# 87Eleven Entertainment
**87Eleven Entertainment** is an American independent film production and stunt coordination company, which began as the stunt company 87eleven Action Design, founded by [Chad Stahelski](https://www.edgepedia.org/chad-stahelski) and [David Leitch](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-leitch) in 1997 in the Los Angeles area.[15](https://vindyarchives.com/news/2014/oct/21/veteran-stuntmen-direct-action-flick-joh/) • [16](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-03-24/john-wick-4-chad-stahelski-keanu-reeves) It grew out of a stunt choreography studio run by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, and it is best known for its action choreography and stunt design on the [John Wick](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-wick) franchise, which it also produces through its production arm.[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997, Los Angeles area; founding partners Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, and Damon Caro[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven) |
| Name origin | The digits 87 and 11 ended the instructor roster at the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts, where the founders trained[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven) |
| Facility | A 5,000-square-foot training and production facility that rents stunt equipment worldwide[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven) |
| Lionsgate deal | Multi-year first-look deal signed in 2024 under Chad Stahelski's leadership[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven) |
| Best-known credits | John Wick (2014) through Chapter 4 (2023), Atomic Blonde (2017), Bruised (2021), Day Shift (2022), Ballerina (2025)[2](https://revolution.film/behind-the-lens/production-companies/california/87eleven-entertainment) |
## Origins as a stunt studio
The company began as 87eleven Action Design, a stunt choreography studio in an unmarked warehouse near [Los Angeles International Airport](https://www.edgepedia.org/los-angeles-international-airport) in Inglewood, run by stunt coordinators Chad Stahelski and David Leitch.[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-78eleven-stunt-choreographers-john-wick-reeves-20141019-story.html) Both men came to the company from the top of the stunt profession. Stahelski, who discovered the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts while studying at the [University of Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-southern-california), was [Brandon Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/brandon-lee)'s stunt double on *The Crow* and Keanu Reeves' double on *The Matrix* films, where he learned Hong Kong action training methods from choreographer Woo-Ping Yuen; Leitch had doubled for Brad Pitt on films including *Fight Club*, *Troy*, and *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*.[4](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/87eleven-stunts/)
The founders' stated aim was to bring the way a Chinese fight-choreography team trains actors before production to Western cinema, so that performers can participate in action sequences more dynamically.[5](https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/stuntman-inc-the-one-stop-school-for-action-movie-stars-20140825) The studio functions as a gym, stunt-choreography studio, and production company combined, and its team trains in roughly a dozen martial arts styles using a group process in which multiple people learn multiple techniques, which the founders say makes training go exponentially faster.[5](https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/stuntman-inc-the-one-stop-school-for-action-movie-stars-20140825) • [6](https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/123794-cs-video-john-wick-directors-teach-us-stunt-choreography-at-their-87eleven-action-design-studio) The team emphasizes learning cinematography along with martial arts, on the principle that stunts are storytelling by other means.[7](https://r-emmetsweeney.com/2025/07/28/muscle-memory-heidi-moneymaker-of-87eleven-action-design-traces-the-moves-behind-the-stunts/)
**Training as a business.** The studio trains actors and stunt performers and rents rigging and stunt equipment, shipping complete equipment packages anywhere in the world.[8](https://thereactionlab.com/resources/87-eleven) Personalized training at this level is expensive: studios can expect to spend at least $500,000 for the services of 87Eleven's A-team, according to a Men's Journal profile.[5](https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/stuntman-inc-the-one-stop-school-for-action-movie-stars-20140825) Before founding the company, Stahelski and Leitch had worked on films including *300*, *The Expendables*, *The Hunger Games*, and *The Wolverine* as fight choreographers and second-unit directors.[4](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/87eleven-stunts/)
## Move into production
That same year Leitch left to found his own company, 87North Productions, further north in Hollywood with his producing partner Kelly McCormick; Leitch has described the 87eleven location he still shares with Stahelski as being more about stunts and less about production.[9](https://www.slashfilm.com/841159/kicking-butt-at-bullet-train-director-david-leitchs-new-hollywood-stunt-training-facility/) In 2024, Alex Young, formerly co-president of 20th Century Fox, was hired to co-lead the film side, and the company signed a multi-year first-look deal with Lionsgate to develop original action features and franchises.[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven)
## The John Wick franchise
The company's defining project is *John Wick* (2014), which Stahelski co-directed with Leitch as his feature directorial debut. The [Directors Guild of America](https://www.edgepedia.org/directors-guild-of-america) awarded sole directorial credit to Stahelski, and Leitch was instead credited as a producer, alongside Basil Iwanyk and [Eva Longoria](https://www.edgepedia.org/eva-longoria).[10](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/70693) The film was produced as Thunder Road Pictures, 87Eleven Productions, and MJW Films, distributed by [Summit Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/summit-entertainment).[10](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/70693) Stahelski directed the sequels alone: *John Wick: Chapter 2* (2017), *John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum* (2019), and *John Wick: Chapter 4* (2023).[2](https://revolution.film/behind-the-lens/production-companies/california/87eleven-entertainment) The franchise overall has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.[11](https://apnews.com/article/66c518a680c18859c6f6ffb607392208)
