Keanu Reeves experienced a severe knee injury while filming the comedy “Good Fortune” in January 2024. During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter on September 3, 2025, the 61-year-old actor described the incident as his kneecap breaking “like a potato chip.” The injury occurred after filming a scene involving a cold plunge.
Reeves was accompanied by his “Good Fortune” co-stars during the interview at the Whitby Hotel in New York City, New York. He is also rehearsing for a Broadway production of “Waiting for Godot” with Alex Winter, his co-star from “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”
The accident occurred approximately 15 days into production on the Lionsgate film “Good Fortune,” written and directed by Aziz Ansari.. Reeves was filming with Ansari and Seth Rogen when he sustained the injury. After the scene, he attempted a “cold shuffle” in a bathing suit, which led to the mishap in a room with protective carpeting.
On “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on July 22, 2024, Reeves explained that his foot got stuck in a carpet pocket. As he began to fall, his knee did not follow the motion of his body. He tried to use his arms to break the fall, but hit his knee hard on the ground.
Reeves noted that his patella cracked upon impact. Initially, he thought there was no injury, but swelling soon revealed the severity. The irony of the injury on a comedy set was noted by Reeves, who remarked on the challenges of comedic work.
Photos from January 2024 showed Reeves using crutches and wearing an ice pack on his left knee, sparking speculation about his condition. The images spread online, with some questioning if the injury was genuine or part of the role. However, Reeves was later seen on set without crutches, showing his resolve to continue filming.
At CinemaCon in April 2024, Ansari commended Reeves’s professionalism. Despite the fractured kneecap, Reeves completed almost all his scenes. Only salsa dance scenes were postponed, though Reeves initially thought he could perform them immediately.
The injury was notable given Reeves’s extensive experience in action films. Ansari highlighted that Reeves had completed many stunts in the “John Wick” series, “The Matrix” trilogy, and “Speed” without needing hospitalization. In “Speed,” Reeves even attempted a jump from car to bus, although it was not used in the final cut.
In a July 2024 interview at San Diego Comic-Con, Reeves provided an update on his recovery, noting that the injury had impacted the filming timeline. Filming on “Good Fortune” was largely completed before Reeves began work on “Outcome” in March 2024, with a postponed dance sequence filmed later after his knee had healed.
The knee injury is one of several significant physical challenges Reeves has encountered. In the Colbert interview, Reeves mentioned a two-level spinal fusion as a more severe injury. He underwent spinal surgery before filming “The Matrix” in 1999 due to urgent disc issues.
The spinal issues developed over time, with one compressed disc and another shattered disc. The condition led to balance problems, necessitating surgery before taking on the role of Neo.
“Good Fortune” is Ansari’s directorial debut, featuring Reeves as a guardian angel intervening in the lives of a worker and a venture capitalist. The cast includes Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh. Although Reeves’s injury caused a delay, production concluded with minor schedule adjustments.
In recent interviews, Reeves has expressed uncertainty about continuing in physically demanding roles. He told CBS News in December that his knees might hinder a potential “John Wick 5,” acknowledging that while he desires to continue, his knees may not be able to sustain another action film installment.
