The man, the myth, the legend that is John Wick (Keanu Reeves) must be one of the coolest and most badass action heroes of our time (and all time).He’s strong, intelligent, quick on his feet, deadly, and unbreakable, so he is undoubtedly the best and coolest character of the franchise that was so aptly named after him. Still, with him fighting and aligning with other people like him, theJohn Wickfranchise has so many other likable characters.
Whether it’s someone close to Wick or an enemy, the ten best characters ofJohn Wick, besides John Wick, of course,all have a lasting impact, undeniable charisma, and brilliant survival skills. Their contribution to the colorful world of the Continental Hotel and the assassin world around it makes theJohn Wickfranchise infinitely more interesting.
An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters who killed his dog and stole his car.
10The Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon)
‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ (2019)
The third installment of theJohn Wickfranchise, subtitledChapter 3—Parabellum, introduces some interesting and menacing characters throughout. The one character that stands out in that movie is The Adjudicator, brilliantlyembodied by Asia Kate Dillon, whom viewers might also know fromOrange Is the New BlackandBillions. The Adjudicator has thatchilling look and calm but affirming presence that can make your spine tingle; not a positive character, but still kind of likable and brilliant.
InParabellum, The Adjudicator is a high-ranking representative of the High Table, sent to NYC to assess and enforce the consequences for those who helped John Wick after he became excommunicado. The Adjudicator, though, is no fighter but ratherthe embodiment of the chilling and impersonal bureaucracy of the High Table. With Dillon’s calm, subdued and cold delivery, the devastating consequences of The Adjudicator’s actions hit harder. A truly unsettling but brilliant antagonist that shows what Wick is up against.
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassins' guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head, he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.
9Cassian (Common)
‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ (2017)
Cassian (Common) is another antagonist, and he is quite cool and stylish. Sporting classy suits and a fancy wristwatch, Cassian battles his own loyalties and emotions while also respecting Wick for his skills and impact on the world they live in. Cassian is torn between respect and duty andprovides one of the most compelling one-on-one rivalries for Johnin the entire film series. Their brutal, close-quarters combat choreographies are some ofthe most memorable inChapter 2.
Cassian is the personal bodyguard of Gianna D’Antonio (Claudia Gerini), the boss of the Italian crime branch called Camorra.Despite being a master marksman and martial artist, Cassian is one of the more emotional charactersin the franchise. When John kills Gianna, Cassian appears distraught and vows to seek vengeance for her death. He’s most similar to Wick, though their affiliations are completely opposite. Common delivers one of his best and most athletic performances on the big screen.
John Wick: Chapter 2
After returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life.
8Zero (Mark Dacascos)
Parabellumdominates with colorful characters, and Zero (Mark Dacascos) is one of them, for sure. Dacascos looks tough and menacing asZero, the assassin with elite combat and sword-wielding skills, and even cooler when he’s in his own sushi restaurant, serving the deadly fugu fish to his employer, The Adjudicator. Zero having the skill to slice the poisonous fish into a safe bite means he’s had years of training as a sushi chef. His wakizashi skills in combat reflect on his day job, making Zero a cool badass, despite being an antagonist.
…Zero’s fights with Wick are some of the most dynamic and well-choreographed in the franchise.
Dacascos himself is a martial artist, and he spoke aboutZero being John Wick’s fanboyand ultimatelyappreciating that he got the chance to express his physicality through Zero. The character itself is wonderfully weird and even funny at times, and Zero’s fights with Wick are some of the most dynamic and well-choreographed in the franchise. The best part about theJohn Wickfranchise is characters like Zero—precise, meticulous, deadly, and super-cool.
7Sofia Al-Azwar (Halle Berry)
Halle Berry’s appearance as Sofia Al-Azwar inParabellumis kind of the highlight of the movie, though the competition is very tough in that category. Berry is iconic, and her guest appearances are always a breath of fresh air; inParabellum, she’s a classy and cool killer wholives and does everything with her two highly trained Belgian Malinois dogs, Lerna and Orthrus. She often uses them in fights, and they’re fiercely protective of her throughout the movie. The scenes with Sofia and her dogs are some of the most exciting inParabellum.
…John Wick comes to Morocco to see her and collect the blood oath debt Sofia gave him a long time ago.
Sofia Al-Azwar is the manager of the Casablanca Continental, and John Wick comes to Morocco to see her and collect the blood oath debt Sofia gave him a long time ago. Reluctant because Wick is pursued by the High Table, but still loyal and respectful of the oath she made. She’s observant, no-nonsense, andone of the best characters in the franchise. She’s also a playable character in Fortnite, which is a fun fact.
6Akira Shimazu (Rina Sawayama)
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023)
InJohn Wick: Chapter 4, we meet plenty of colorful and compelling characters.Chapter 4is an action epic and is the best part of the franchise, especially sinceWick travels around the world and meets up with some old friends. One of the people Wick meets in Osaka, Japan, isAkira Shimazu (Rina Sawayama), a formidable modern killer whose agility, archery skills, and determination make her a standout character. Sawayama perfectly embodies a lot of similar qualities to Akira and makes her so memorable and iconic.
Akira Shimazu is the concierge of the Osaka Continental and the daughter of Koji Shimazu (Hiroyuki Sanada), who is the hotel’s manager. Akira is fierce and a highly skilled assassin, and her personal vendetta soon becomes a part ofChapter 4’s narrative. Though Wick finds a lot of sacrifices in his world necessary,he and Akira agree that caring for family is the most important part of life. Akira is one of the characters that’d beamazing in their own spin-off; since theJohn Wickuniverse is ready for spin-offs, why not give one to Akira, too?