The company also produces the franchise's expansions. It is a producer of *Ballerina* (2025), the first spinoff film, directed by Len Wiseman and starring [Ana de Armas](https://www.edgepedia.org/ana-de-armas); the Lionsgate release carried a production price tag reported in the $90 million range and opened to $51 million globally, including $26 million from 82 international countries.[11](https://apnews.com/article/66c518a680c18859c6f6ffb607392208) Stahelski is executive producer of the prequel television series *The Continental* for Peacock, and the company has *John Wick: Under The High Table* in pre-production and a Caine spinoff centered on [Donnie Yen](https://www.edgepedia.org/donnie-yen)'s character in post-production.[12](https://www.lionsgateawards.com/assets/files/JW4_Production_Notes.pdf) • [1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven) • [13](https://investors.lionsgatestudios.com/static-files/b4070ada-7e59-4a53-9755-a50fb51edbdf)
## Other productions and development slate
Beyond John Wick, the company's produced credits include *Atomic Blonde* (2017), directed by Leitch; *Bruised* (2021), [Halle Berry](https://www.edgepedia.org/halle-berry)'s directorial debut, which Stahelski executive produced; the vampire thriller *Day Shift* (2022) for Netflix, starring [Jamie Foxx](https://www.edgepedia.org/jamie-foxx); and the documentary *Wick Is Pain* (2025).[2](https://revolution.film/behind-the-lens/production-companies/california/87eleven-entertainment) • [12](https://www.lionsgateawards.com/assets/files/JW4_Production_Notes.pdf) Upcoming titles on industry production lists include *Karoshi*, directed by Takashi Doscher, and a new *Highlander* film directed by Stahelski, both in post-production.[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven)
Projects in development with the company include *Ghost of Tsushima* (Sony/[PlayStation](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation)), based on the action-adventure game set in feudal Japan; *Rainbow Six*, based on the [Tom Clancy](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-clancy) novel and starring Michael B. Jordan; an adaptation of the Black Samurai novels (Netflix); an adaptation of Trevanian's *Shibumi* (Warner Bros.); *Man From Nowhere* (New Line); and, on television, *Project Nemesis* (Sony TV), all with an eye for Stahelski to direct and produce.[12](https://www.lionsgateawards.com/assets/files/JW4_Production_Notes.pdf)
## What has changed since 2019
The company's center of gravity has shifted from stunt services to production. Through the 2010s it was known mainly as a choreography and training studio whose founders moved into directing; since December 2019 it has carried production credits on a steady slate of one or more films a year, added a co-head of film from studio ranks in 2024, and secured a first-look deal at Lionsgate.[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven) • [2](https://revolution.film/behind-the-lens/production-companies/california/87eleven-entertainment) The split with Leitch also created a sibling company: 87North, founded by Leitch and Kelly McCormick, now operates as a separate production and action design house, so the 87 brand covers two related but independent companies.[14](https://87north.com/)
## References
1. [87eleven, Production List (Film & Television Industry Alliance)](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/87eleven)
2. [87Eleven Entertainment, Behind the Lens production company directory](https://revolution.film/behind-the-lens/production-companies/california/87eleven-entertainment)
3. [Stunt choreographers turn stars into stone-cold killers in 'John Wick', Los Angeles Times (Oct. 18, 2014)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-78eleven-stunt-choreographers-john-wick-reeves-20141019-story.html)
4. [The Insane Stunts and Action of 87Eleven, PremiumBeat](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/87eleven-stunts/)
5. [Stuntman Inc: The One-Stop School for Action-Movie Stars, Men's Journal](https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/stuntman-inc-the-one-stop-school-for-action-movie-stars-20140825)
6. [CS Video: John Wick Directors Teach Us Stunt Choreography at Their 87Eleven Action Design Studio, ComingSoon.net](https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/123794-cs-video-john-wick-directors-teach-us-stunt-choreography-at-their-87eleven-action-design-studio)
7. [Muscle Memory: Heidi Moneymaker of 87Eleven Action Design, R. Emmet Sweeney](https://r-emmetsweeney.com/2025/07/28/muscle-memory-heidi-moneymaker-of-87eleven-action-design-traces-the-moves-behind-the-stunts/)
8. [The Reaction Lab: 87 Eleven](https://thereactionlab.com/resources/87-eleven)
9. [Kicking Butt At Bullet Train Director David Leitch's New Hollywood Stunt Training Facility, SlashFilm](https://www.slashfilm.com/841159/kicking-butt-at-bullet-train-director-david-leitchs-new-hollywood-stunt-training-facility/)
10. [John Wick (2014), AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/70693)
11. ['Lilo & Stitch' cruises to No. 1 again; John Wick spinoff 'Ballerina' dances to 2nd place, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/66c518a680c18859c6f6ffb607392208)
12. [John Wick: Chapter 4 Production Notes, Lionsgate](https://www.lionsgateawards.com/assets/files/JW4_Production_Notes.pdf)
13. [Donnie Yen to Reprise Role from John Wick: Chapter 4, Lionsgate investor relations](https://investors.lionsgatestudios.com/static-files/b4070ada-7e59-4a53-9755-a50fb51edbdf)
14. [87N Action (87North)](https://87north.com/)
15. [Veteran stuntmen direct action flick ‘John Wick’ Their latest STUNT](https://vindyarchives.com/news/2014/oct/21/veteran-stuntmen-direct-action-flick-joh/)
16. [How Keanu Reeves' stunt double became 'John Wick's' action auteur](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-03-24/john-wick-4-chad-stahelski-keanu-reeves)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen production organizations › Production companies and industry people › Independent production companies › American and Canadian companies*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license