Ana de Armas’ latest project, the John Wick spin-off titled From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, struggled to attract cinema audiences after multiple delays and a lackluster box office performance. However, the film quickly rose to the top of the streaming charts on Starz, finding success after its theatrical disappointment.
Originally scheduled for release almost a year earlier, Ballerina finally premiered in theaters on June 6, 2025, continuing the John Wick saga. Despite the franchise’s strong track record, including the major success of John Wick Chapter 4 in 2023, Ballerina fell short of expectations, grossing $137 million worldwide on a $90 million budget. With such figures disappointing Lionsgate, the film’s streaming debut became key to its financial recovery.
The story of Ballerina takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. Ana de Armas stars as Eve Macarro, a Ruska Roma-trained assassin seeking revenge on the men responsible for killing her father. While the film is self-contained, it features several familiar faces from the John Wick universe, including a surprise appearance by Keanu Reeves reprising his iconic role.
Factors Behind Ballerina’s Struggles in Theaters
Pinpointing the exact reasons behind Ballerina’s poor theatrical showing is difficult. The movie had many elements in its favor: a popular lead actress, solid audience acclaim, and ties to one of the decade’s most successful action franchises. Yet, despite these strengths, it failed to draw large crowds to cinemas.
Critics gave Ballerina a respectable 76% approval rating, and it earned an even higher 92% positive score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling strong viewer appreciation. Still, the film’s $137 million total was underwhelming, especially amid a summer stacked with blockbuster releases. Major studios like Marvel and DC were staging significant comebacks following their 2024 hiatus, saturating the summer market and overshadowing smaller releases.
Another challenge was that Ballerina was a spin-off rather than a mainline John Wick sequel. While Keanu Reeves appears briefly, the film’s focus on Eve Macarro may have made it less essential viewing for casual fans. Many potential viewers appeared willing to wait for the movie’s streaming availability, reducing the urgency to see it in theaters.
Meanwhile, Starz has strategically boosted its subscriber base by heavily discounting access to Ballerina. The platform currently offers three-month subscriptions for just $0.99 and a full year for $11.99, a steep reduction from the usual $10.99 monthly or $60.99 yearly fees. This pricing makes a year of Starz content cheaper than a single cinema ticket to watch Ballerina during its theatrical release season, encouraging audiences to skip theaters in favor of streaming.
The Film’s Setting Within the John Wick Universe and Main Cast Members
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina expands the franchise’s lore by focusing on a new protagonist entrenched in the ruthless assassin world. Eve Macarro, portrayed by Ana de Armas, drives the narrative with a personal vendetta rooted in her past. Anjelica Huston also stars in the film as The Director, adding gravitas and depth to the story’s power dynamics within the assassin network.
The presence of familiar characters and actors from the John Wick series, including Keanu Reeves’ cameo, aims to tie Ballerina closely to the established world but still offers fresh perspectives through its lead.
This spin-off’s trajectory highlights the shifting landscape of how audiences consume content, where theatrical openings often compete with the convenience and affordability of streaming services. Ballerina’s strong performance on Starz demonstrates that streaming platforms can revive interest in films that underperform in cinemas and provide a valuable second chance for studios and actors alike.
