A new documentary centered on the John Wick franchise is set to offer viewers an unfiltered look at the physical and financial toll behind one of the most commercially successful action series of the past decade. Directed by Jeffrey Doe, Wick Is Pain premieres at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles on May 8 and will be released digitally on May 9 through platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, YouTube, Microsoft Movies & TV, and Comcast Xfinity. Pre-orders begin May 1.
The film features Keanu Reeves, director Chad Stahelski, and producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, along with longtime collaborator David Leitch, reflecting on the pressure, risk, and endurance that have defined the series since its inception in 2014. Drawing from years of behind-the-scenes footage, Wick Is Pain captures both the physical demands of production and the uncertain business environment that nearly ended the original film before it was completed.
Reeves, who became synonymous with the character through four films, appears throughout the documentary offering reflections on the role and the intensity of the work involved. “When we say John Wick is pain, it’s kind of like a ‘f*** yeah,’” Reeves says in one scene, referencing the level of commitment expected from everyone involved.
Stahelski describes the first John Wick as a passion project that started with modest expectations. “We had an idea for a low-budget independent movie. Looking back now, more than ten years later, it’s hard to believe what that idea became,” he says in the film. According to Doe, Stahelski encouraged him to avoid glamorizing the story and instead focus on capturing it with accuracy. The result, he says, is a film shaped by “bold candor” from the cast and crew.
The greatest action franchise of the past decade almost never happened. #WickIsPain – On digital 5/9. Pre-order Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/cXEOvyQZH9
— lionsgate (@Lionsgate) April 30, 2025
The first production faced financial instability almost immediately after filming began. Leitch recalled the urgency of the situation: “I don’t know how you find six and a half million dollars by Monday.” Iwanyk was more direct: “I took money out of my house. We are doomed. We are completely f***ed.” Production was salvaged in part by an unexpected investor—actress Eva Longoria—who helped cover the costs that allowed filming to resume.
That early uncertainty did not prevent the project from growing into a commercial powerhouse. John Wick has since led to three sequels, with a fifth confirmed, alongside two spinoffs and multiple related series. Iwanyk noted the intense demands of producing the films. “We have never worked harder on any movie than we have on the John Wick series. Producing a movie is always long hours and stressful times, but John Wick turned that up to the max.”
Reeves continued to perform many of his own stunts throughout the sequels, sustaining injuries and undergoing extensive combat training to portray the character convincingly. The documentary covers the scope of these efforts, showing sequences from rehearsals, fight choreography, and practical effects setups. Doe said the footage spanned nearly a decade of material, much of it never shown to the public.
Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, praised the dedication of those involved in building the franchise. He cited the combination of character focus, committed performances, and a precise approach to filmmaking as core to its lasting appeal.
Wick Is Pain also touches on the cultural and industry influence of the franchise. Conversations are ongoing around the introduction of an Academy Award category recognizing stunt coordination, with John Wick often cited as a key example of the craft’s importance in modern filmmaking.
The release of the documentary comes just ahead of Ballerina, a spinoff starring Ana de Armas. Scheduled for release on June 6, the film centers on an assassin raised in the same Ruska Roma underworld as Wick. Reeves returns for the film, with Stahelski, Iwanyk, and Lee producing. Other upcoming projects include John Wick: Chapter 5, a Donnie Yen-led spinoff, and an anime prequel titled John Wick: Under the High Table. Stahelski and Reeves are executive producing the anime series.
Wick Is Pain was produced by Josh Oreck, Gabriel Roth, and Matthew Sidle, with Tina Carter serving as executive producer. Lionsgate is handling distribution.
