Keanu Reeves Action Trilogy Dominates HBO Max Charts
A legendary action trilogy starring Keanu Reeves is climbing HBO Max's weekly rankings, proving the enduring appeal of this groundbreaking franchise that changed modern cinema forever.
The action trilogy that transformed Hollywood's approach to fight choreography is dominating HBO Max streaming numbers again. What started as a modest 2014 release became a genre-defining phenomenon that influenced countless films including Atomic Blonde and Netflix's Extraction series.
Keanu Reeves' assassin saga currently holds multiple spots on HBO Max's top weekly rankings. The original film sits at number two this week, while its sequel claims third place. Only Leonardo DiCaprio's One Battle After Another prevents a complete takeover of the top three positions. The third installment, Parabellum, rounds out the top five despite being separated by Twilight in fourth.
From Stunt Work to Directorial Success
Derek Kolstad wrote the screenplay that launched this billion-dollar franchise. Former stunt coordinators Chad Stahelski and David Leitch directed the first entry together. Leitch moved to an executive producer role afterward, leaving Stahelski as sole director for subsequent films.
The story follows a retired killer drawn back into his deadly profession after criminals murder his dog and steal his vintage car. Both items were final gifts from his deceased wife, making the revenge deeply personal.
Box Office Evolution
The franchise's financial growth tells a remarkable story. The debut film earned $86 mn worldwide with an 86% Rotten Tomatoes score. By the fourth installment, those numbers had exploded to $447 mn globally and a 94% critical rating.
IMDb users have rated the original trilogy as the highest-scoring action series ever created. Each sequel managed to surpass its predecessor in both critical reception and commercial performance.
Spin-off Struggles
Peacock's The Continental prequel series failed to capture the magic of the main films. Critics and audiences responded poorly, with some original cast members publicly distancing themselves from the project.
The Ana de Armas spin-off Ballerina performed better, earning $137 mn worldwide and a 75% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Most fans agree it still falls short of the quality established by the core trilogy.