John Wick Franchise: Why Chapter 4's Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Surprisingly Low

Henrik Larsen

4 min read

Post on May 11, 2025

4.9

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High Expectations and the Burden of Predecessors

The John Wick franchise has built a reputation for stylish action, intricate fight choreography, and compelling storytelling. The previous installments, John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2, and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, all received overwhelmingly positive reviews, setting a high bar for Chapter 4. This success created immense anticipation and hype leading up to the release of the latest chapter.

• John Wick (2014): High Rotten Tomatoes score (86%)
• John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017): High Rotten Tomatoes score (89%)
• John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019): High Rotten Tomatoes score (90%)

This escalating success created a situation where even a truly excellent film might struggle to meet the incredibly high expectations set by its predecessors. Exceeding expectations is a difficult feat; even a great movie can feel slightly underwhelming when compared to the near-perfection of its forerunners. The very success of the franchise might have inadvertently contributed to a lower-than-expected Rotten Tomatoes score for Chapter 4.

Critical Nitpicking and Subjective Reviews

Film criticism, by its nature, is subjective. What one critic considers a minor flaw, another might overlook entirely. Aggregate scores like Rotten Tomatoes, while helpful, can't capture the nuances of individual reviews. Minor complaints about pacing, for example, or certain plot elements, might have been magnified in some critical assessments.

• Common criticisms included the film's length (nearly three hours).
• Some critics found specific plot points less compelling than the action sequences.
• The sheer amount of action, while praised by many, could be interpreted as excessive by others.

These seemingly minor complaints, when aggregated across multiple reviews, can significantly impact the final Rotten Tomatoes score, even if the overall film is considered excellent by many viewers.

Audience vs. Critics Discrepancy: Why the Divide?

A significant difference often exists between audience and critic scores on Rotten Tomatoes. For John Wick Chapter 4, this discrepancy is particularly noticeable. Audiences generally gave the film a much higher rating than critics. This divergence can be attributed to several factors:

• Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score vs. Critics Score: A substantial gap likely exists, highlighting the difference in perception.
• Differing Priorities: Critics might focus on narrative intricacies and thematic depth, while audiences might prioritize the action and entertainment value.
• Genre Expectations: Action movie fans might have different expectations and tolerance levels for certain plot elements compared to critics who analyze films from a broader cinematic perspective.

This difference underscores the subjective nature of film enjoyment and highlights the importance of considering both audience and critical perspectives when assessing a film’s overall quality.

The Impact of Genre Conventions

The action genre itself has specific conventions and expectations. John Wick Chapter 4, while pushing the boundaries of action filmmaking, still operates within the genre's parameters. Deviation from, or even adherence to, those conventions can influence critical reception. For example, some might criticize the film for being "too much" of a typical action movie, whereas others might value its adherence to successful genre formulas.

Marketing and Pre-Release Hype: Managing Expectations

The marketing campaign for John Wick Chapter 4 played a significant role in shaping audience expectations. Intense trailers showcased breathtaking action sequences, raising the anticipation to fever pitch. This over-the-top marketing, while effective in generating excitement, might have inadvertently contributed to unrealistically high expectations.

• The marketing heavily emphasized the action, potentially overshadowing other aspects of the film.
• The trailers might have created a perception of perfection that was difficult to live up to.
• Over-promising can lead to post-release disappointment, regardless of the film's actual quality.

Managing pre-release hype effectively is crucial to ensuring a positive post-release reception. The intensity of the marketing campaign for Chapter 4 might have inadvertently played a role in the slightly lower-than-expected Rotten Tomatoes score.

Conclusion

John Wick Chapter 4's surprisingly low Rotten Tomatoes score is likely a multifaceted issue resulting from high expectations, the subjective nature of critical assessments, and the inevitable gap between audience and critic perspectives. While some critics might have focused on minor flaws or inconsistencies, the film's overwhelmingly positive audience response underscores its undeniable action and entertainment value. The film’s engaging narrative and stunning action sequences clearly resonated strongly with audiences, despite the somewhat lower Rotten Tomatoes score.

Despite the Rotten Tomatoes score, did you find John Wick Chapter 4 to be a satisfying conclusion? Share your thoughts and opinions on the film’s success and its Rotten Tomatoes score in the comments below. Let’s discuss why the John Wick Chapter 4 score might be surprisingly low!