A new documentary chronicling the unlikely rise of the John Wick franchise is set to debut next week. Wick Is Pain, releasing May 9 on major digital platforms, goes behind the scenes with the creators of the global action series that has earned more than $1 billion at the box office.
The film will premiere a day earlier, May 8, in an exclusive screening at Beyond Fest at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles. Pre-orders for the digital release begin May 1.
Directed by Jeffrey Doe and produced by Josh Oreck, Gabriel Roth, and Matthew Sidle, Wick Is Pain features new interviews with star Keanu Reeves, director and producer Chad Stahelski, and producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road. The team reflects on the hurdles faced in bringing the first film to life, including struggles with financing and distribution before Lionsgate acquired the rights in 2014.
“It’s a privilege to take fans behind the curtain on the extraordinary journey of making the John Wick films,” Reeves said in a statement.
The documentary highlights the franchise’s influence on action filmmaking and its role in inspiring a new Academy Award category for stunt work. It also offers insights from cast and crew members on how the story developed into one of modern cinema’s most commercially and creatively successful franchises.
Executive produced by Tina Carter, the film captures how an independent film project evolved into a signature brand for Lionsgate and sparked three sequels, with each installment expanding its reach and stylistic imprint.
Wick Is Pain will be available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Microsoft Movies & TV, Comcast Xfinity, and other digital retailers.
