Considering the rocky production history behind it, Ballerina (2025) emerges as a competent entry in the John Wick universe—though one that never quite matches the highs of the mainline films. At its center, Ana de Armas delivers a strong performance as Eve, bringing physicality and grit to a role that demands both, while the action—particularly in the second half—benefits greatly from the influence of Chad Stahelski, who stepped in alongside Keanu Reeves to help reshape much of the film after original director Len Wiseman’s version assumingly faltered.
Wiseman, known for Live Free or Die Hard, the 2012 Total Recall remake, and the Underworld franchise, reportedly struggled to capture the energy and visual clarity that make the John Wick films so iconic. The reshoots guided by Stahelski feel much closer to that established style, especially in the extended Austria sequences that dominate the back half of the film. These scenes deliver the kind of gun-fu choreography, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and stylish mayhem that fans expect, and they largely redeem the film after a sluggish opening act.
That first hour is where Ballerina stumbles the most. The setup—Eve’s backstory within the Ruska Roma, overseen by The Director (Anjelica Huston), and her mission to avenge her father’s murder—follows a predictable revenge blueprint. Like John Wick (2014), the story builds a foundation of personal loss and unrelenting skill, but it takes too long to gain momentum. When the violence finally kicks into gear, the tonal shift is so stark that it highlights the unevenness of the film’s pacing and two distinct visions for the film itself.
Still, Ana de Armas proves to be a worthy anchor, carrying Eve with a mix of steely determination and vulnerability that makes her believable in this world of shadowy assassins. While she doesn’t quite replicate the mythic aura of Keanu Reeves’ John Wick, she comes closer than most spinoffs of major franchises ever do.
The film also expands the lore of the assassin underworld in intriguing, if modest, ways. While the rules of the Continental remain, Ballerina introduces new factions and cult-like organizations that give Eve’s journey distinct stakes. Gabriel Byrne is memorable as the leader of the group responsible for her father’s death, while Catalina Sandino Moreno and Norman Reedus provide smaller supporting turns. The late Lance Reddick appears in his final role, alongside Ian McShane’s returning Winston, giving the film an added layer of poignancy and call-backs to the franchise’s original players.
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Ultimately, Ballerina works better as a standalone action film than as a fully satisfying chapter in the John Wick saga. The best sequences—gun battles, flamethrower mayhem, and even a wild kitchen fight where plates become weapons—are vintage Stahelski chaos, but the uneven tone and slower first act keep the film from being great. Still, considering the behind-the-scenes turmoil, it’s impressive that Ballerina turned out this solid at all. A serviceable spinoff and a showcase for Ana de Armas, but one that leaves you wishing it pushed further into the boldness that made John Wick a modern action landmark.
Score: 6/10
Ballerina (2025)
- Cast: Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Ava McCarthy, Juliet Doherty, Norman Reedus, Lance Reddick, Sharon Duncan-Brewster
- Director: Len Wiseman
- Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
- Runtime: 125 minutes
- Rated: R
- Release Date: June 6, 2025
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