Running Time: 125 minutes
This feature from Lionsgate Films is playing exclusively in cinemas on June 6th, 2025.
These days, it seems that film franchises never die. While the hit John Wick action series seemed to come to a close after the fourth movie in 2023 (or., at least, for the time being), even the final tag at the end of the previous chapter suggested that the makers were ready to begin introducing spin-offs. In only a couple of years, the first effort has arrived and is called Ballerina or From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (even I’m still not sure exactly what the preferred moniker is). The end results are a mixed bag. The story is far too routine and predictable, but the film admittedly delivers a few top-notch showdowns that will please action fans.
The bulk of this tale is set between the events of the third and fourth John Wick movies. It opens years earlier with a flashback introducing a young Eve Macarro (Victoria Comte) witnessing her father being murdered by a sinister organization. She is soon taken in by the Director (Angelica Huston), head of the Ruska Roma organization, who train her to be an elite killer. Determined to get revenge, the adult Eve (Ana de Armas) defies orders and seeks out the man responsible for making her an orphan. This figure, known as the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), runs a cult of highly skilled, heavily armed killers. On her journey, Eve crosses paths with familiar underworld figures, including Charon (Lance Reddick), Winston Scott (Ian McShane), and even John Wick (Keanu Reeves) as she slays as many of the Chancellor’s team as she can.
And that’s pretty much all there is to the story. The Eve character is solely motivated by revenge and never relents until the end credits roll. Armas certainly has the skills to kick butt and easily sells the physical scenes involving brutal punches, kicks, shootings, as well as lopping, slicing and dicing, and even blowing up foes. But, as noted, early on it all feels familiar and slight. A young girl is traumatized by a brutal attack, goes through a lengthy training process, and comes out the other side taking down random villains against neon-lit backdrops. It’s also odd that, despite the increasing brutality being brought on the protagonist, she always seems to come away without a single bruise (and only a visible cut or two on her forehead).
There is a lot of fan service in the first half as well, with many drop ins from familiar characters. This will be exciting to those who can’t get enough of the franchise, but if you were already growing weary of it all by the previous title, the cameos just slow the plot down. Additionally, the Chancellor and his villainous cult aren’t fully developed. Characters mention how dangerous the group are and how no one who joins them can ever leave (which is what sets the movie’s events in motion), but their official directive or their plan for world domination is never revealed nor even discussed in great detail.
Thankfully, as events become more exaggerated, there is gruesome fun to be had. Fight scenes in the second half of the feature begin after Eve arrives at a snowy, lakeside village. These showdowns are entertainingly over-the-top and very well-choreographed. The action is more creative and inventive, also benefiting from the unique and picturesque, winter environment. The lead literally mows down the entire town in delirious fashion with an incredible variety of implements. There is also an enjoyable appearance from another notable killer during the final act fracas that adds a bit of fun interplay, and dark levity to the proceedings.
Ana de Armas is a charismatic presence and definitely delivers the action heroics. The big battles in the final half of the movie are a blast to witness. It’s unfortunate that there isn’t a particularly original story, or much in the way of motivation for the villains that might add more drama to the story. Clearly, the intent is to expand and elaborate in possible future installments, but one would expect that in a two-hour-plus feature, some more time could be devoted to these elements. Yes, Ballerina manages to get the job done and will likely keep the franchise alive, but doesn’t make as big a splash as it could have.