For as long as movies have put butts in seats, stunt performers have risked their butts for Hollywood’s mind-blowing spectacles. And because it’s such a cool performance, some actors even want to be in it. And of these action-packed actors, some even get lost in the world of adrenaline.
Whether it’s the martial arts magic of Jackie Chan or Tom Cruise hanging at dangerous heights, crazy stunts performed by the main cast help fans immerse themselves in the films. And nobody goes whoa-verboard like Keanu Reeves.
Keanu is one of the good guys who constantly challenges himself for cinema. He’s learned kung fu, gun fu, wire fu, and even tried out an English accent in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. All equally difficult. What began with Speed and the Matrix films now extends into the John Wick saga, and that’s Keanu’s dedication to delivering the goods when it comes to mass murder. Here’s a quick look at some of Reeves’ greatest stunt work from some of the best Keanu Reeves movies.
The best stunts from Keanu Reeves movies
Surfing at Point Break
Surf (and we can’t stress this enough) to.
The weather is actually better as we humbly begin the Keanu stunts with a small swell off the shore of Hermosa Beach. Keanu might have left the actual skydiving to plane-jumping enthusiast Patrick Swayze in 1991’s Point Break, but surfing — man, those tasty waves became Johnny Utah’s Hang 10 hobby, both on and off-screen. Keanu learned to surf for the film and… you see, we’re usually amazed that Keanu wasn’t already a surfer of some sort.
Driving under a moving bus at speed
The bus that couldn’t slow down.
A few years later, Keanu felt like a freak on a leash in 1994’s Speed, about a Los Angeles bus carrying an explosive secret. No, not that public transport is a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to driving. A real bomb. The movie itself wasn’t a bomb, of course, thanks in part to such stunts as Keanu being slowly fed under a moving bus as if someone were fishing for devil concubines. Or advocate. And it’s one of the best parts of the movie.
Martial Arts in the Matrix Movies
I know kung fu.
Keanu turned action/sci-fi gold with 1999’s The Matrix, in which he and his castmates trained for months to acquire kung fu so they could do the matches themselves, as in the iconic dojo sparring scene between Neo and Morpheus was demonstrated. Keanu’s impressive program included learning Jiu-Jitsu, Wushu, Boxing, Aikido and Krav Maga.
Wire Fu in the Matrix movies
Down to the line.
After getting a taste of the dangling in Point Break and Speed, it was time for Keanu to step up to wire fu, which he would use in all four Matrix films – whether he was dating Agent Smith back and forth or cycled over the guys inside the castle that took him too long to defeat in The Matrix Reloaded.
Bullet Time in the Matrix movies
There’s no time like…
Of course, there’s also the groundbreaking Bullet Time visual effect introduced in The Matrix, which Keanu mercifully bent over backwards for. No, he didn’t need weeks of expert training in the art of limbo dancing to do this, but it was still mighty cool of him to be physically involved in the process.
Jump off a building in The Matrix Resurrections
Tall building, multiple borders…
… Just like it was for him and co-star Carrie-Anne Moss to race that skyscraper for The Matrix Resurrections, which he’s reportedly done 19 times. Which 9 out of 10 doctors agree is 19 times more often than anyone should jump off a building. This one doctor just wants to see what happens.
Swordwork in 47 Ronin
45, 46… Yes, we need another ronin.
For those of you who think this list is just going to be John Wick films now… right. Well, mostly. There are 47 ronins left. We know. So many ronins? In this economy? But Keanu learned how to use the blade for the role, and the time spent with stunt departments on the numerous Matrix outings definitely helped sink his katana into the role.
More martial arts in the John Wick movies
Wiki battles.
Now we come to Wild Wild Wick, where Keanu not only put all of his previous training to good use, but also went a few steps further with judo and jiu-jitsu, even earning a black belt in judo over the past decade in the John Wick role.
Gun Fu in the John Wick films
Wiki shoots.
And then there’s the shooting. All the shooting. Whereas John Wick’s weapon simply becomes a seamless extension of his body. Keanu was trained in firearms and hand-to-hand combat tactics so he could become a one-man gang of death.
After three decades of making lavish action films, Keanu has become a huge advocate for the stunt men and women who create all the fantastic thrills, so much so that he’s been actively nominated for a new Oscar category for Best Stunt. And with every John Wick movie, Keanu seems closer and closer to snagging that hypothetical award himself.
Mastery of the horse (and car) in the John Wick films
Dude, where’s my horse?
…as in John Wick: Chapter 3, where Keanu took horseback riding to a new level as he galloped through Manhattan and then used Glamorous Glue as his human…er, horse shield.
And in the upcoming John Wick: Chapter 4, Keanu got behind the wheel more than usual and performed many of his own stunts, all of which took place around Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, where he spins 180s, shoots guns and just lives the fury dream of the street.
At almost 60 years old, Keanu Reeves still showers us with action glorious, and there’s more on the horizon as the Canadian killbot stars in the live-action Netflix adaptation of his own Boom! Studios Comic, BRZRKR. Whereby, to put it mildly, violence is not spared.
