BALLERINA (2025) – Pirouettes and Pistols: Ballerina’s Ballet in the John Wick Spotlight

Set in the stylishly violent universe of John Wick, Ballerina spins onto the scene with a fresh protagonist—Eve, portrayed by the captivating Ana de Armas. She’s introduced as a female counterpart to the legendary hitman, her journey marked by trauma and vengeance. Witnessing her father’s murder at a young age at the hands of cult-like assassins, Eve narrowly escapes and finds herself taken under the dark wing of The High Table—the shadowy criminal organization familiar to fans of the original franchise.

Eve’s evolution into a lethal assassin is cleverly masked behind the discipline of ballet, overseen by The Director, a stern Russian ballet instructor played once again by Angelica Huston. Huston’s efforts to match the film’s post-Wick timeline are evident, and she brings a steely presence to the role. Eve’s singular focus is clear: avenge her father’s death. Armed with formidable skills, she embarks on her bloody quest the moment she comes of age.

The narrative, however, leans heavily on tried-and-true Hollywood action tropes. The film offers a relentless series of stylized combat scenes, with Eve miraculously overcoming multiple adversaries in increasingly improbable scenarios. The formula of one-on-one confrontations, even when facing entire mobs, grows predictable by the final act. Eve’s almost supernatural resilience to falls, explosions, and general mayhem strains credibility, making the climax feel more fantastical than thrilling.

Ballerina smartly capitalizes on its John Wick lineage, peppering the cast with familiar faces. Ian McShane returns as Winston, the dignified manager of the Continental Hotel, and the late Lance Reddick appears as the ever-cool concierge—a poignant cameo filmed before his passing. Yet, it’s Keanu Reeves’s cameo as John Wick himself that truly electrifies the screen, momentarily overshadowing the titular dancer and reminding audiences of the enduring potency of his character.

But all is not lost. Despite its narrative shortcomings, Ballerina is visually well made and does provide some moments of thrills during the many fight scenes. More importantly, it introduces us to a promising new actress Ana de Armas. She proves she can hold the movie on her own even though the material here felt mostly recycled. While I personally will not look forward to any further adventures of the Ballerina but, look forward to more of Ana de Armas beyond the John Wick universe.