Is John Wick Dead? John Wick 4 Ending Explained

It's been a rough journey for John Wick in the fourth installment of the movie series, but after managing to gain his freedom from the High Table, there is a hint that his fate may not be as final as the inscription on the tombstone suggests. The post-credits scene offers insight into what direction the franchise may take in the future.

How does ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ end?

The Marquis (Bill Skarsgård), a representative for the High Table in Paris, is tasked with eliminating John Wick, who has been removed from the international criminal network. With a bounty of millions of dollars put on his head, Wick presents the Marquis with a duel to the end at the Trocadero, stating that if he wins, he will be granted his freedom. The Marquis appoints Caine (Donnie Yen), John's blind yet lethal friend, to carry out his orders and then Wick and Caine exchange blows until Caine's final blow towards Wick's abdomen puts him on the ground.

The Marquis comes in, hoping to be the one to shoot John Wick for the final time, but it's revealed that his gun was not fired for the last round - giving Wick one last chance as per the High Table regulations - and so John shoots the Marquis in the head. Caine and Winston (Ian McShane) attempt to help the wounded Wick, but he is seen slumped over, looking like he has died.

is Keanu Reeves' John Wick really dead?

The conclusion of the story depicts Winston and the Bowery King returning to New York to visit John Wick's grave. His wife, Helen, has buried him, with a tombstone that reads "Beloved husband" as Wick desired. As they give their final respects, the pit bull's head appears to lift, as if they heard something or someone.

The question of whether it was a random squirrel or if the dog had perceived Wick observing the incident from a distance, still alive, remains unanswered. Fans must wait to find out, as the fifth chapter of the movie was announced in 2020, however, the director Chad Stahelski let The Hollywood Reporter know that he and Reeves have "finished for the present". This is possibly why it is better that the "Wick" world is increasing past its main character, with the prequel series, "The Continental" in the works as well as the spinoff movie "Ballerina" featuring Ana de Armas. It is probable that Reeves will appear in that, but it is assumed that John Wick will come back in some form later.

What is the significance of the end-credits scene in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’?

The Marquis was successful in turning Caine against Wick by using his daughter as leverage, since Caine's association with the High Table was the only thing preventing her from being killed. When Wick wins the final duel, Caine is freed from his service, and in the end-credits scene we see him walking towards his daughter with flowers. However, another woman - Akira (Rina Sawayama) - is seen walking towards him; she had been working for Osaka Continental manager Shimazu (Hiroyuki Sanada) - who was also her father - as his right-hand concierge, and after a confrontation with Wick, swore revenge on Caine for killing her dad. As Akira approaches Caine, we see her take out a knife, leaving viewers with one final vengeful scene to anticipate in the upcoming “John Wick: Chapter 5.”