From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025)
| Detail | Information |
| Release Date | June 6, 2025 |
| Director | Len Wiseman |
| Writer | Shay Hatten (with Emerald Fennell and Michael Finch) |
| Genre | Neo-Noir Action Thriller, Crime |
| Franchise | John Wick Spin-off |
| Timeline | Set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4. |
| Budget | $90 million |
| Box Office | $137.2 million (Worldwide Gross) |
Cast
The film features a mix of new characters and familiar faces from the John Wick universe:
| Actor | Role | Notes |
| Ana de Armas | Eve Macarro (The Ballerina) | The protagonist, an assassin trained by the Ruska Roma. |
| Anjelica Huston | “The Director” | Head of the Ruska Roma crime syndicate/ballet school. |
| Ian McShane | Winston Scott | Manager of the New York Continental Hotel. |
| Keanu Reeves | John Wick | Reprising his role in a supporting capacity. |
| Lance Reddick | Charon | The Continental concierge (one of his final film performances). |
| Gabriel Byrne | The Chancellor | The main antagonist and leader of a mysterious cult. |
| Norman Reedus | Daniel Pine | A mysterious contact who helps Eve. |
| Catalina Sandino Moreno | Lena | A member of the cult and a key adversary. |
Long Review Summary
Ballerina was met with a generally positive reception from critics, though its box office performance was moderate compared to other films in the franchise.
The film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), who witnesses the murder of her father as a child. She is taken in by Winston Scott and placed under the care of The Director at the Ruska Roma, a secret organization that trains assassins under the guise of a professional ballet company. Twelve years later, Eve (now a highly skilled assassin) begins her brutal quest for vengeance against the group responsible: a dangerous cult led by The Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne).
What Worked (The High Points):
- Ana de Armas’ Performance: Critics largely praised Ana de Armas for successfully carrying the action lead. Her character, Eve, is portrayed as driven by grief and anger, providing a compelling new focus. Her physicality in the stunts and commitment to the Gun Fu style were highly commended.
- Action Choreography: True to the franchise, the film features inventive and relentless action sequences, including a chaotic fight inside an armory and a thrilling sequence set in a snowy European village. The action successfully differentiates itself by leaning into the protagonist’s ballerina training, creating a unique and graceful fighting style.
- World Expansion: The movie successfully expands the John Wick mythology by detailing the Ruska Roma and introducing a new major organization, The Cult, with its own centuries-old rules and history.
- The Cameos: The returns of Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick provided welcomed continuity and emotional weight. Keanu Reeves’ involvement was handled with care; his role as John Wick serves primarily to guide Eve’s moral compass and enhance the final act, rather than overshadowing the main character.
What Was Missing (The Low Points):
- Emotional Depth: Some critics felt that Eve’s character, despite De Armas’ charisma, was underdeveloped compared to the detailed history of John Wick. The revenge motive was deemed “basic” and the overall script too focused on plot mechanics and action set pieces, leading to less emotional investment.
- The Timeline: Setting the story between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 created some awkward timeline compression, as the events of those two films flow nearly seamlessly together, making the duration of Eve’s story feel squeezed and slightly unbelievable.
- Underutilized Talent: The villain, The Chancellor, played by the talented Gabriel Byrne, was criticized for being mostly a figurehead who delivered exposition rather than posing a genuine physical or intellectual threat.
In summary, Ballerina is considered a worthy addition to the John Wick universe that succeeds as a chaotic, fun, and stylish action movie, even if it doesn’t quite reach the narrative heights of the core films.