Action
Ballerina
Review: ‘Ballerina’ is a Slick, Action-Packed Spin-Off that’s Worthy of the ‘John Wick’ Franchise
June 4, 2025Ben MK
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One of the most iconic and crowd-pleasing film franchises of the last decade, the John Wick series not only reaffirmed Keanu Reeves' status as one of the greatest action movie stars of his generation, it also introduced audiences to a an expansive, hidden world — one filled not with wizards, fantastical creatures or intergalactic adventurers, but with assassins. Whereas most films not based on an existing IP struggled in comparison with their blockbuster competition, what began as a relatively simple tale of revenge in 2014's John Wick quickly exploded into a four-movie odyssey centering on the man known to his enemies as the Baba Yaga. And while director Chad Stalhelski's action-packed saga may have appeared to come to a definitive conclusion with 2023's John Wick: Chapter 4, one can never count a good hitman out — especially when billions of box-office dollars are at stake. Enter From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, a bloody and bombastic spin-off set parallel to the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, in which audiences are introduced to a new protagonist named Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas). An orphan who watched her father (David Castañeda) die as a result of an attack by the ruthless chancellor of a reclusive cult (Gabriel Byrne) 12 years earlier, Eve found herself taken in by the Russian criminal organization known as the Ruska Roma, whose director (Anjelica Huston) took it upon herself to help transform Eve into a woman capable of both immense grace and extreme violence. Thanks to the rigorous dance, combat and weapons training she underwent at the Ruska Roma's New York City base of operations, Eve went from being a lost little girl to being a deadly assassin worthy of taking on opponents like John Wick himself. However, after Eve is sent on her first, crucial assignment for the Ruska Roma, she makes a surprising discovery, taking her down a path that could ultimately lead to her excommunication from the secretive clan. Realizing that the Ruska Roma has been keeping the identity of the man responsible for her father's death from her for all these years, Eve sets out to track down the Chancellor herself, beginning with one of the rogue members of his cult, a man named Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus). Little does Eve know, though, that the cult has been keeping tabs on her latest target. And when she attempts to confront Pine for information on the location of the cult's headquarters, she puts herself on the radar of one of its most skilled and determined operatives, a woman named Lena (Catalina Sandino Moreno). An assassin with a past that is inextricably intertwined with Eve's, Lena will stop at nothing to carry out the Chancellor's orders. What none of them could ever imagine, however, is the fiery carnage that will ensue when Eve is finally within striking distance of completing her mission. And when that time comes, there may be only man — John Wick himself — that can stop her. Directed by Len Wiseman, the result is a film that takes a while to hit its stride. However, once it overcomes its rather clichéd opening scenes and sends Eve on her violent journey of self-discovery, this spin-off easily earns the From the World of John Wick portion of its moniker, delivering more than enough brutal combat and lightning-fast gunplay to satisfy even the most hardcore John Wick fan. Whether it's a one-versus-many beatdown set inside a ice-themed nightclub or a flamethrower duel with plenty of collateral damage, there's no shortage of spectacularly choreographed action sequences to leave viewers on the edge of their seats and slack-jawed. Most importantly, Ballerina manages to deliver a heroine worthy of following in the footsteps of Reeves' iconic hitman, with de Armas' performance evoking both pathos and vengeance in equal measure. Throw in an appearance by Reeves, who reprises his John Wick role for a brief cameo early on, as well as a more substantial part in Ballerina's final act, and you have the makings of a follow-up that will undoubtedly lead to future sequels. What's most surprising about this latest franchise entry, though, is just how well it captures the energy of the previous installments. Suffice to say, John Wick fans won't be disappointed. And while some may discount this as a cheap cash-in, there's no reason not to root for this spin-off. Ballerina releases June 6th, 2025 from Lionsgate Films. The film has an MPAA rating of R for strong violence and language throughout. Its runtime is 2 hrs. 5 min. |
