Ana de Armas stars in Ballerina, the new addition to the growing John Wick franchise. Directed by Len Wiseman and filmed between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, this spin-off stands alone attempting to mix the refinement of ballet with the violent artistry. Though the attempt is photogenically beautiful and action-packed, it can’t stay grounded emotionally beyond its glossy surface.
A Killer with a Poised History
Eve Macarro (played by Ana de Armas) is a ballerina, trained – graceful, poised, and lethal. Orphaned as a child when her father was killed by a cult of killers in mysterious robes led by the unsettling Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), Eve finds shelter among the Ruska Roma, the same assassin group that had previously harbored John Wick. Under the stern guidance of The Director (Anjelica Huston), she is trained not only in ballet but in the deadly arts of combat and assassination.
Whereas her youth was marred by tragedy, her maturity is dedicated to a one-track mission: vengeance. Eve desires to destroy the very cult that derailed her childhood. That trajectory aligns her against a tenuously sustained truce between factions of assassins—and once she gets past those boundaries, anarchy ensues.
John Wick’s Shadow Still Looms
Keanu Reeves returns briefly as John Wick, offering continuity and fan service without hijacking the narrative. He crosses paths with Eve at the Ruska Roma headquarters, their conversation hinting at shared burdens and the inescapable pull of the violent life they lead. “I’m working on it,” Wick says when asked if he’s found peace—though neither he nor Eve truly knows how to walk away from their bloody world.
The movie also features cameos from recognizable faces like Winston Scott (Ian McShane), the manager of New York Continental Hotel, and the late Lance Reddick as Charon, one of his last screen appearances. Their appearances serve to anchor Ballerina within the Wick-verse mythology, but they also serve to emphasize its emotional deficits.
Action with Flair—But Lacks Emotional Weight
Wiseman choreographs Ballerina with all the style one would hope from a John Wick spin-off. From an action sequence within a neon-lit ice-themed club to a snowy town full of mercenaries, the look pays off. Action choreography is choppy, frenetic, and creative—flamethrowers and ice skates are only some of the implements employed to inflict harm.
De Armas holds her own in fight sequences. Following her standout turn as Paloma in No Time to Die, she again effortlessly combines beauty and brutality. Regardless of whether she’s photo-bombing a shootout in the middle of a magazine spread or cutting through henchmen with wild abandon, she draws the eye. But aside from the shootout, Eve as a character doesn’t quite have much emotional resonance. Her need for revenge feels shallow and familiar in contrast to Wick’s more complex grief-fueled rampage.
Ballet Meets Bloodshed. But Only at a Glance
One of the more interesting promises of Ballerina was that it could blend classical ballet with contemporary action. Sadly, that thematic contrast is symbolic and not literal. Yes, we saw Eve’s training history and glimpses of Swan Lake, but the film fails to fully leverage the ballet structure. Unlike the poetic violence frequently termed “balletic” in action films, Ballerina hardly incorporates dance into its action choreography meaning it.
If this sub-franchise keeps going, there’s hope that future installments will double down on the mismatch even more—perhaps having de Armas act out on stage in a tutu and in fight scenes and bringing the setup full circle.
A Familiar But Forgettable Detour
Even with slick visuals and fireworks set pieces, Ballerina ends up feeling like a side tale that doesn’t share the same emotional depth as its predecessor. Similar to the 2023 series The Continental, it shows that the John Wick world without Wick is empty. De Armas is certainly charismatic and physically imposing, but the film doesn’t do a great job of crafting her into a lasting lead. The mythology is there but is overstuffed, and the stylish brutality alone can’t keep the story afloat.
Final Thoughts
Ballerina is a solid, adrenaline-packed entry into the John Wick universe that succeeds on action but stumbles when it tries to access heart. Fans of the series will enjoy its visual and lore consistency, but may leave hoping for more substance behind the blood-drenched pirouettes.
Release Dates:
Australia & US: June 6, 2025
UK: June 7, 2025
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