How John Wick 4’s Epic Stair Fight Scene Was Craziest Ever

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In the film “John Wick: Chapter 4,” there was a particularly spectacular battle sequence that stands out among all others in the series. During this action-packed scene, John Wick engaged in an arduous fight on a set of stairs, which left him momentarily defeated and forced to climb back up. The behind-the-scenes documentary titled “Wick is Pain” (scheduled for release in 2025) offers an inside look at the making of the franchise, showcasing the groundbreaking efforts that went into reviving this iconic character. Notably, the stair fight scene from “John Wick: Chapter 4,” where John Wick was striving to reach his final confrontation before it was too late, proved to be one of the most challenging scenes to film.

In “John Wick: Chapter 4,” John set up a duel with the Marquis, a confrontation that would absolve him from his commitments to the High Table and halt the relentless pursuit spanning the last two films. However, for this to carry significance, he first needed to reach the duel location, a challenge that led him on a grueling journey—specifically, scaling nearly endless stairs in Paris. This treacherous path was littered with assassins intent on thwarting him at every step. Filming this epic fight sequence took an entire week, and it’s the scene most often recounted as the film’s standout moment.

How John Wick‘s Team Came Up With The Fourth Movie’s Steps Scene

Influences Included High Noon & Buster Keaton

In order to engage in a sunrise duel with the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård) involving dueling pistols at Sacré-Cœur in Paris, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) must navigate this hurdle. If John arrives late, it will result in the demise of both Winston (Ian McShane) and himself. The filmmakers intentionally made this task challenging for John, but they managed to create an almost insurmountable obstacle by incorporating one of the most spectacular fight sequences ever seen within the franchise. This arduous journey required John to climb a stairway swarming with assassins. After being knocked down to the bottom, he had to battle his way back up again.

Director Chad Stahelski explained that they made John Wick’s battles against numerous trained assassins and his victories appear authentic by ensuring the fighters were constantly on the move, similar to Jackie Chan who is often seen running and fighting in his films, making it tough for adversaries to immobilize him. In a comparable fashion, John Wick: Chapter 4 showcased something alike with the fight scene that involved moving cars, which ultimately inspired the idea behind the staircase battle.

As a cinephile, I can’t help but share my experience: When I conceived the idea to film the climactic scene at the Sacré-Cœur, upon laying eyes on those steps, I immediately knew what needed to be done. The race towards the church in the timeless Western movie High Noon was constantly swirling in my mind, so much so that I christened Donnie Yen‘s character as Caine, mirroring Gary Cooper’s role as Kane from High Noon. I desired the fight and descent to evoke the spirit of silent movie legend Buster Keaton, a nod to his masterful artistry (as shared in Screencrush).

Whenever I pondered over the situation, my mind was filled with thoughts of Buster Keaton. I found myself asking, “What would Buster Keaton do in this situation?” If Buster were here, he’d climb step by step, struggle to ascend, trip at the top step, plummet back down, and then gaze upward with a look of determination before exclaiming something along the lines of an expressive silent film expletive. From the viewpoint of a silent movie enthusiast, this is how the idea was born.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the stairwell wasn’t merely an aesthetically pleasing stunt in Stahelski’s mind for the film. Instead, it served as a symbol reflecting John Wick’s journey throughout these movies. The director described it as something that “matched with the location, the narrative, and the theme,” going so far as to label it a “metaphor embodying the essence of the entire movie.

Where The Steps Scene In John Wick: Chapter 4 Was Filmed

The Director Found The Stairs By Accident

As a movie enthusiast, it’s fascinating to learn that the decision to film at the Sacré-Cœur in Paris for John Wick 4 was inspired by an unexpected source. In his own words, director Stahelski confessed, “I’m a big fan of Amélie, surprisingly enough.” He continued, “The third act of that movie takes place at Sacré-Cœur. So, it found its way onto all my location scout lists: ‘Must see Sacré-Cœur!’ On the second day, we visited Sacré-Cœur and climbed up the main steps. I thought to myself, ‘That’s neat, we’ll find a way to make this work here.’

Things took an unexpected turn as they arrived to discuss the shoot. They gazed at the colossal stairway leading to Sacré-Cœur, trying to devise a plan. As they rounded a corner, they discovered another set of stairs. Upon spotting them, he was reminded of “The Exorcist,” specifically the scene with the falling stairs. He recollected this moment and decided that the alternate staircase would be more fitting for their shoot.

As for Keanu, he dislikes climbing stairs intensely. To add to his misery, I’ve decided to make him ascend every single step. Just as he nears the top, I’ll unexpectedly knock him down, creating a spectacular fall that will leave everyone in awe. And to top it off, I’m going to have him climb those stairs again, this time accompanied by Donnie Yen.

John Wick 4’s Steps Scene Took A Week To Shoot

Chad Stahelski Kept Changing The Choreography

In my film review perspective, I must say that the intricate fight scene was a testament to Chad Stahelski’s meticulous directorial approach. It took him an entire week to capture this sequence, a testament to his commitment to orderliness in filming. He shared that he prefers to shoot scenes sequentially, a decision that made the choreography and planning of the fight sequences quite challenging.

What made this scene particularly noteworthy was Stahelski’s propensity for improvisation. He admitted to frequently tweaking the fight choreography during filming, even after the cast had painstakingly rehearsed and perfected their moves. This very fight scene bore witness to such spontaneity.

Initially, I assumed the altercation in the stairwell would follow a certain path, but I soon realized my prediction was incorrect. Our strategy held for just two days before it went completely out the window when we discovered how captivating the stairs were. Therefore, one must adapt to changing circumstances and make adjustments as necessary to avoid being caught off guard. I strongly advocate for this approach.

The Stuntman Who Fell Down The Stairs

The Man’s Name Is Vincent Bouillon

The most surprising part of this particular battle sequence occurred when John Wick reached the top of the staircase. Many viewers thought he was about to proceed to the next phase, but instead, he got struck once more and plummeted back down to the bottom of the stairs, forcing him to climb up again. This was the Buster Keaton-esque moment that Chad Stahelski had eagerly anticipated. Of course, it wasn’t Keanu Reeves who tumbled down all those steps.

In this scenario, Vincent Bouillon, often standing in for Keanu Reeves, played the role of a stuntperson. Director Chad Stahelski had him perform the stunt not once, but twice to ensure they had sufficient footage for a seamless edit. As Stahelski put it, “You’re with some of the best stuntpeople in the world, and you’re all standing there looking at a staircase.” Instead of considering the easiest route, they were thinking, “Wow, we’re about to make history.” This resulted in one of the most iconic scenes in John Wick: Chapter 4.

Source: Screencrush

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2025-05-22 00:48