New John Wick Documentary “Wick Is Pain” Drops May 9 — Here’s What to Expect
Fans of the John Wick universe, brace yourselves — a brand-new movie is being released on May 9, but it’s not Ballerina or John Wick 5. Instead, it’s a raw and revealing documentary titled Wick Is Pain, and it’s landing digitally next Friday.
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Far from a prequel or spin-off, Wick Is Pain tells the behind-the-scenes story of how a modest indie film from 2014 — one that almost never got made — grew into a billion-dollar action franchise. The documentary features Keanu Reeves, director Chad Stahelski, producers David Leitch and Basil Iwanyk, and longtime stunt double Jackson Spidell.
Not Just Gun-Fu and Style — But Struggle and Survival
Early reviews and the trailer suggest this is more than a glossy tribute. The film shines a spotlight on the brutal physical toll of the franchise’s fight choreography — and the equally intense emotional strain of pushing a nearly doomed movie across the finish line.
“This is Keanu f***in’ Reeves. You do not wanna let him down,” Stahelski says in the trailer.
At one point, John Wick’s production was so close to collapse that the team needed to find $6.5 million in a matter of days. In a twist even more unexpected than a Wick plot twist, actress Eva Longoria stepped in to save the day, providing the funds that allowed filming to resume.
“I took money out of my house,” Iwanyk recalls. “We are doomed. We are completely f***ed.”
A Decade of Pain — and Success
Directed by Jeffrey Doe, Wick Is Pain includes never-before-seen footage shot over 10 years, capturing both the chaos and camaraderie behind four explosive chapters. It’s a rare peek into what it actually takes to build a cinematic phenomenon — and survive it.
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Keanu’s quote in the trailer says it all:
“When we say John Wick is pain, it’s kind of like a ‘f*** yeah.’”
More Wick Content Still Ahead
While Wick Is Pain arrives digitally on May 9, fans don’t have long to wait for more. The ballerina assassin spin-off Ballerina hits theaters on June 6, starring Ana de Armas with cameos from Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, and the late Lance Reddick.
Additionally, a Donnie Yen-led spin-off and an animated John Wick project are also in development.
But if you’re still mourning Wick’s fate at the end of Chapter 4, this new documentary might just give you a deeper appreciation for the man — and the pain — behind the myth.
Will you be watching Wick Is Pain when it drops next week, or are you holding out for Ballerina? Let us know in the comments.
More…
- https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a64642476/john-wick-is-pain-movie
- https://sea.ign.com/john-wick/227213/news/wick-is-pain-exclusive-trailer-for-the-new-documentary-chronicling-the-john-wick-franchise
- https://action-flix.com/2025/04/30/wick-is-pain-delve-deep-into-the-blockbuster-action-franchise-john-wick-with-the-new-documentary-hitting-in-may
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