-century,...
Audio: 100
Gunshots are plentiful, and weaponry has impact aurally, even if the Batfink levels of suit armour doesn't always reveal that, with the wide arsenal on offer providing diversity for the track too....
Extras: 60
The John Wick series has attracted a multitude of collectible packages right from the original Nova Media offerings for the first film, but Chapter 4 is perhaps the one that has received the most attention...
Movie: 80
The Wick series has always boasted a whole bunch of memorable moments, which either leave you grinning or flinching, or both, and this one's no different there, with nunchucks, a dog, swords, and dragon's...
Total: 90
utter demo and reference material Lionsgate's UK release of John Wick: Chapter 4 enjoys showcasing the next-level audiovisual majesty on offer here, with native 4K and Dolby Vision HDR, as well as Dolby...
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 100
Razor sharp details, sickeningly inky blacks that show everything from the darkest of scenes to the brightest, and fantastic detail levels all the way around....
Audio: 100
Slamming you in the chest with deep waves of LFE straight from the start of the film, it doesn’t let go as it’s a near non stop onslaught of gunfire, punching, and revving engines as John makes his way...
Extras: 80
• Making A Killing: In John Wick, sets are not merely the backdrop for each scene – they are integral parts of the action, with Wick often using whatever is on hand to take the fight to his enemies....
Movie: 70
The John Wick franchise is fascinating to watch, having evolved much like The Matrix or The Fast and the Furious franchise did, starting out as a simple self contained story, only to balloon up into a...
Total: 80
The 4K UHD disc is nothing short of awe dropping demo worthy perfection, and is probably going to only be rivaled by Avatar: The Way of Water for being demo disc of the year....
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 100
From the first moments where a kind of handmade kakite bikei wrapped in rope John uses is shown, fine detail levels are impressive, and even some of the more obvious CGI elements tend to sharper than might...
Audio: 100
The film is so chock full of set pieces that it's hard to even begin to list some of the most noticeable sequences, but both an extended, unedited "shot from above" vignette and a fantastically exciting...
Extras: 100
Train Like a Killer (HD; 5:55) looks at some of the fight choreography and training regimens....
Movie: 80
All of these elements are back in play, and then some, in this fourth outing, as John has come to the semi-reasonable conclusion that the only way he's ever going to be able to survive is to assassinate...
Total: 60
I'll admit it: when I saw the running time for John Wick: Chapter 4, I thought "ai yi yi" and wondered if I'd be regularly checking my watch, but I can happily report that this film is so engaging from...
Blu-ray Authority review by Matt MaloufRead review here
Video: 90
The film doesn’t just take us around the globe, but also, a lot of scenes are at night, but nothing feels shortchanged as it remained a treat to these eyes....
Audio: 100
I sometimes feel the need to fill this space to not look too vacant, but the Dolby Atmos track simply rocks....
Extras: 80
Killing at the Speed of Traffic – A sequence in the film takes place on a busy street with a lot of traffic....
Movie: 0
I also appreciated that it keeps things moving, not just in terms of story, but with the various locations, all of which are a treat to look at....
Total: 90
I never expected to like John Wick: Chapter 4 as much as I did, but not only is it my favorite of this series, but right now, it is my favorite film of the year....
The Digital Bits review by Stephen BjorkRead review here
Video: 100
That’s despite a modest bitrate that averages in the 50Mbps range and rarely rises above 70Mbps, no doubt due to the length of the film and the quantity of the extras....
Audio: 95
The level of deep bass announces itself as soon as the credits finish, when Wick’s fist repeatedly make contact with a training post—every punch lands like a cannon ball, to such a level that it makes...
Extras: 80
There’s a bit of repetition in the interviews (for example, the same clip of McShane is used more than once), so it really would have been best to reedit everything into a unified whole....
Movie: 70
The John Wick series is a franchise that continues to expand, offering more outrageous action, more mythology, and more of the old ultraviolence with each and every film....
Total: 86
Speaking of fans, as with any franchise, aficionados will disagree about which John Wick installment(s) are their personal favorites—it should be abundantly clear at this point where my own sympathies...
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
John Wick 4’s dimensionality is reference, even if the color grading can and will skew the black levels toward various deep blues or greens....
Audio: 100
Beyond the action, voices separate the soundstage flawlessly, varying enough in volume/position to suggest distance from the listening position without visual aid....
Extras: 40
Each major action scene earns a look behind-the-scenes, with additional pieces focused on cast members (Donnie Yen, for instance)....
