FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA (2025)

Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Len Wiseman
Cast: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Robert Maaser, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves
Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins
Rating: M18 (Violence)
Released By: Encore Films
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 5 June 2025

Synopsis: Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3– Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.

Movie Review:

Truth be told, don’t confuse From the World of John Wick: Ballerina with the similarly titled 2023 Korean action film Ballerina. While both feature a revenge-driven female lead and stylized action, the former is a high-octane spin-off set in the John Wick universe and it’s just as compelling.

Starring Ana de Armas, Ballerina had high expectations from the start. As a continuation of the stylish, deadly world introduced by John Wick, the film sets itself apart with a fierce new protagonist and a unique flair.

De Armas plays Eve Macarro, an assassin trained in the deadly tradition of the Ruska Roma under the watchful eye of the Director (Anjelica Huston) and her assistant Nogi (Sharon Duncan-Brewster). After passing her brutal initiation, Eve embarks on her first official mission. But she has her own agenda: revenge. Her target? A shadowy figure known only as the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), a powerful man at the helm of a secretive, lethal organization.

Guided by Winston (Ian McShane), Eve tracks down a reclusive man named Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus) who’s holed up in the Continental Hotel Budapest. Pine may hold the key to locating the Chancellor and Eve isn’t about to let the opportunity slip.

However, while Shay Hatten’s story expands the John Wick universe, it does so in a somewhat drawn-out and predictable manner. The plot is fairly linear essentially Eve moving from point A to point B, fighting her way through each encounter. Dialogue and character development take a backseat to the relentless action, making the narrative feel thin at times.

That said, Ballerina delivers what fans came for: the action. And there’s no shortage of it. From an explosive opening shootout featuring a younger Eve to a dazzling nightclub brawl to the snowy showdown in a village that resembles Hallstatt (likely filmed in the Czech Republic or Hungary), the stunt team at 87eleven once again proves why they’re at the top of the game.

Eve’s weapons of choice? A pair of razor-sharp ice skates and a flamethrower. Yes, you read that right. The latter is bound to become one of the most memorable action moments in cinematic history, bold, breathtaking and absolutely bonkers in the best way possible. If every John Wick installment has a signature scene, Ballerina delivers it in fiery style.

So, the million-dollar question: Does Ana de Armas embody the ballerina-assassin? Absolutely. Her physicality and commitment to the role are undeniable especially when you consider the scale of the stunts and the sheer volume of gunplay she’s involved in. One standout scene in an Austrian restaurant even injects a touch of unexpected humor. Whether scripted or improvised, the film could’ve used more of that cheeky self-awareness.

And what about John Wick himself? Since Ballerina takes place between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, Keanu Reeves does make an appearance. His role brought in by the Director to stop Eve from escalating her war with the Chancellor is clearly designed as a crowd-pleasing cameo. It’s more marketing than necessity but it’s still a welcome addition.

Len Wiseman (Underworld, Live Free or Die Hard) is credited as director, but it’s been widely reported that original John Wick helmer Chad Stahelski stepped in for significant reshoots and re-editing, delaying the release by a year. Fortunately, the final product doesn’t show signs of a troubled production. The cinematography is striking, the world-building continues to impress and the action choreography remains elite. Though the story itself may lack depth, it holds together well enough to justify the ride.

With Ballerina, Ana de Armas is poised to lead more globe-trotting chaos in future chapters and if this film is any indication, she’s more than up to the task.

Movie Rating:

(Action cinema is alive and well and in this rare spin-off, it might just have found its next leading lady)

Review by Linus Tee