John Wick, the action franchise starring Keanu Reeves as a retired assassin seeking revenge for his dog's death, has become a major draw on free streaming services, with fans increasingly turning to platforms such as Pluto TV to watch the films without a subscription. Its growing popularity online comes as anticipation builds for John Wick 5, which will reunite Reeves with director Chad Stahelski and is expected to explore new facets of the title character. The films have long been praised for reinventing action choreography through their highly stylised "gun-fu" sequences.

Since launching in 2014 on a $20 million budget, the franchise has grown steadily in both box office takings and critical acclaim: the original film earned $86 million, while John Wick: Chapter 2 made $174.3 million and scored 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum raised the stakes further with elaborate set pieces including a horseback chase through New York, before John Wick: Chapter 4 became the series' commercial and critical peak, grossing almost $450 million worldwide and achieving a 94% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Reeves is also set to reprise several other well-known roles in the coming months, including John Constantine and Sonic's Shadow.