Were the John Wick Films Inspired by the Man With No Name Trilogy?

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Key Takeaways

While the John Wick films share some stylistic and thematic DNA with Sergio Leone’s “Man With No Name” spaghetti western trilogy, they were likely not directly inspired by those specific films.
The similarities stem more from common influences like French noir crime films, Akira Kurosawa samurai movies, American pulp fiction, and existentialist themes about lone wolf protagonists.
Leone’s impact on modern action and noir cinema is undeniable, but the John Wick franchise draws from a vast array of influences beyond just Leone’s seminal westerns.
Elements like the contemporary urban setting, deeper emotional motivations, and elaborate gun-fu action sequences differentiate the John Wick films from Leone’s westerns.
Keanu Reeves’ John Wick is a descendent of Clint Eastwood’s “Man With No Name” but also evolves the archetype in new directions fitting a modern context.
While not a deliberate homage, John Wick rides on the trails blazed by classic films like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly even if not directly inspired by them.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The gravelly voice. The cold stare. The expert handgun skills and lightning fast draws. While watching the John Wick films starring Keanu Reeves, you’d be forgiven for feeling some strong spaghetti western vibes reminiscent of Clint Eastwood’s iconic “Man With No Name” character in Sergio Leone’s classic films like The Good, the Bad. and the Ugly. But were the John Wick movies directly inspired by Leone’s seminal trilogy, or do they just share some badass DNA?

Brief Background on Leone’s Films and Eastwood’s Character

Sergio Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy”, made up of A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For A Few Dollars More (1965), and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), exploded onto the film scene by putting a gritty, violent twist on the traditional American western. Leone’s films featured quick-draw duels, morally ambiguous characters, and Ennio Morricone’s unforgettable scores. At the center was Clint Eastwood’s laconic, enigmatic bounty hunter usually referred to as “The Man With No Name”. With his olive green poncho draped over his shoulder, squint, and deadly accuracy, Eastwood’s stranger character became etched in cinema history.

John Wick Storms Onto the Scene 50 Years Later

In 2014, Keanu Reeves introduced the world to John Wick, a legendary assassin who dusts off his guns once again after a tragic loss. With its sleek action sequences, neon-bathed visuals, and dark criminal underworld, the John Wick series evoked modern tech-noir while paying homage to classic action thrillers. Over two sequels, John Wick Chapter 2 (2017) and John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum (2019), the franchise expanded its mythology and continued to thrill audiences. But to what extent were these hit films inspired by Leone’s seminal “Man With No Name”?

Similarities Between the Trilogies

At first glance, the John Wick films seem to share some strong DNA with Leone’s trilogy. Let’s examine some of the key similarities:

Stoic, Badass Protagonists

Eastwood’s “Man With No Name” and Reeves’ John Wick are both strong, silent types who let their actions speak louder than words.
They maintain a grim, determined demeanor and remain cool under pressure.
Their motivations often remain mysterious, adding to the intrigue surrounding their characters.

Striking Visual Styles

Extreme closeups on characters’ eyes and expressions.
Creative framing and camera angles during action scenes.
Rich color palettes and shadows that enhance the mood and tension.

Hard-Boiled Action

Expert gunplay with cool poses and quick draws.
Inventive fight choreography with judo throws and grappling.
Wounds are shrugged off through sheer toughness.

Operating in the Criminal Underworld

Protagonists move through the seedy underbelly of society.
Unsavory characters populate sleazy locations like bars, hotels, and dark alleys.
Corruption runs rampant through the world, blurring moral lines.

Revenge is Key Motivation

John Wick seeks revenge after his dog is killed and car stolen.
The Man With No Name gets retribution against those who wronged him.
Single-minded focus on vengeance drives the bloody action.

Impactful Musical Scores

Ennio Morricone’s eclectic western scores are iconic.
Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard’s pulsing music enhances the John Wick films.
Music is integral to setting the unique tone.

The similarities between Leone’s seminal trilogy and the John Wick films suggest some shared cinematic DNA, but are they truly connected?

Key Differences Between the Trilogies

However, there are also several major differences between Leone’s films and the John Wick franchise that suggest they are not directly connected.

