Ballerina, the latest film expanding the John Wick universe, premiered in theaters on June 6, with Ana de Armas leading the action as Eve Macarro, a vengeful assassin. Directed by Len Wiseman, this spin-off dives into the criminal underworld and pits Eve against dangerous foes as she sets out to avenge her family’s murder, showcasing de Armas’s compelling transformation from ballerina to ruthless killer.
Critical reactions highlight both excitement and narrative flaws
Responses from critics to Ballerina have been sharply divided. Many reviewers commended Ana de Armas for her performance and praised the intense action choreography, yet several noted flaws in the film’s pacing and story structure. The split opinions echo the film’s attempt to balance fresh energy with familiar franchise elements.
Gregory Nussen from Deadline observed,
“The first act is especially clunky and expository, a far cry from the pleasing simplicity of the first John Wick,”
but he also noted,
“But the action is indelible anyway, and de Armas is too good; her performance here is more than enough to elevate the film beyond the fray.”
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline
Set between John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, the film places Eve on a personal quest for justice. Keanu Reeves returns for a brief appearance as John Wick, but the narrative spotlights de Armas as she navigates alliances and adversaries within the Wick-verse.
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman described the movie as
“an unabashedly pulpy, ultraviolent, and entertaining spin-off of the ‘John Wick’ franchise.”
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety He acknowledged the film’s role in the growing John Wick canon, stating,
“‘Ballerina’ is a worthy entry in the ‘John Wick’ canon, though I say that as someone who doesn’t think the ‘John Wick’ canon is all that.”
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Action shines under Len Wiseman’s direction
The action-driven nature of Ballerina is a standout, with Eve Macarro’s skills honed under the mentorship of Anjelica Huston’s character, The Director. The plot begins with the traumatic killing of Eve’s father, launching her into the brutal world depicted by the Ruska Roma. Critics agreed that the stylized fight sequences continue to push the franchise’s boundaries.
Brian Truitt from USA Today focused on the impressive physicality and kinetic scenes, writing,
“The John Wick films have upped their stunts and action-movie game each time out, and Ballerina doesn’t disappoint in that vein. There’s less of Reeves’ tireless gun fu and more of de Armas just picking up random objects and using them on a host of baddies.”
—Brian Truitt, USA Today Truitt also credited Wiseman’s direction, adding,
“De Armas is a great addition to the Wick-verse, as is Wiseman: From the Underworld movies to a Total Recall reboot and a Die Hard, the director is no stranger to action flicks and Ballerina is his best, by a lot.”
—Brian Truitt, USA Today
Mixed opinions on the film’s uneven pacing and story
Despite praise for the film’s exciting scenes, some critics found fault with its structure. David Fear of Rolling Stone was unimpressed by the narrative, expressing,
“At its best, this tale of a young female assassin seeking vengeance and wreaking havoc is one more chance to see expertly choreographed mayhem. At its worst, it plays like a Wick-ipedia sub-entry ambitiously pumped up to main-event status. Let’s just say the balance tilts toward the latter more than you’d like.”
—David Fear, Rolling Stone
Jordan Hoffman of Entertainment Weekly also remarked on the film’s turbulent pacing and dual nature, stating,
“What’s unfortunate, however, is that ‘Ballerina’ is really two different films stapled together. The first half is shockingly stultifying: a witless, airless, unoriginal slog with some occasional gruesome battles sprinkled in.”
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly However, Hoffman noted a shift in the second half, explaining,
“About midway through, things turn on a dime. The movie shifts locations and sheds its connection to the rote plot that wasn’t going anywhere. … All I can tell you is that the first half of the movie is a chore to sit through (even with Ana de Armas being radiant in every frame), and then after the fade-out, there is an abundance of creativity, wit, and sparkling choreography between the performers and the camera.”
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly
Ballerina’s place in the evolving John Wick universe
Ballerina marks a significant expansion for the John Wick franchise, establishing Ana de Armas as a new action star and exploring fresh territory within the Wick-verse. With Len Wiseman at the helm and an ensemble including Anjelica Huston and Keanu Reeves, the movie reinforces the franchise’s reputation for intense choreography and inventive fight sequences. Despite divided critical opinions, the film’s release further cements the series’ influence on action cinema and signals more spin-offs could be on the horizon.
