The Post–John Wick Blueprint Isn’t Working and The Baker is the Proof

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Keanu Reeves’ 2014 action film was a major success, helping to revitalize a genre that was facing difficulties in theaters. The movie has significantly influenced action films over the past decade, essentially setting the standard. However, recent releases suggest this style is becoming stale, and a film starring Ron Perlman perfectly exemplifies this decline.

Keanu Reeves’s role as John Wick in 2014 was a standout performance, arguably his most memorable since The Matrix. The film revitalized the action genre after a period of decline in the early 2010s. However, despite its huge success, many directors misinterpreted what made John Wick work.

John Wick Created a New Formula For Action Films

The action film John Wick debuted in 2014. It centers on a retired hitman grieving the loss of his wife to cancer, who receives a puppy as a final gift from her. When he encounters the son of a Russian mobster, a dispute leads to the puppy’s death and his car being stolen. Fueled by anger, he embarks on a quest for revenge against the criminal, which puts him at odds with his former colleagues. As he pursues his mission, he’s pulled back into a dangerous underworld of secret organizations and competing assassins, putting his own life at risk.

When the movie came out, action films were losing popularity as big-budget, effects-driven movies started taking over. Poor sequels, like the last Die Hard film with Bruce Willis, and unoriginal action movies meant even well-known actors couldn’t guarantee success. Looking back, the genre seemed lost, unsure how to revive old franchises or create new ones. Many films simply featured aging action stars from the 80s in movies that felt like they should have gone straight to home video or streaming services. Essentially, studios were relying too much on famous faces and not enough on good stories, interesting visuals, and meaningful content.

The release of John Wick coincided with other popular and influential action films. These three movies – John Wick, Mad Max, and The Raid – collectively revitalized the action genre. John Wick sparked a resurgence of revenge thrillers, Mad Max encouraged filmmakers to explore gritty, chaotic action, and The Raid inspired films like Dredd with its intense, confined-space battles. Together, they’ve heavily influenced the style of modern action filmmaking.

The success of John Wick wasn’t just due to its concept, but also to Keanu Reeves’ perfect casting, which sparked a trend of ‘comeback’ films that revitalized actors’ careers. Audiences were drawn in by the film’s stars, unique style, and immersive world. While other movies have attempted similar approaches, it’s becoming harder to stand out without being measured against the original, and often falling short.

Ron Perlman’s The Baker Played Out the Blueprint

Pappi is a retired special forces soldier enjoying a peaceful life as a baker. But when his son angers a dangerous crime boss, Pappi is suddenly thrust back into a world of violence and must care for his granddaughter, Delfi. After his son is murdered, Pappi embarks on a mission to find those responsible, navigating the city’s brutal drug scene. He and Delfi are forced to go on the run, hiding a stolen stash of drugs inside a loaf of bread, as they’re pursued by relentless hitmen. Relying on his extensive military training, Pappi fights to protect Delfi and avenge his son.

The movie follows a familiar formula, keeping things moving, but it doesn’t reach the heights of John Wick. It has some touching moments as the connection between Pappi and Delfi develops, but ultimately struggles to find its footing. It’s not quite gritty enough to be a serious drama, and it’s too focused on drama to be a truly satisfying action film. While the cast includes well-known actors like Ron Perlman, Elias Koteas, and Harvey Keitel, their talent isn’t enough to make the movie truly memorable – it’s worth watching once, but it likely won’t stick with you.

As a big fan of action flicks, I’ve really enjoyed seeing films like Nobody and Sisu put a fresh spin on the revenge thriller. But The Baker? Honestly, it just feels… familiar. It doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. If I had to compare it to other movies that came out after John Wick, it reminds me most of Liam Neeson’s Cold Pursuit – a dad getting revenge after a tragedy. But even when I think about it that way, The Baker doesn’t quite measure up; it just doesn’t have that original spark.

The story had potential, but the characters weren’t developed enough, which ultimately made it disappointing. Surprisingly, the opening twenty minutes had more emotional impact and clearer motivations than the entire movie did.

The John Wick Imitators Became Increasingly Absurd

Following the success of John Wick, many other filmmakers and studios attempted to replicate its formula, with some directly copying elements from director Chad Stahelski’s approach. Films released since 2014, such as The Baker, Nobody, Sisu, and The Beekeeper, demonstrate a trend of filmmakers trying to create their own distinctive action movies. Essentially, these films borrow heavily from the story established in John Wick, but attempt to present it with enough stylistic differences to appear original.

The concept of a retired, deadly expert returning to action isn’t original, but John Wick revitalized it. The films go beyond the typical trope by creating a rich, detailed universe with hidden societies, strict rules, and a long history. At its core, each movie revolves around the question: “Who is this guy?” The appeal isn’t just the exciting action, but the intrigue surrounding the main character and their mysterious past.

It felt like a defining moment for movie fans when trailers suggested a Nicolas Cage film would be a fast-paced action movie similar to John Wick, but with a pig instead of a dog. However, director Michael Sarnoski surprised everyone with a genuinely moving story about family and cherished memories. If he’d delivered the expected action film, it would have been just another forgettable copycat, but instead, he created something truly special.

The John Wick Formula Shouldn’t Be A Crutch

The core elements of John Wick‘s success have existed in action movies for decades, and while many films have used them, John Wick felt fresh and exciting. Lately, though, studios seem to be relying on simply copying the John Wick formula, hoping audiences won’t notice the lack of originality. What made John Wick stand out was its unique and intense style, a relatable antihero, and a combination of stunning visuals, talented actors, and expertly choreographed fight scenes – all of which created a modern classic. The Baker, unfortunately, seemed to recognize what audiences liked about the John Wick films without understanding why they liked them.

These action movies can’t just keep repeating the same old story of a tough hero returning for one last fight. They need to be more original and move beyond what’s already been done. If the genre doesn’t evolve, it risks becoming stale – and we’re starting to see that happen. Directors need to find their own unique styles, or they’ll ultimately fail.

Look, as a movie fan, I think a successful formula shouldn’t just be a guaranteed ticket seller, it should be a starting point for telling a really engaging story. It’s crucial for filmmakers to realize there’s a huge gap between using a familiar trope and building a whole narrative around it. Think about classic Westerns like Shane and Unforgiven – they used certain elements brilliantly. The action blueprint from John Wick could have really elevated The Baker, but it felt like they didn’t lean into it enough.

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2026-02-19 08:10