John Wick is an American neo-noir action thriller media franchise created by Derek Kolstad and centered on John Wick, a former hitman who is drawn back into the criminal underworld he had previously abandoned. The franchise includes three films: John Wick (2014), John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019). The first film follows John Wick, a retired assassin who returns to his old ways after a group of Russian gangsters steal his car and kill a puppy which was gifted to him by his late wife Helen). The subsequent films follow John as he faces new challenges and enemies in his quest for revenge. The franchise has been praised for its stylish action sequences, Keanu Reeves performance as John Wick, and its unique take on the action genre.