He’s Back – JOHN WICK Celebrates 10 Years Of The Baba Yaga!

By Michelle McCue | October 24, 2024

“People keep asking if I’m back and I haven’t really had an answer. But now, yeah, I’m thinkin’ I’m back”

In his 2014 Fantastic Fest review, WAMG’s Michael Haffner said of JOHN WICK, “there’s a new vengeful badass in town and his name is John Wick.”

The 10th anniversary of the John Wick marks a significant milestone for the franchise, and it’s exciting to see how it’s being celebrated. The film that started it all returns to theaters for two nights only on November 3, 2024 & November 6, 2024. and includes a sneak peek at BALLERINA.

https://www.fathomevents.com/events/john-wick-10th-anniversary

Directed by Chad Stahelski, when members of a notorious New York mob attack John Wick—a brilliantly lethal ex-assassin—and kill his dog, he hunts them down with the skill and ruthlessness that made him an underworld legend. The film stars Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Lance Reddick, Toby Leonard Moore, with Ian McShane, with John Leguizamo, and Willem Dafoe.

Having grossed $86.1 million worldwide, JOHN WICK was the 89th highest-grossing movie of 2014. Check out this behind-the-scenes action clip.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the anniversary’s highlights.

BALLERINA: Opening in theaters on June 6, 2025, this prequel film is a major part of the anniversary celebrations. Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. It stars It stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves. The film has been praised for its stunning action sequences and its exploration of the franchise’s mythology.

JOHN WICK PINBALL: The John Wick pinball machine is a fun and interactive way to experience the world of the franchise. It features iconic characters, locations, and weapons from the movies, and it’s a great way to test your skills and have fun with friends and family. Accompanying the high-quality film and audio assets woven into the gameplay, John Wick pinball games will include custom narration by critically acclaimed actor Ian McShane as Winston and an original score composed by Charlie Benante of Anthrax and Pantera fame.

John Wick Experience in Las Vegas:

Las Vegas prepares to welcome a dramatic new experience as the neo-noir world of John Wick arrives in The Neon City. Lionsgate is teaming up with AREA15, an immersive entertainment district located minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, to transport fans into the JOHN WICK EXPERIENCE, a new attraction slated to open later this year. Franchise director Chad Stahelski and his team at 87Eleven Entertainment are collaborators on the project, making it a bona fide destination for fans. The experience is based on the billion-dollar John Wick motion picture franchise, which Stahelski also produces with Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee at Thunder Road Films.

The JOHN WICK EXPERIENCE is an approximately 12,000-square-foot ticketed attraction located on the AREA15 campus, a curated collection of best-in-class immersive experiences, interactive attractions, events and entertainment. The new experience blends immersive theatre and highly themed cinematic environments to create an interactive journey that transcends reality. Guests step through the doors of the Las Vegas Continental and into the fantastical underworld of John Wick, where they navigate a high stakes adventure as well as visit a themed bar and retail shop open to the general public.

Each group of guests will be tasked with specific missions, playing out in unique ways with characters, mythology and iconography from the Wick universe. They may rub elbows with Continental staff, assassins, crime bosses, or other curious guests like themselves within the relative safety of the Continental. Guests will be drawn into the culture, trusted with secrets, and invited to private areas of the Continental, promising an authentic and compelling action-packed experience.

To bring audiences into the world of Wick, Lionsgate and franchise director Chad Stahelski are working closely with Egan Productions, the producer of the experience. A leading creator of escapes, attractions, and live events, with more than 20 years of expertise in all aspects of production and operations, Egan previously collaborated with Lionsgate on The Official SAW Escape, which opened in 2018 and has been named Best Escape Room by USA Today, and Escape Blair Witch, which opened in 2021. Along with The Hunger Games: The Exhibition, the JOHN WICK EXPERIENCE marks Lionsgate’s fourth Las Vegas attraction based on the studio’s beloved IP.

“It’s always gratifying to see people embrace your story and characters, whether on the big screen or with a fully immersive experience like this one,” said Stahelski. “The teams at Lionsgate, AREA15 and Egan really dive into this world, and I’m excited that fans will experience it live in Vegas.”

“One of the things I love about the John Wick franchise is the idea that there’s a whole world of alliances and vengeance hiding in plain sight – all converging within the worldwide locations of the Continental. This experience draws fans into that world like never before, and AREA15 is an ideal place for fans to live out the fantasy, action and danger portrayed in the films,” said Jenefer Brown, Executive Vice President & Head of Global Products and Experiences at Lionsgate.

“We are enormously proud Lionsgate selected AREA15 for the JOHN WICK EXPERIENCE, which elevates our growing roster of premier experiences yet again,” said Winston Fisher, CEO, AREA15. “Now, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors and fans of the franchise. After all, you never know who you’re going to meet in Las Vegas and, with this addition, it will be even more mysterious, intriguing and mind-blowing.”

“My entire team is thrilled to be working alongside Lionsgate to introduce yet another exciting attraction here in the entertainment capital of the world,” said Jason Egan. “Combining our talents with the creative genius of the films and a world-class venue like AREA15 will make the JOHN WICK EXPERIENCE a can’t miss destination for fans.”

The launch of this experience comes as Lionsgate continues to expand the world of Wick, recently announcing a deal with Stahelski to assume creative oversight of the franchise across all multimedia platforms. In addition to the four hit films, the John Wick universe includes the television series The Continental: From the World of John Wick, one of Peacock’s biggest original launches of 2023.

Overall, the 10th anniversary of the John Wick events is a great time to celebrate the franchise’s success and to immerse yourself in its world. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.