From the World of John Wick: Ballerina almost effortlessly fits into the perfectly designed world of John Wick. Ana de Armas is an action star for the ages with astonishingly choreographed action. From grenades to ice skates, everything is a weapon in the explosive expansion of the John Wick universe. Despite some generic storytelling and an underutilized Norman Reedus, Ballerina is the must-see film of the summer. 

Academy Award Nominee Ana de Armas takes center stage in the latest entry into the John Wick universe as Eve, another student of the Ruska Roma but this time fighting for her way into the world Wick was so desperate to fight his way out of. A spin-off is always nerve-racking to fans of a franchise as you want to stay in the world created but will it truly be the same as entries in the series you loved so much before. Ballerina is not the same quality with the story as the previous John Wick films, but the action, production design, and score are on par with the rest of the franchise. The worldbuilding audiences have come used to from the world of John Wick only continues in Ballerina as you see more of the Ruska Roma training and the story of Eve is her beginning whereas the Wick films were the end for the Baba Yaga. 

Ballerina begins as Eve loses her father and joins the Ruska Roma as a child training into the world under the rule of the Director (Anjelica Huston) and training of Nogi (Sharon Duncan-Brewster). When Eve has finally proven herself ready to fight, it’s clear how different the stories of Ballerina and John Wick are. With the Wick films, you were seeing the end of someone’s story phasing into their next chapter; we never see how he became the Baba Yaga or any of his mistakes leading up to it. With Eve, she’s still learning and understanding the how’s and the why’s of their assassin world and her own strength. Many female-led action films immediately drop their heroine into a battle with men three times her size and she takes them on no issue, however, in Ballerina, Eve struggles and fails multiple times until she understands she may physically be weaker than her opponents and she uses anything around her to win. There’s a scene between de Armas and Daniel Bernhardt where her size and strength continue to challenge her defeating him, yet she realistically goes toe-to-toe with him and it’s such a thrilling watch to see them duke it out with incredible performers so well trained with brilliant choreography. The fighting style for Eve may have the ‘John Wick aesthetic,’ but it’s tailored to fit Eve has a different story… while John was fighting for a way out of this world, Eve is fighting for a way into it and you can feel that in every desperate punch, kick or various object she manages to turn into a weapon.

From dishes to grenades to ice skates, nothing is off limits to Eve to brutally take down anyone standing in the way of her objective, to find the man who killed her father. One of the best moments in the film sees Eve beat someone with a remote, changing the channel on the TV behind her, and it lands on a clip of Buster Keaton, a clear callback to the love of Wick franchise director, Chad Stahelski. 

The film has returning characters with the Director’s role expanded a bit and a warm embrace from Charon (the late, great Lance Reddick) and Winston (Ian McShane). The new characters all seem underutilized despite feeling perfect for the world of John Wick. Norman Reedus is great in what little screentime he has and seems set up to make a return if there’s another chapter in the series. His energy, charisma and dominance make him the perfect entry into the universe of John Wick. Gabriel Byrne also feels right at home for this world, yet his character is just so thinly written as such a cliché villain it’s hard to want to watch his arc. Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick since the story is set between the events of the third and fourth film of his franchise and while it’s incredible to see him back on screen as the iconic man in black, it feels added on for fan service and takes away from how incredible de Armas is in the film and the story of Eve. However, the sequence with the two facing off is a thrilling watch with much see action choreography seeing an action legend battle an upcoming action star. It’s absolutely magnetic to watch Reeves and de Armas go toe-to-toe. 

While the story itself is lackluster, de Armas as an action lead and being back in the world of John Wick is absolutely worth the price of admission. The production design continues to hold up the world created by Stahelski and Co. with sleek, sexy work from Philip Ivey and their team of art directors. Both Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard came back to the series with yet another brilliant score that pulses through the screen. The second half of the film has brilliant, showstopping set pieces with a flame thrower sequence that will join the top scenes of the franchise as de Armas lights it up and truly kicks ass. The stunt team never fails to impress in the universe of John Wick and it’s no different in Ballerina with usual 87eleven action performers from Stephen Dunlevy, Vincent Bouillon, Jeremy Marinas, Jackson Spidell and more.

Ballerina almost effortlessly fits into the perfectly designed world of John Wick as de Armas is an action star for the ages with astonishingly choreographed action. From grenades to ice skates, everything is a weapon in the explosive expansion of the John Wick universe. Despite generic storytelling and some underutilized characters, Ballerina is the must-see film of the summer. 

Grade: B

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects

Release Date: June 6, 2025
Where to Watch: In Theaters