Action star Keanu Reeves’ only movie with a box office collection of more than $1B is an animated comedy.
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Keanu Reeves is one of the most beloved Hollywood actors of his generation, known for his combat skills, strong on-screen presence, and charisma that transcends the big screen.
Keanu Reeves in John Wick.
From Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt to Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, every big star has one or two iconic roles that become highlights of their career. Despite their other brilliant works, the specific iconic role always tends to dominate any discourse concerning the said actor. In Reeves’ case, it’s Neo from The Matrix and the titular character from John Wick.
However, despite the two franchises playing a pivotal role in helping Reeves become a superstar, none of The Matrix or John Wick movies come close to matching the financial success of his career’s highest-grossing film.
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Across his four-decade-long career, Keanu Reeves has only managed to feature in one $1 billion box-office blockbuster.
The opportunity came in Tom Hanks-led animated comedy Toy Story 4, wherein he voiced Duke Caboom, a gung-ho Canadian daredevil. Reeves’ failed stunt motorcyclist toy had a limited role in the film, but the actor loved the experience, admitting he instantly connected to Duke.
“I don’t know what it was but I instantly connected to Duke Caboom,” he told People. “I felt like his physicality was important, so even when he’s talking to you he’s doing stunts. He can’t help himself.”
Apart from paving the way for him to find a memorable connection with his character, Toy Story 4 also holds a special place in his career due to his financial success. The 2019 comedy adventure grossed $1.073 billion globally, helping Reeves finally touch the elusive mark.
The Matrix Reloaded, which was released in 2003, stands as his second-highest-grossing film, boasting a worldwide collection of $738 million. Meanwhile, the John Wick franchise, despite all its critical success, only recently surpassed $1 billion at the box office. It needed four chapters to reach the milestone.
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How Keanu Reeves Landed His Role in Toy Story 4
Interestingly, Reeves didn’t get the role of Duke because of his popularity or past successes like The Matrix or John Wick. In fact, when director Josh Cooley heard his voice, he didn’t even know his identity.
Keanu Reeves.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the casting department prepared a blind audio test for the decision-makers by including audio recordings of line readings from Canadian actors.
“With the first one we said, ‘Wait, stop! Who is that?’ And it was Keanu,” Cooley recalled at the movie’s premiere.
Tim Allen, who has been a regular feature in the franchise by voicing Buzz Lightyear, admired Reeves’ performance and compared it to Michael Keaton’s stint as Ken in Toy Story 3.
