Ballerina is a 2025 American action thriller directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten. It serves as the fifth installment and a spin-off in the John Wick franchise universe. The film stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a young assassin trained by the Ruska Roma clan, who seeks revenge for her father’s death during the events that overlap with John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
Plot Summary
The story follows Eve Macarro, daughter of assassins Javier and his wife, who is orphaned after a cult assassin group kills her parents. Taken under the wing of the Ruska Roma, Eve trains for 12 years as both a ballerina and a deadly assassin. She meets John Wick during her training, who advises her to abandon the violent path. After graduating as a Kikimora assassin, Eve protects her wards and completes contracts, but her quest for vengeance against the cult intensifies when she discovers her estranged sister is involved with the cult.
Eve’s pursuit leads her to Prague and eventually to the cult’s stronghold in Hallstatt, where she confronts the cult’s Chancellor and faces numerous assassins. John Wick arrives to stop Eve from igniting a war between factions but ultimately supports her mission. The film ends with Eve killing the Chancellor and rescuing the Chancellor’s granddaughter, Ella, while a bounty is placed on her head, setting up future conflicts.
Connection to John Wick Franchise
Ballerina is a direct spin-off from the John Wick series, taking place during the timeline of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. It expands the universe by exploring the Ruska Roma assassin clan and introduces Eve as a new protagonist within this world. John Wick himself appears in a supporting role, linking the narratives and maintaining continuity with the main franchise.
Cast
– Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro
– Keanu Reeves as John Wick (supporting role)
– Gabriel Byrne as the Cult’s Chancellor
– Other supporting roles include members of the Ruska Roma and cult assassins.
Critical Reception and Ratings
Ballerina received mixed reviews from critics. It holds a positive but moderate rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting a 75% approval rating, indicating that while many enjoyed the film, a significant portion found it lacking.
Critics praised Ana de Armas’s performance and the film’s action sequences, especially in the second half, which delivers exciting and clever set pieces comparable to the John Wick films. However, some reviews noted an uneven tone, describing the movie as feeling like two different films stitched together, with a slower, more dour first half and a more thrilling second half.
Some criticism focused on the film’s identity crisis and overreliance on the John Wick brand, with the inclusion of John Wick himself feeling somewhat forced and detracting from Eve’s standalone story. The film was also noted for glossing over some moral complexities in its climax.
Box Office and Performance
Ballerina was released in theaters on June 6, 2025. Although exact box office figures are not detailed in the available sources, the film’s moderate critical reception and franchise connection suggest it performed respectably, benefiting from the strong John Wick fanbase and Ana de Armas’s star power.
Significance
As a John Wick spin-off, Ballerina broadens the franchise’s universe by focusing on a new protagonist and exploring different assassin factions, particularly the Ruska Roma. It serves as a sequel/prequel hybrid by overlapping with the timeline of John Wick: Chapter 3 and setting up new storylines within the same world. This expansion aims to create a larger franchise ecosystem, blending ballet artistry with high-octane action and introducing fresh characters while retaining connections to the beloved John Wick saga.
Ballerina is a visually stylish and action-packed addition to the John Wick universe, anchored by Ana de Armas’s compelling lead performance. While it struggles with pacing and identity issues, it offers enough thrilling moments and franchise ties to appeal to fans of the series and action genre enthusiasts alike.