Movie: 80
John Wick: Chapter 4, while long, does use its time wisely when not focusing on the Continental, gold coins, and ancient rules not even a lawyer could grasp....
Total: 75
John Wick: Chapter 4 is a lot of John Wick to take, but it uses its time wisely while treading toward the absurd....
High-Def Digest review by Bryan KlugerRead review here
Video: 100
Textures in the suits and metallic guns are fantastic, along with the CGI shotgun blasts that explode on impact....
Audio: 100
Punches and weapon contact perfect the art of impact with an incredible low end of bass that never crosses into rocky territory....
Extras: 80
- The training and rehearsal footage is discussed here with some footage from the sessions....
Movie: 90
Keanu Reeves is back and better than ever with a new cast of characters as he battles for survival in the best-looking John Wick to date....
Total: 90
The 4K with Dolby Vision image looks incredible and the Dolby Atmos audio mix sounds exquisite....
Home Theater Forum review by Sam PostenRead review here
Video: 100
...
Audio: 100
If I have any complaint is that there is not as much overhead up and down movement that I can track, which is interesting to see in Shane Lee’s Atmos visualizations....
Extras: 100
I’m still digging through all of them, but with the exception of The Continental trailer (which looks boooogus)...
Movie: 100
you know it means business, paired with the ceremonial arrival of the Bowery King spouting biblical pronouncements adding gravitas and humor simultaneously....
Total: 100
It’s got surprises, heart, and a satisfying conclusion that leaves a LOT of opportunities for what comes next....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 100
The 1080p transfer looks terrific but, this rendering takes it up a notch with an increase in detail, and emboldened highlights, both light and dark....
Audio: 96
This is done to good effect when implemented, creating an enriching level of immersion that coincides with the onscreen events nicely....
Extras: 80
Disc 1: John Wick: Chapter 4 Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc 2: John Wick: Chapter 4 Blu-ray Chad and Keanu: Through Wick and Thin Train Like a Killer Production Featurette Making a Killing - Production Featurette...
Movie: 80
This is certainly not a complaint but, as I sat down to write this, I found myself reaching for many of the same adjectives....
Total: 89
It arrives on Ultra HD Blu-ray from Lionsgate Home Entertainment in this Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray/Digital Combo Pack that features sparkling Ultra HD video in both Dolby Vision and HDR10 flavors, excellent...
Why So Blu? review by Brandon PetersRead review here
Video: 100
Depth: Depth of field is VERY strong here, with excellent pushback that gives off a really nice 3 dimensional look and strong, confident camera movements....
Audio: 100
There is great balance to the vocals, effects and music which all take center stage and hit with good impact while not stepping on one another’s toes....
Extras: 70
Making A Killing (HD, 6:25) – Set design, layout and choreography to use the environment during the action is the focus of this one....
Movie: 90
Each film has found both its director and star wanting to get bigger not just by a budget, but by pushing the limits of what they can do....
Total: 90
The extras provide for a nice, meaty look at the film’s production and the character, creators and series history....
Director: Chad Stahelski
Actors: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, George Georgiou
PlotAfter exacting revenge on the international assassins' guild known as the High Table for the death of his beloved dog and the theft of his prized car, the eponymous protagonist finds himself targeted by the world's most ruthless hitmen and women. Now with a hefty bounty on his head, he must navigate through the dangerous underbelly of the criminal world. With few allies left, he seeks to overturn the High Table's iron grip on the assassin community, embarking on a global quest that takes him to the bustling streets of New York, the historic and shadow-filled alleyways of Paris, and beyond. His determination to find freedom from the shackles of his past life as a killer drives him forward against insurmountable odds.
Alliances form and are tested as he confronts old friends and makes new enemies in his fight for survival and quest for redemption. Skilled in close-quarters combat and with an unrelenting will to preserve his dwindling sense of self, the central character delves deeper into the intricate web of lies and deceit that governs the dark world of assassins, where betrayal lurks around every corner. His journey is one of perseverance and self-discovery, as he wields his distinct set of skills to dismantle the powers that seek to keep him in the perpetual cycle of violence that once defined his existence.
Writers: Shay Hatten, Michael Finch, Derek Kolstad
Release Date: 24 Mar 2023
Runtime: 169 min
Rating: R
Country: Germany, United States
Language: English, Russian, Japanese, Spanish, German, Latin, Cantonese, French