When Ballerina was first announced as a spin-off of the beloved John Wick franchise, fans weren’t sure what to expect. Could a ballet-trained female assassin really stand toe-to-toe with the legendary Baba Yaga himself? Would this story actually expand the universe—or simply ride on its coattails?
Now that the film has finally hit theaters, the verdict is in: Ballerina is not just a worthy addition—it’s a stunning, blood-soaked ballet of vengeance, grace, and brutality. Directed by Len Wiseman and featuring Ana de Armas in the lead role, the film is a slick, stylish, and adrenaline-fueled ride through familiar assassin territory—with just enough elegance to make it feel different.
But while the action dazzles and the fight choreography astonishes, does Ballerina actually deepen the Wick lore, or is it just more high-octane gunplay on a different stage?
Let’s break it down.
A Deadly Dance of Revenge
Set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, Ballerina tells the story of Eve Macarro, a deadly female assassin raised in the Ruska Roma ballet academy—first glimpsed in Parabellum. Trained in both dance and death, Eve is on a personal mission to avenge the murder of her family, all while navigating the deadly politics of the assassin underworld.
Ana de Armas plays Eve with a quiet intensity, giving the character a rich blend of elegance, vulnerability, and ruthlessness. Her performance brings dimension to a role that, in lesser hands, could’ve felt like a mere action figure.
The film kicks off with a brutal assassination in Prague and never lets up. From smoky Russian safehouses to luxurious Continental hotels, Eve carves a path of destruction through cities, hitmen, and moral ambiguity.
Action Sequences That Redefine Brutality
If there’s one reason to see Ballerina in theaters, it’s the action.
Director Len Wiseman, known for his work on Underworld and Live Free or Die Hard, proves himself a strong match for the Wick brand’s signature gun-fu. Every sequence feels precise, brutal, and almost balletic—an intentional nod to Eve’s dancer training.
One standout moment involves a fight in a chandelier-lit ballroom, where Eve uses both pistols and pointe shoes to take down enemies in a dizzying series of acrobatic attacks. The choreography is seamless, and Ana de Armas performs many of the stunts herself, lending authenticity and edge to every scene.
This is not a movie where action is just filler—it’s character-driven combat. Every gunshot, every broken bone, every kill has weight and purpose.
Ana de Armas Owns the Screen
In a role that could’ve easily leaned too hard into “female John Wick” clichés, Ana de Armas brings depth and nuance. Eve is not just a killer—she’s broken, haunted, and painfully human. Armas plays her with quiet sorrow, offering glimpses of a woman who doesn’t just want vengeance, but peace.
And yet, she is completely believable as a lethal force. In fight scenes, she moves like a dancer—graceful but deadly, calm yet explosive.
Her chemistry with returning franchise stars, particularly Ian McShane’s Winston and Anjelica Huston’s Director, feels organic and adds a continuity that long-time fans will appreciate
John Wick Connections — Just Enough
Yes, Keanu Reeves makes an appearance as John Wick—and it’s more than a simple cameo. His role is woven into the plot in a way that respects the larger universe but still keeps the focus on Eve.
Unlike other spin-offs that rely heavily on the original franchise to stay afloat, Ballerina uses its Wick references with restraint. There are callbacks to the Continental, High Table politics, and the gold coin economy, but it’s all seen through Eve’s eyes.
This is very much her story.
Visuals and Direction
Cinematographer Aleksei Pokotylo gives Ballerina a sleek, cold visual palette, drenched in neons, shadows, and reflections. From the crimson ballet rehearsal rooms to moonlit ambushes in Budapest, the film is gorgeous to look at—without feeling like a music video.
The camera often lingers on stillness before explosions of violence, a trick borrowed from Stahelski’s Wick films. That tension keeps the viewer on edge. You know the beauty won’t last.
Len Wiseman’s direction is tight, never meandering. He knows when to show and when to let silence carry weight. This isn’t just a stylish action film—it’s one that respects the visual language of the franchise while carving out its own identity.
Weaknesses: Style Over Substance?
As much as Ballerina excels visually and in terms of action, it does falter in a few key areas.
The script leans heavily on familiar tropes: the haunted assassin, the family revenge arc, the mentor with hidden motives. While Ana de Armas elevates these elements, the narrative doesn’t dig as deeply into her character as it could.
There’s also a slight pacing issue in the second act, where the film stalls to introduce side characters who ultimately don’t add much. These detours slow Eve’s momentum just when it should be building.
And though the fight scenes are spectacular, they begin to blend after a while—especially when there’s little emotional change between them. The best John Wick fights escalate both emotionally and strategically. Ballerina often delivers the former but not always the latter.
Critical Reception
So far, critical reactions have been largely positive, though not unanimous. Vulture praised the film’s “absurd, thrilling, and creative” choreography, calling it a “worthy addition to the Wick-verse.” Meanwhile, IGN noted that while the action dazzles, the story doesn’t push the franchise forward in any bold direction.
Some critics have called the film “style over substance,” while others celebrate it for delivering exactly what fans expect—violent elegance with a strong female lead.
Regardless of the split, there’s one point nearly all reviewers agree on: Ana de Armas is a star, and this film confirms it.
Final Verdict
Ballerina is a stylish, action-packed spin-off that honors its roots while forging its own path. Ana de Armas delivers a powerful performance that’s equal parts graceful and ferocious. While the script doesn’t dig as deeply into her character as it could, the film remains a satisfying, blood-soaked ballet that proves the John Wick universe still has stories worth telling.
It may not have the mythological weight of the core Wick films, but as a standalone story, Ballerina hits its marks—and then some.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)