Different Settings and Genres

Leone’s films take place in the American Old West frontier setting.
John Wick is set in a modern-day, urban environment.
The Man With No Name starred in “spaghetti westerns”, an Italian reinvention of cowboy films.
John Wick established its own unique “gun-fu” style blending martial arts, noir, and action.

Character Motivations Diverge

The Man With No Name acts in his own self-interest for money and revenge.
John Wick is motivated by grief and love for his deceased wife.

Action Style Reflects Different Eras

Leone featured slow buildups leading to quick-draw showdowns.
John Wick has prolonged, elaborately choreographed fights using many weapon styles.
The western trilogy featured six-shooter revolvers while John Wick uses modern weaponry.
Leone’s action scenes were incredibly realistic for their time while John Wick heightens cinematic violence.

Mythology and Influences

Leone built upon old Hollywood and John Ford western film traditions.
The John Wick films construct their own unique mythology not reliant on earlier genres.

So while the trilogies share some superficial similarities, their settings, motivations, and influences suggest they are not directly related.

Possible Shared Influences

Even if the John Wick films were not directly inspired by Leone’s westerns, they may share some common influences that account for their similarities.

Akira Kurosawa Samurai Films

Leone took inspiration from Kurosawa’s Yojimbo for A Fistful of Dollars.
John Wick’s mix of guns and martial arts echoes samurai films.

French New Wave Crime Films

Leone was influenced by Jean-Pierre Melville’s films like Le Cercle Rouge and Le Samouraï.
John Wick’s slick style evokes these French noir classics.

American Noir Films and Pulp Fiction

The shadowy morality of classic noir informed both directors.
Hard-boiled crime authors like Jim Thompson influenced their seedy worlds.

Martial Arts Cinema

Leone featured Mexican-style wrestling moves amidst gunplay.
John Wick directly incorporates judo, jiu-jitsu, and other martial arts.

Existentialist Themes

Their protagonists grapple with existence beyond society’s laws.
Loners and antiheroes who forge their own codes and values.

So while not directly connected, the trilogies seem to sample from a similar cinematic well of samurai films, noir, crime fiction, and existential struggle. Their lone wolf heroes definitely share some DNA.

Director/Creator Perspectives

To definitively determine if Leone’s films directly inspired the John Wick franchise, it helps to examine comments from the directors and writers themselves.

Stahelski’s Background in Leone-Influenced Films

John Wick director Chad Stahelski worked extensively on films influenced by Leone like Kill Bill as a stunt coordinator. Quentin Tarantino is a huge admirer of Leone’s westerns. Stahelski likely absorbed some of that style.

Possible Homages to Leone

There are a few potential homages to famous Leone scenes:

John Wick surrounded by assassins before a battle recalls the Mexican standoff from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Wick dragging an injured enemy behind his horse mirrors Clint Eastwood doing the same.

But these could be coincidental.

Lack of Specific References to Leone

In interviews, Stahelski and the creators don’t cite Leone’s films directly as inspiration for John Wick. They seem to draw from a wide variety of action influences.

So while they acknowledge inspirations like Kurosawa and Melville, there’s little evidence the John Wick team specifically set out to emulate Leone’s style. The similarities seem more indirect.

Conclusion

In summary, while the John Wick trilogy evokes the tone and style of Leone’s classic “The Man With No Name” spaghetti westerns in some ways, the similarities likely stem from shared influences rather than direct inspiration.

Recap of Main Points

Surface similarities exist in visual style, music, themes, and characterization.
But differences in settings, motivations, and mythology suggest no direct connections.
Shared influences from noir, samurai films, and existentialism seem more likely.

Leone’s Lasting Cinematic Impact

Regardless of direct inspiration, Leone’s impact on modern noir and action cinema is undeniable. The John Wick films ride on traditions established by classics like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly even if they weren’t directly inspired by Leone’s trilogy.

So next time you see Keanu Reeves calmly firing weapons with precision, think of Clint Eastwood’s iconic cowboy antihero that undoubtedly paved the way. They share some badass DNA even if the John Wick genome contains many other elements.