5Koji Shimazu (Hiroyuki Sanada)
Koji Shimazu, as mentioned, is the manager of the Osaka Continental and his daughter Akira seems to be a great example of his personality, too. His fatherly influence on her motivates Akira to seek revenge on him, even if Koji may not want her to put herself in harm’s way.Koji is one of theJohn Wickcharacters that embodies honor, loyalty, and the old ways, even with the High Table modernizing their approach over time. A dignified and immensely skilled warrior, Koji is one of the coolest, most badass, and respect-worthy characters.
Koji Shimazu and John Wick are longtime friends, and John travels to Osaka to let him know of the fate of the NYC Continental. Akira warns Koji about his friendship with John, butKoji scolds her for talking badly about somebody he’s known and trusted for decades; this shows Koji is loyal, moral, and has a code he prefers to honor. He even chooses loyalty to John over the affiliation with the High Table and is ready to die for this loyalty. Koji is such a badass and deserves an origin story or a spin-off, which would surely be popular.
John Wick: Chapter 4
With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hit man John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin.
4The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne)
‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ (2017), ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ (2019), and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023)
The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) is a charismatic and distinct presence in theJohn Wickuniverse. He is a glimpse into the layers beneath the High Table’s control, and the only thing that should be known about him is what is right in front of us (and that he loves pigeons). There’s not much knowledge of his history, buthe considers himself the essence of the NYC underground. His theatrical dialogue and willingness to defy the established powers of the High Table make The Bowery King a likable and respectable character.Following his own beaten path, knowing he doesn’t need to rely on anyone else, is The Bowery King’s superpower.
His theatrical dialogue and willingness to defy the established powers of the High Table make The Bowery King a likable and respectable character.
The Bowery King is theleader of a vast underground intelligence network called The Soup Kitchen, which poses as a homeless shelter. He took advantage of the fact people rarely notice homeless people and created a network of spies that pose as them; this is how he knows everything that happens in the city, and sometimes further. The Bowery King is John Wick’s ally and provides him with resources in support, though he always asks for something in return. He also nurtures pigeons on the roof of his building and trains them to be carriers.
3Caine (Donnie Yen)
Though Caine (Donnie Yen) appears only inChapter 4, he steals the scenes he’s in. Donnie Yen is a mixed martial arts expert and one of the most appreciated martial artists and actors in the world; Yen’s influence onChapter 4’s storyline makesCaine the first antagonist we secretly hope to see win (or maybe not even secretly). He’s a standout character in the entire franchise, portraying a complex and sympathetic rival, and he’s getting aspin-off that Yen himself will direct.
Caine doesn’t kill unless he’s forced to and is mostly seen incapacitating his rivals…
Caine is a blind, retired legendary assassin forced back into serviceby the High Table to hunt down and kill John Wick. They use Caine’s daughter as leverage and make him go against Wick, who is his longtime friend. Caine doesn’t kill unless he’s forced to and is mostly seen incapacitating his rivals; his unique fighting style is visually stunning and incredibly effective. Caine was implied to have given his eyes to the High Table as a cost for retiring early to be with his family. Caine is loyal, honorable, and a good family man.
2Charon (Lance Reddick)
All ‘John Wick’ Chapters
When the greatLance Reddickdied,so did Charon in theJohn Wickuniverse, because if they replaced Reddick with someone else as Charon,it just wouldn’t be the same.Charon is the epitome of the Continental’s sophistication, class, and seriousness. He is calm, polite, and excels at everything he does, and Reddick portrayed that self-control and slickness incredibly well in the movies. The moments in which Charon actually fights are rare but show an unwavering dedication to his role and affiliation.
Charon is the very image of professionalism and calm and the embodiment of a silent guardian…
Charon is the dedicated concierge of the NYC Continental, serving under manager Winston Scott (Ian McShane). Charon is the very image of professionalism and calm and the embodiment of a silent guardian and gatekeeper who ensures his hotel’s clientele’s needs are met swiftly and with precision.Seeing Charon feels like seeing a comforting constant in the chaos and changeof theJohn Wickworld. Reddick will appear in the upcomingBallerina, too, which will be the last time we’ll see him as Charon.
1Winston Scott (Ian McShane)
Winston Scott (Ian McShane) is arguably the second most important character in the John Wick franchise. A lot of things wouldn’t be possible without him;he’s the gatekeeper to the hidden world of assassins gathered under the High Table, but also a voice for the ancient rules that go back and beyond current times. With incredible intelligence, sharp wit, and a strategic mind, Winston gets along with Wick well and is crucial to the narrative and the foundation upon which theJohn Wickuniverse was built.
Winston is the manager of the NYC Continental;he’s sophisticated, strong, and outs himself as a master manipulatorplaying the long game. He’s a key figure within the High Table system and serves as a neutral arbiter and enforcer of their rules within his domain. He’s like a father to Wick and sometimes balancing the demands of the High Table with his personal respect for John makes Winston a wild card. Winston got a spin-off and prequel in the miniseriesThe Continental, which showed him arriving at the hotel when he was young. This prequel, though underrated, is an amazing insight into the beautiful and weirdJohn Wickworld.
