Keanu Reeves' Three Genre-Defining Films That Changed Action Cinema Forever An analysis of how Keanu Reeves used Speed, The Matrix, and John Wick to redefine the action genre and revitalize his career multiple times, distinguishing him from peers who stick to a single formula. It is truly impressive to consider just how far Keanu Reeves has come in the action movie genre. The actor first broke out for his role in Speed in 1991, which remains a classic of the genre. A few years later, he proved that this success was not a one-off when he starred in The Matrix in 1994. That film is still held in high regard today, but it is also important as the first of several movies in Reeves' career that reinvented the genre. This was another game-changing film that helped set the tone for so many projects in the years that followed.Reeves Shifts Genres Before John WickReeves branched out and tried several other genres and even some other action flicks, but then kind of disappeared for a while. He was still acting, just not in anything too prominent. That changed when he took on the titular role in John Wick in 2014, which once again changed action movies going forward, cementing Reeves as a pivotal figure in the genre.A lot of actors find a style that works for them and they go back to the well often. Just look at Liam Neeson and Jason Statham as examples, as each has several films that are almost interchangeable in terms of plot, style, and the action itself. That is a fine and entertaining way to go but it is commendable that Keanu Reeves is constantly trying something different. Speed is the ultimate thrill ride.Reeves plays an LAPD officer on a runaway bus that will explode if the speed drops under fifty miles per hour. That leads to a movie where things never calm down and Reeves gets to showcase his likability as a heroic protagonist. The Matrix is as good as it gets for sci-fi action, featuring sequences that everyone tried to replicate in the years that followed.John Wick And New ErasMeanwhile, Reeves' stoic Neo became one of his best characters. John Wick changed things again, following an assassin and focusing on close-quarters combat, world-building, and impressive stunts often done by Reeves himself. On top of changing the landscape of the action genre, each of these films also did something important for Keanu Reeves. They each signal the start of a different era for the actor, often injecting new life into his career.Speed was not a fluke and hammered home the idea that Reeves could be a leading man in Hollywood. It truly helped him shed the image of a comedic actor and made sure he was someone who could be taken seriously by the masses. The rest of the nineties saw Reeves show off his versatility, yet he did not really appear in another action hit. The Matrix changed that, becoming a box office hit and changing his career again.Reeves now had a franchise that he could lead and the success of it allowed him to try new things in smaller projects. We kind of stopped seeing Reeves in major movies until John Wick. He was great as a lead who barely spoke and he let his stunt work do a lot of the talking, which added another facet to his talents.Three Franchises That Changed CinemaJohn Wick marked a second major action franchise with Keanu Reeves as the lead and not many actors get more than one. It also signaled a new start for Reeves, who has landed some big roles in the years since. From sequels like John Wick: Chapter 2, it is big talk to say that one actor had three movies that reinvented a genre, but it is true with Reeves.Hollywood has been trying to replicate all three of these films since they arrived, especially in the immediate aftermath of their release. The use of bullet time, the wire-fu, and more popped up in plenty of films in the genre over the years. This legacy demonstrates a rare consistency and evolution that is unmatched in modern cinema.