The article argues that the four John Wick films should be viewed not only as action thrillers but as a modern fantasy franchise, and recommends binge-watching them on HBO Max before they leave the service on 31 July. It says the series matters because director Chad Stahelski builds an expansive hidden world beneath everyday society, using assassin rituals, codes and institutions to create the depth usually associated with fantasy settings.

Rather than relying on magic or mythical creatures, the films use gold coins, blood-debt markers, the Continental hotel and the High Table as equivalents to enchanted objects, sanctuaries and royal courts. The article highlights how the films avoid lengthy explanations, gradually revealing a centuries-old global assassin society through details such as specialised concierges, tailors, doctors and operators; later instalments expand its reach from New York to Rome and Morocco.