It all started with a dog. Widowed hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves) was just trying to enjoy a peaceful retirement, when his beagle puppy was killed, and John got really mad.

That set off a chain of events that led to lots and lots of violent deaths, and ultimately (by the time of the third movie in the series, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum) to John being exiled from the shadowy but rule-heavy world of paid assassins.

The first three instalments got steadily more thrilling, violent and enjoyable, as well as giving us one of the best action movie heroes of recent times. And John Wick: Chapter 4, available to watch in Apps & Games > Prime Video from Friday 13 October, ups the ante even further for a true action epic.

The mysterious High Table – a governing body overseeing the world’s most powerful crime groups – is still smarting after John assassinated a high-ranking member on consecrated ground, and also for the much simpler reason that he just won’t die.

In Chapter 4 we find John chasing (on horseback) a lead that could reveal more about the High Table and potentially a way to get the target off his back once and for all.

But trouble is never more than a few feet away, with former acquaintances reneging on long-established truces, up-and-comers looking to make their mark and a young High Table upstart (menacingly played by Bill Skarsgård, IT) hellbent on bringing John to his knees.

As ever, the action is nothing short of frenetic. Barely a minute passes without a shot fired, punch thrown or bad guy bodyslammed into an oncoming vehicle. There are some truly balletic scenes of absolute carnage, from a deadly chase through the traffic surrounding the Arc de Triomphe to a bullet-strewn slog up a seemingly never-ending set of stairs.

Alongside the ever-excellent Reeves and the aforementioned Skarsgård you’ll spot a host of big names. Legendary martial arts star Donnie Yen is sprightly as ever, while renowned Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada (Bullet Train) brings gravitas to retired assassin and club owner Shimazi, and pop star Rina Sawayama plays eagle-eyed ally Akira. Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne and the late Lance Reddick, in one of his final screen appearances, reprise their roles from the earlier films.

If you want to explore more of the John Wick world you can also catch John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum on Prime Video, and there’s prequel fun to be had in the spin-off series The Continental: From The World Of John Wick, all three feature-length episodes of which are available to watch on Prime Video now.

Can’t get enough action? Then once you’ve watched John Wick: Chapter 4, stick with Prime Video for some of the best action films of recent years.

The Contractor

Find it in Apps & Games > Prime Video now. Cert 15

James Harper (Chris Pine, All The Old Knives) is a down-on-his-luck ex-soldier who’s recruited to a black-ops team set for a highly secret mission targeting a rogue scientist. But at the crucial moment, it becomes clear to Harper that things aren’t as they seem, and in the blink of an eye he’s the one in the crosshairs. He must rely on his training and his wits to escape in this tense thriller.

Memory

Find it in Apps & Games > Prime Video now. Cert 18

Grizzled but resourceful and highly effective action men are Liam Neeson’s stock in trade these days after the likes of the Taken series, Non-Stop, The Marksman and more. Here he’s an assassin who refuses to complete a job, only to find himself – much like John Wick – the target of those he has snubbed. He’s forced to stay one step ahead of both the criminals and law, while trying to hold on to his seemingly scattered mental faculties. Guy Pearce (A Spy Among Friends) co-stars.

The Protégé

Find it in Apps & Games > Prime Video now. Cert 15

As a child, Anna (Maggie Q, Divergent) was saved from the attack that killed her family by Moody (Samuel L Jackson, The Hitman’s Bodyguard), who raised her by training her to be a crack assassin. When Moody is killed, Anna resolves to find out why – and to exact revenge. Maggie Q is convincingly driven and lethal in this stylish thriller, directly with verve and energy by Casino Royale’s Martin Campbell.

The Matrix Resurrections

Find it in Apps & Games > Prime Video now. Cert 15

It’s Keanu again, in his other signature action role as Thomas “Neo” Anderson, who fought the robots using humans for fuel and keeping their minds locked in a constructed world in three huge hit movies from 1999-2003. Now, though, it’s decades on from the events of those movies and Neo is being pulled back into the never-ending conflict. The return to the world of The Matrix is another epically mind-boggling adventure.

Boss Level

Find it in Apps & Games > Prime Video now. Cert 15

Like John Wick, former Delta Force soldier Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo, Captain America: The Winter Soldier) is trying to enjoy his retirement when – wouldn’t you know it? – he gets trapped in a time loop. And not only is he reliving the same day repeatedly, but it’s the day on which multiple killers are trying to off him. Only when he embraces the opportunities the loop offers, Groundhog Day-style, will he be able to fight back in this fun and inventive sci-fi actioner also starring Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once).

The Tomorrow War

Find it in Apps & Games > Prime Video now. Cert 12

When time-travelling troops from 2051 appear in the 2020s to warn humanity about a forthcoming alien invasion that wipes them out, the armed forces are ready to fight the future. Guardians Of The Galaxy’s Chris Pratt is Dan Forester, who’s drafted into the mission to go through a rudimentary wormhole and battle the invaders – a mission with a predictably low survival rate. An ingenious premise, impressive action sequences and killer alien effects add up to a hugely entertaining ride.

Shotgun Wedding

Find it in Apps & Games > Prime Video now. Cert 15

Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) are a little apprehensive about their extravagant destination wedding – because they’re worried about their outspoken families spending time together. Not because they’re concerned the celebration will be targeted by heavily armed pirates intent on extorting millions from the father of the bride. But you’ll never guess what happens… The happy couple have little choice but to tool up and save the nuptials. Hey, for better, for worse, right? Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde) adds to the chaos, as she usually does.

Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre

Find it in Apps & Games > Prime Video now. Cert 15

In director Guy Ritchie’s lavish spy comedy, Orson Fortune (Jason Statham, inevitably) is tasked with taking down a billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant) to retrieve a mysterious device known as The Handle. With Simmonds’ security ultra-tight, Fortune concludes that the best way to get to him is via his favourite movie star, Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett, Oppenheimer). High jinks aplenty ensue as Fortune and Simmonds go toe-to-toe in this wildly entertaining caper with enough gunplay, quips and explosions to keep any action fan happy.

Die Hart

Find it in Apps & Games > Prime Video now. Cert 15 

Kevin Hart (playing a fictionalised version of himself) has a question: why is he always the sidekick and never the hero? Sick of being the comic relief (Ride Along, Central Intelligence, Jumanji) to more muscular castmates, he jumps at the chance to play a big role – but it means signing up for action star lessons from seemingly psychotic teacher Ron Wilcox (John Travolta). Will he even survive the terrifying training? With help from fellow student Jordan (Nathalie Emmanuel) and actor buddy Josh Hartnett (Josh Hartnett as himself), maybe…

When is John Wick: Chapter 4 on Prime Video?

Watch John Wick: Chapter 4 in Apps & Games > Prime Video from Friday 13 October.