Keanu Reeves’ action juggernaut makes history as one of the rare R-rated films to pass China’s strict censors without edits. Can it dominate the Chinese box office?
In an unexpected move that has stunned both Hollywood and Chinese film analysts, John Wick: Chapter 4 is set to hit theaters in China on March 14, 2025—a staggering two years after its original global release. Even more surprising? The ultraviolent, R-rated action spectacle starring Keanu Reeves has been approved by Beijing’s notoriously strict censors without a single cut.
This marks a historic moment for the John Wick franchise, as none of its previous installments had been granted theatrical releases in China. R-rated films featuring extreme violence are typically either heavily edited or outright banned in the country. Even Marvel’s ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, which debuted in China last year, underwent censorship, toning down explicit violence and dialogue before hitting the big screen.
So, how did John Wick break through where so many others have failed?
China Welcomes the Baba Yaga – Without a Fight
Industry insiders speculate that China’s growing appetite for high-adrenaline Hollywood blockbusters may have played a role in the film’s unexpected approval. The decision to release John Wick 4 in its full, unaltered form could signal a loosening of restrictions on select foreign films, especially those with proven box office power.
The film is being distributed by Huahua Media, a Chinese company known for handling the local marketing and releases of major Hollywood productions. Huahua has often navigated the country’s strict censorship landscape with surprising flexibility, and its involvement could explain why John Wick 4 made it through the approval process unscathed.
Box Office Prospects: Can ‘John Wick 4’ Dominate China?
With a global box office haul exceeding $440 million, including $187 million domestically, John Wick 4 is already the most successful entry in the franchise. Now, all eyes are on China to see if it can give the film a second life and push it past the half-billion mark.
The Chinese box office remains one of the most lucrative and unpredictable in the world. While foreign action films with strong martial arts elements—like Fast & Furious or Mission: Impossible—often perform well, China’s film industry has also grown increasingly self-sufficient, with homegrown blockbusters often dominating ticket sales.
However, the inclusion of Donnie Yen, a Chinese martial arts legend, could work in the film’s favor. His role in John Wick 4 as the blind assassin Caine was widely praised, and his popularity in China might attract an even larger audience.
The Future of John Wick – Is This Really the End?
Although marketed as the final chapter in the John Wick saga, the film’s open-ended conclusion and the franchise’s massive profitability suggest that Keanu Reeves’ time as the legendary assassin might not be over just yet.
One thing is certain: the John Wick universe is still expanding. A spinoff film, ‘Ballerina,’ starring Ana de Armas, is set for release on June 6, 2025, and will feature Reeves in a cameo.
For now, all eyes are on China. Will John Wick 4 slay the Chinese box office just as effortlessly as its titular character dispatches his enemies? Fans won’t have to wait long to find out.
