Keanu Reeves is back in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, but does the film have a post-credits scene? It's been five years since Reeves made his debut as John Wick, a retired assassin who hunts down a group of men after they steal his car and kill his dog (a parting gift from his recently-deceased wife). The original John Wick movie was itself an unexpected critical success - earning praise for its inventive gun fu action sequences and worldbuilding - and more that quadrupled its budget at the box office. As a result, the film was followed by a sequel titled John Wick: Chapter 2 in 2017.
Chapter 2 ultimately proved to be an even bigger hit with critics and general audiences than the first movie, and clearly set the stage for this year's Chapter 3 - Parabellum. The film begins mere minutes after the ending to Chapter 2, which concluded with John killing Santino D'Antonio (a newly instated member of the High Table) on Continental grounds and being excommunicated from the international assassin's guild. As a result, John is left with an hour before a $14 million bounty on his head goes live and every assassin in New York (nay, the world) comes looking to collect.
For those wondering if there's a last-minute surprise to hang around for once the movie's over, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum does NOT have a post-credits scene, or even a mid-credits sequence at that. Of course, it's always worth remaining seated for a film's end credits anyway, as a sign of appreciation for the many cast and crew members who worked long, hard hours to bring the production to life. Not to mention: Chapter 3 - Parabellum includes a brief dedication to actor Michael Nyqvist, who played the main villain in the original John Wick and passed away in 2017, a few months after Chapter 2 released in theaters.
In fairness, the previous John Wick movies didn't feature credits scenes either, so Chapter 3 - Parabellum doesn't mark a break from tradition in that respect. Moreover, this doesn't mean the franchise at large is calling it a day after the third film. While it's true that series director Chad Stahelski referred to Chapter 3 - Parabellum as an ending to John's story early on, he's since backtracked on that and said he and Reeves have "ideas for days" for additional John Wick sequels. Meanwhile, it's presumed Starz is still working on The Continental TV spinoff, which it green-lit in early 2018, but hasn't offered any further updates on since.
Similarly, Chapter 3 - Parabellum offers some clear hints as to where the story could go in John Wick 4 (its lack of credits scenes aside). And assuming the moviegoing masses are as enthusiastic about the sequel as the early reviews have been, the odds are good the film will quickly become another commercial hit for Lionsgate, and give them all the more reason to sign off on a fourth installment. So long as audiences are keen to keep following John as he battles the Hight Table and anyone else that gets in his way, it seems these movies will continue to lay the groundwork for future adventures. That is, before the credits start rolling, anyway.
