A-list star Keanu Reeves has maintained and broken many impressive records. However, there’s one curious trend the actor continues to this day.
SUMMARY
Keanu Reeves has played characters named John in 10 movies and a video game, showing a unique trend in his career.
Despite John Wick being his standout role, Reeves has showcased his acting range in other films like Much Ado About Nothing and Constantine, and more “John-related projects” are in the works.
Keanu Reeves is one of the most famous actors in the world, and with starring roles in films like Point Break, Constantine, and John Wick, Reeves has maintained an interesting trend throughout his career that has spanned three decades.
Known for his unique delivery and everyman persona, Keanu Reeves is one of the biggest movie stars of his generation. From franchises like The Matrix and John Wick movies to standalone works in multiple media, including animation and video games, Reeves has done it all.
Despite his comely onscreen presence and soft-spoken voice, Keanu Reeves’ action roles have particularly helped redefine his career while also still maintaining a close relationship with this curious trend.
His string of successes in the John Wick saga have been enough to keep the actor busy and in the public eye, although it is unclear whether John Wick 5 will happen. From the early 1990s well into the 2020s, Reeves has maintained a somewhat fun trend that even his cameo appearance in the upcoming action revenge thriller, Ballerina, looks to continue.
Keanu Reeves Has Played Characters Called John In 10 Different Movies (& One Video Game)
Even Reeves’ Johnny Silverhand stands out as one of Reeves’ best roles.
Beginning with his role in the heist film, Point Break, Reeves has played a character named John in some form or another in ten movies and one video game, considering 2020s Cyberpunk and its 2023 downloadable content (DLC), Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty.
Whether Reeves’ affinity for playing characters is a coincidence or not is unclear, but from Point Break to Johnny Mnemonic to Constantine to the John Wick franchise, the actor tends to excel in movies where the protagonist shares the biblical name. While each character is vastly different from the last, one protagonist clearly stands out the most in Reeves’ “John” career.
Who Is The Best John That Keanu Reeves Has Played?
Reeves displays the layered nature of characters named John even in sequels containing the same character.
Point Break‘s Johnny Utah is notable for his determination to bring down the film’s central antagonists, and his work as the titular Johnny Mnemonic perfectly demonstrated why Reeves was the perfect actor for The Matrix‘s Neo.
Still, Reeves’ work as John Wick in the popular John Wick franchise stands as his best work as a character named John. Not only is it the actor’s most popular role among his previous “Johns,” but its influence has justified a massive franchise, from sequels to prequels to the upcoming John Wick spin-off Ballerina, slated for a summer 2024 release.
Despite Wick being the best protagonist in the actor’s filmography named John, it is important to highlight some of the other notable examples throughout Reeves’ career that have displayed his acting range.
In Much Ado About Nothing, Don John sees Reeves in an antagonistic role, something rarely seen, and he excels in his scenes alongside Oscar winner Denzel Washington. In Constantine, Reeves delivers a faithful performance that highlights his status as an action star. Interestingly, Constantine 2 is in development. With Ballerina and potentially John Wick 5 on the way, Keanu Reeves ‘ run as “John” is set to continue.