Adam Smith
The action movie industry has been dominated by superhero franchises such as Marvel and DC Comics. While these movies have certainly done well, some viewers were beginning to worry that these characters would be the death of action cinema. However, two of Hollywood’s best action directors, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, are proving that there is still plenty of life left in action movies without superheroes. What makes Chad Stahelski and David Leitch unique is that they have managed to keep the action movie genre alive without resorting to relying on superheroes to only bring a movie together. Stahelski and Leitch first made their mark on the Hollywood landscape when they co-directed the 2014 hit action movie, John Wick.
John Wick, the original movie, was a celebration and showcase of over the top and stylish action set to the backdrop of a beautiful 1920s-style world. The action choreography was so breathtaking that it helped to redefine action movie making and inject more interest in the genre outside of superheroes. Even though the series goes further into crazy territory with each new installment, John Wick never seems to let custom get in the way of a truly entertaining experience .This movie brought a classic action formula with no superheroes required to a modern audience – a lesson many had forgotten in the wake of an abundance of superhero blockbusters. With its unique mix of intense and inventive action sequences, charming performances, and inventive storytelling, the movie soon became an instant classic.
The success of John Wick was encouraging for Stahelski and Leitch. They soon realized that there was a massive untapped potential for more non-superhero action movies. So the pair moved on to the John Wick sequel, using their newfound creative freedom to craft an even more intensive action experience. The franchise only grew from there. Stahelski went on to direct and write the third installment, ensuring each successive movie had the same wit, power, and intensity as the original. The rawness of the action sequences in John Wick draw viewers in with their realism, helping to make them look more believable and showing just how powerful their actors and stunt performer
