John Wick 4 Really Did Film In The Louvre (But They Didn't Push Their Limits)

Action films owe a debt of gratitude to "John Wick"; essentially, it felt like a waning genre with few new heroes enthralling audiences when the assassin turned family man came along. Both critically acclaimed and beloved by fans, there are few action films that have such an appeal. But John Wick's (Keanu Reeves) revenge-fueled return to a dangerous lifestyle became an instant hit in 2014 — the project grossed over double its budget. Home entertainment only built up the legend, with each subsequent release in the franchise garnering more than its predecessor.

Where there are higher grosses, there are higher budgets, which have given Wick's complicated quest an expansive world full of interesting characters and settings, the latter seen through the beautifully filmed international locations. While the story started on the streets of New York City, it has expanded to Italy and Morocco for pivotal moments in its sequels. "John Wick: Chapter 4" is no different, with Wick set for a global adventure that includes some of the world's most well-known sites, one of which required Reeves to be on his best behavior.

The Louvre, home to icons like the "Venus de Milo" and Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," is the most-visited museum in the world. It also served as one of the Paris filming locations for "John Wick: Chapter 4," alongside the Arc de Triomphe, the Basilica of Sacré Couer de Montmartre, and the Eiffel Tower, as confirmed by director Chad Stahelski during a November 2022 interview with Collider.

Naturally, there are definite limits to what can and can't be done in such close proximity to such ancient historical artifacts, and museum representatives were quick to ask production what they wanted to do in the space before giving their approval. "'You're not going to shoot anything, are you?' I was like, 'I don't know. Can I?' And I was like, 'Just kidding. We just want to shoot in the Louvre,'" Stahelski said of the encounter, adding that the museum was wonderful to work with.