'Ballerina' Review: Ana de Armas Shines in Brutal, Stylish John Wick Spin-Off
- Jack Ransom
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
By Jack Ransom - June 6, 2025
The first spin-off film from the John Wick franchise. Ballerina is set between the events of Chapter 3 - Parabellum & Chapter 4 and follows Eve (Ana de Armas) an assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma organisation as she sets out to seek revenge after her father's death.
With Chapter 4 signalling the end for Mr. Wick (though that will most likely be undone as Chapter 5 is in development), world of Wick was one ripe for spin-off and expansion potential. Swiftly arriving a few months later was The Continental mini-series (remember that?) and announcement of a spin-off focusing on Donnie Yen’s character Caine. Ballerina’s inception began after Chapter 2 hit the screens and development fired up later 2019 with an official announcement in 2022.
Firstly, credit to the crew and studio for deciding to delay the release of this by a year to double-down on bolstering and improving the action sequences (a candid confirmation by members of the cast as well) to live up to the legacy of the franchise, it pays off in spades and really kicks into gear once the film finds its rhythm. The plot is undeniably incredibly generic, but the continual expansion and peeks behind the curtain of this universe, coupled with fresh locations and plenty of cackle-worthy action beats make it an entertainingly bone-crunching 2 hours.
Eve’s (Ana de Armas) quest for revenge is solidified quickly after opening act flashback sequences: her father’s demise when she was a child and her training with the Ruska Roma as Wick is currently getting his ‘ticket torn’ (from Chapter 3). From here on out it essentially a string of action set pieces as Eve kills her way to the top of the cult to face The Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). The stop-start nature can get a little clunky, however the scrappy unpredictability of when an action set piece is going to hit, alongside Eve’s underdog position keeps the tension and excitement consistently on edge.
How Does Ballerina Expand the John Wick Universe?
The further world building expansion and linking to the prior franchise entries is welcome. The film nestles in nicely between Parabellum & Chapter 4. Familiar faces, Winston (Ian McShane) and Charon (Lance Reddick) pop up as expected, the Ruska aroma training facility and tests are showcased and we are introduced to the Czech Continental and a mysterious, isolated snow-capped town working as a retirement centre for the most lethal of everyday folk (genuinely both Hot Fuzz and the village sequence from Resident Evil 4 crossed my mind here, you’ll see what I mean!)
The film is lacking some of the eye-popping stylistic shots and flair of the later Wick’s, and a couple of the earlier set pieces feel quite ‘standard’ for this series. However, when it’s firing on all cylinders the film makes for a lean mean blend of familiar franchise beats, coupled with a rowdier in your face approach to the combat, more so than slick and meticulous long takes. From the pulsing club clash into a car door/hatchet beat-down, a shotgun loaded escape from the Czech Continental into a string of applause worthy clashes throughout the small Prague town where everything from ice skates, crockery, arm-snapping and grenades
turning foes to splattery chunks are on glorious display. Culminating in a, to put it bluntly, fucking awesome flamethrower duel which is up there with the best of this series.
Is Ana de Armas the New Action Star the Franchise Needs?
Ana de Armas piercing glare, deadpan wit, cracks of emotion (rage, guilt and sadness) and locked in commitment to the stunt work make Eve an instantaneously welcome addition to the world of John Wick. Gabriel Byrne injects a ruthless snark and smarm into what is admittedly a standard villain role, but it works here. Unfortunately, Norman Reedus is side-lined for a substantial amount of the plot. Familiar faces include Keanu returning as The Boogeyman, even delivering his effortless badassery in the third act, the aforementioned McShane (once again on hand to drop some great anecdotes) and the late great Lance Reddick deliver as expected and Anjelica Huston’s gravelly, menacing and Director is a looming presence.
Once Ballerina perfects its routine it hits the accelerator and delivers plenty of brutally entertaining action that should please fans of the franchise. Ana de Armas kicks ass, the further lore expansions, creatively vicious set pieces and sturdy pacing overshadow the generic plot goal.
'Ballerina' releases in cinemas June 6
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