‘Wick Is Pain’ Documentary Goes Behind the Scenes of the John Wick Franchise

Inside the blood, sweat, and legacy of the John Wick saga.

Lionsgate is giving fans of the John Wick franchise a deep dive into the action-packed world of the beloved series with the upcoming release of Wick Is Pain. This behind-the-scenes documentary explores the gritty, heartfelt, and groundbreaking story of how the franchise came to life. The film will be available to purchase digitally on May 9, with pre-orders starting May 1.

Directed by Jeffrey Doe and featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews, Wick Is Pain highlights the vision, risk, and raw determination that turned a low-budget indie film into a billion-dollar global phenomenon. The documentary will have an exclusive screening at Beyond Fest at the American Cinematheque on May 8 before hitting major digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango at Home, and more.

“It’s the fans that embraced the movie that made it all possible—and made all the pain a pleasure,” said director and franchise co-creator Chad Stahelski. He is joined in the documentary by star Keanu Reeves, Thunder Road producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, and longtime collaborator David Leitch.

The film reveals how the original film nearly didn’t happen.

It struggled with financing before Lionsgate acquired it in 2014. A trilogy of sequels followed that redefined modern action filmmaking and helped inspire a new Academy Award category for stunt work.

“This is a chronicle of that adventure,” said producer Josh Oreck. “Decades of hard work, wild-ass thinking, agony, and resilience built the icon that is John Wick.”

Reeves, who not only starred in the films but contributed to their tone and action design, said, “I’m excited to share and be a part of taking fans behind the curtain on the extraordinary journey of making the John Wick films.”

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson added, “The phenomenal success of the John Wick franchise demonstrates what happens when filmmakers deliver everything fans wish for—emotionally impactful storytelling, characters they care about, and a next-level approach to every aspect of filmmaking.”

Looking ahead, the John Wick universe continues to expand. Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, arrives in theaters June 6, 2025. The studio is also developing John Wick: Chapter 5, a spinoff centered on Donnie Yen’s character Caine, and the series John Wick: Under the High Table, with both Stahelski and Reeves serving as executive producers.

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