John Wick is a popular action movie series that has gained a large following due to its fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled action and intricate world-building. The movies are known for their unique vocabulary, with several words and phrases that are specific to the John Wick universe. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most important words used in the John Wick movies, including when they are used and what they mean.
1. Baba Yaga
The term Baba Yaga is used to describe John Wick and is often mentioned by the characters in the movies. Baba Yaga is a Slavic folklore character, known as the “boogeyman” or the “witch.” In the context of the John Wick movies, Baba Yaga is used to describe John’s fearsome reputation as a deadly assassin. The name is first used in the first movie, when Viggo Tarasov, a Russian gangster, realizes that John is the person who has been killing his men.
2. Continental
The Continental is a chain of hotels that serve as neutral ground for assassins in the John Wick universe. It is a place where they can conduct business and seek refuge without fear of being killed. The Continental is introduced in the first John Wick movie, and it plays a significant role in the subsequent movies.
3. Marker
A marker is a special token that represents a blood oath in the John Wick universe. When one person gives a marker to another, it means that the receiver is indebted to the giver and must perform a task or favor. The marker is introduced in the second John Wick movie when Santino D’Antonio (played by Riccardo Scamarcio) gives John a marker, forcing him to perform a task that he doesn’t want to do.
4. High Table
The High Table is an organization of powerful and influential assassins that governs the world of assassins in the John Wick universe. It is comprised of 12 members who are the most powerful and respected assassins in the world. The High Table is introduced in the second John Wick movie and becomes a major plot point in the subsequent movies.
5. Excommunicado
Excommunicado is a term used to describe an assassin who has been banned from the assassin community by the High Table. This means that the person is no longer allowed to conduct business or receive assistance from other assassins
6. Adjudicator
The Adjudicator is a representative of the High Table who is sent to enforce the rules and punish those who have broken them.
7. Continental Coins
Continental Coins are a form of currency used exclusively within the underworld of the John Wick franchise. They are minted and distributed by the Continental Hotel and can be used to purchase a wide range of goods and services, from weapons and ammunition to hotel accommodations and transportation. They are highly valued by the assassins and other criminals in the world of John Wick, as they offer a way to conduct transactions without using traditional banking methods that could potentially leave a paper trail. In the films, we see John Wick use Continental Coins to purchase weapons and other supplies from various vendors.
8. Boogeyman
“Boogeyman” is a nickname given to John Wick by those who know him and fear him. It’s a reference to his reputation as one of the deadliest and most efficient assassins in the world. Throughout the films, we see people react with fear and respect when they learn that they’re dealing with John Wick. The nickname is also referenced in the films’ promotional materials, including posters and trailers.
The John Wick movies have created a unique world with its own vocabulary and rules. The words and phrases associated with the franchise have become iconic, and they add to the overall atmosphere and tension of the movies.
