The John Wick franchise isn't exactly famous for its Easter eggs, but there are still plenty of fascinating hidden details for fans who know where to look. Chad Stahelski rarely makes his Easter eggs too obvious. Instead, they require the audience to think a little deeper. Stahelski has spoken about his fondness for classical music, Greek mythology, art and old action movies, so John Wick fans should pay extra close attention to these details.

With the first John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, coming soon, audiences will be trying to pick up on some more subtle details. As the John Wick timeline gets another knot, it's worth ing that The Continental also featured several Easter eggs, with references to the core John Wick movies and much more. Since John Wick 5 is also on the cards, there's still plenty of time for fans to get keyed into Stahelski's way of thinking.

10 John Wilkes Booth's Gun Is In Parabellum

Winston Has A Replica In His Collection

Winston's collection of firearms in Chapter 3 - Parabellum fits his stature as a man of class. Among his neatly arranged collection is a small pistol that doesn't seem to fit in. Although the movie doesn't exactly draw attention to it, history buffs might recognize it as a replica of the Derringer John Wilkes Booth used to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.

It's a nice touch to draw parallels between John Wick's killers and real assassins from history.

Booth is one of history's most famous assassins, so it makes sense that Winston might have a token in his honor. Even though the assassins in the John Wick franchise are primarily motivated by money - not politics - it's a nice touch to draw parallels between them and real assassins from history.

9 Chapter 4's Casino Royale Tribute Goes Deeper Than You Might Think

John Wick References The James Bond Movie And The Novel

When John sits down for a high-stakes game of poker in Chapter 4, it's hard not to think about Casino Royale. Like the James Bond movie, the game has a lot more riding on it than the chips on the table or any money, but John Wick's reference is deeper than it seems.

John Wick: Chapter 4's poker scene is more accurate to Ian Fleming's novel than the Casino Royale movie in some ways. While Mads Mikkelsen plays the Bond villain Le Chiffre opposite Daniel Craig, his version of the character isn't particularly faithful. Fleming describes the villain as an overweight gambler who puffs on an inhaler, more like Killa Harkan in John Wick.

8 The Song The DJ Plays In Chapter 4 Is A Nod To The Warriors

John Wick References The '70s Action Thriller

As John Wick tries to evade dozens of assassins in Paris, a DJ updates the criminal underworld on his movements using coded messages. This adds plenty of style to the drama, but it's also a reference to the cult classic '70s action flick The Warriors.

John Wick: Chapter 4 goes even further with its homage to The Warriors. As well as featuring a similar DJ character, it also plays a cover of "Nowhere to Run". John Wick's version is sung by Lola Colette, while The Warriors featured a cover by Arnold McCuller.

7 John Wick Pays Tribute To Keanu Reeves' Role In Point Break

The First Movie Has An Easter Egg Referencing Reeves' Heist Thriller

The first John Wick movie features a subtle reference to one of Keanu Reeves' best movies, which came out years before The Matrix. When one of Tarasov's men can be seen playing a video game, he's online with another gamer who uses the alias "Point Break".

Point Break stars Reeves as an FBI agent named Johnny Utah who infiltrates a gang of bank robbers who share over their love of surfing. It's a ridiculous premise, but Reeves and Patrick Swayze both deliver compelling performances, and Kathryn Bigelow's direction makes it a heist thriller to .

6 Greek Mythology References Run Throughout The Franchise

Charon Is Just One Nod To Greek Mythology

The John Wick shares some similarities with chapters from Greek mythology. Some of these references are more obvious, like Charon's name, and the fact that John pays him with a gold coin. Other allusions to Greek myth are harder to pick up, even if they help flesh out the world of the franchise.

One reference to Greek myth that fans might not have noticed on first watch is the name of John's wife. Helen of Troy is said to be the most beautiful woman in the world, and Christopher Marlowe famously wrote that hers was "the face that launched a thousand ships." In John Wick, Helen is the ideal of beauty and peace to John, and her death sends him to war.

5 A Security Guard In John Wick Can Be Seen Reading A Book About A Master Assassin

Shibumi Could Be An Influence On John Wick

In one blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in the first John Wick movie, a security guard can be seen reading a copy of Shibumi by the American author Trevanian. Shibumi tells the story of a highly skilled assassin who tries to live a peaceful life until a visit from a stranger drags him back to his old ways.

The parallels between Shibumi's story and John Wick are obvious, but it's unclear if the book's presence in the movie is merely an homage, or if it counts as Chad Stahelski's way of highlighting one of his key influences. In August 2022, it was announced that Stahelski would direct an adaptation of Shibumi, although updates on this project have been hard to come by.

4 Keanu Reeves Echoes One Of His Lines From The Matrix

Chad Stahelski Also Worked On The Matrix

By now, most John Wick fans will know that Chad Stahelski worked as Keanu Reeves' stunt double in the Matrix franchise. Laurence Fishburne's casting in Chapter 2 provided a Matrix reunion for Neo and Morpheus, but John Wick resisted the temptation of a direct reference until Chapter 3 - Parabellum.

John's line "Guns. Lots of guns.", after his privileges at the Continental get reinstated, is exactly the same as one of Neo's most famous quotes in the first Matrix movie. Reeves even delivers the line with almost identical intonation, proving that he's in on the joke.

3 John's Watch Reveals A Clue About His Training

The Tracker Wears His Watch In The Same Way

The John Wick franchise is filled with small details which hint at John's past, even if it never shows him while he's still a working assassin. One subtle detail comes from the way that he wears his watch, which some people might recognize as a common military tactic.

John wears his watch on the inside of his wrist, so that it doesn't get in his way while fighting, and so that the glare doesn't give away his position if he's trying to be stealthy. A few other characters use this trick, such as the Tracker. This is just one more point to illustrate the similarities between John and the Tracker.

2 The Marquis Studies A Painting That Foreshadows His Downfall

Chad Stahelski Has Told Fans To Pay Close Attention To The Artworks In John Wick

John Wick: Chapter 4 tells a story that spans the globe, and it ends in Paris. While this might just seem like another exotic location to add to the list, the history of provides some clues as to why this is the perfect place for John's final showdown with teh Marquis.

While the Marquis talks to Winston in the Louvre, one painting that's displayed prominently is Liberty Leading the People by Eugéne Delacroix. This painting depicts the spirit of the French Revolution, which echoes John's fight to topple the High Table. The Marquis doesn't see it at the time, but he represents the French nobility in this metaphor. His fate is the same as many of 's ruling class after the revolution.

1 John Wick Repeatedly Pays Tribute To Buster Keaton

The Silent Film Star Was Famous For Doing His Own Stunts, Just Like Keanu Reeves

John Wick: Chapter 2 starts with the image of Buster Keaton's Sherlock Jr. projected on a wall. Shortly afterward, there's a motorbike stunt that looks strikingly similar to one from Keaton's comedy. This may be the most overt reference to Keaton's work in the John Wick franchise, but it's just one of many.

John's fall from the rooftop in Chapter 3 - Parabellum is another nod to Keaton.

Buster Keaton's movies showcase some of the wildest stunts ever performed on film, which has made him a hero to stuntmen like Chad Stahelski. John's fall from the rooftop in Chapter 3 - Parabellum is another nod to Keaton, and Chapter 4 briefly features another projection during the scene in the Parisian metro station.