The John Wick franchise is famous for its precise violence and complex mythology. Ballerina, the first theatrical spin-off, explores new territory—an assassin’s journey focused not on Keanu Reeves’ Baba Yaga, but on Ana de Armas’ Eve, also called Rooney. She transforms from ballerina to lethal operative driven by vengeance. Arriving between Parabellum and Chapter 4, the film raises a key question: can the Wick universe thrive without its iconic antihero?
The story and setup
Ballerina opens with a deeply personal tragedy: young Eve witnesses her father’s assassination. He had ties to the world of contract killers. The Ruska Roma take her in and train her under the Director’s strict guidance. This training molds Eve into a weapon defined by discipline and rage. The film’s first act focuses on her transformation, building quiet tension, grief, and choreography that mirrors ballet’s control with brutal violence.
The story then shifts, sending Eve on a high-stakes mission in the Alps. She targets a group of rogue assassins responsible for her father’s death. This second half drops the muted tones of her origin and embraces surreal, mythic energy. It features flamethrowers, masked rituals, and snowy duels. Critics see this tonal shift as both jarring and refreshing, echoing John Wick’s own stylistic growth. The pacing picks up, along with the spectacle, anchoring Eve’s arc in vengeance and unsettling discovery.
Ana de Armas’ breakout role
Ana de Armas commands the demanding role of Eve with both precision and vulnerability. She carries the emotional weight of a fractured past without losing her edge as a trained killer. Her performance balances ballet’s discipline with survival instincts, showing a woman shaped by trauma and defined by her choices. From the start, de Armas conveys quiet intensity, letting grief simmer beneath calculated moves. She avoids overplaying pain, instead revealing it in silences, glances, and controlled fury. This performance does not seek sympathy but earns it through raw conviction.
As Eve’s mission takes her deeper into darkness, de Armas shifts effortlessly. She physically commits to the role, embodying the choreography of violence with the same grace as her ballet sequences. The emotional transformation from repressed survivor to self-possessed force makes her character compelling. Eve avenges loss and reclaims control. In a universe dominated by stoic men and rigid codes, she emerges as a rare figure blending grace and grit. De Armas doesn’t simply fit the Wick world—she reshapes it.
The Action Factor
Ballerina adopts the Wick franchise’s signature intensity but presents it with a more fluid, expressive style. Eve’s ballet training influences the fight choreography, making each confrontation elegant and lethal. Movements feel like dance, lending a poetic rhythm even to bloody fights. This style sets the film apart from John Wick’s grounded brutality but keeps its adrenaline rush. The film emphasizes calculated grace over brute force, fitting Eve’s character and background perfectly. The result is a visual style both familiar and refreshingly distinct.
The film uses crisp cinematography to highlight choreography, often with wide shots that reveal the balletic precision of the action. This style elevates violence into an art form and sets Ballerina apart from its predecessors. A flamethrower standoff stands out, pushing action into surreal, theatrical territory. Other memorable scenes include a silent knife fight in a snowy chapel and a brutal fight during a ballet rehearsal. Here, the setting amplifies violence rather than softening it. These moments don’t just echo Wick, they enhance the franchise’s flair with a uniquely feminine twist.
Franchise Connections
Ballerina stays connected to its roots, weaving key John Wick characters into Eve’s story. John Wick himself appears briefly, bridging the timeline between Parabellum and Chapter 4. Other familiar characters, including the Director, Winston, and Charon, connect the story to the larger universe. Their presence feels purposeful and natural, adding legitimacy to the spin-off.
The film also includes subtle nods for longtime fans. Familiar Continental rules, weapon choices, and lines echo Wick’s code. One scene layers audio from a previous film as background, rewarding attentive viewers. These touches add depth without overwhelming the story. They remind audiences that while this world is shared, Eve’s story takes center stage.
Does it stand alone?
At first, Ballerina feels tethered to the John Wick formula, closely mirroring its tone and visual style. But as the narrative unfolds, the film begins to carve out its own voice. It leans into emotional tension and a more stylized aesthetic, moving away from the franchise’s gritty realism. This shift allows it to explore vulnerability and surreal spectacle without losing narrative momentum. The result is a story that feels both familiar and newly daring. Eve’s journey becomes a defining element, rather than a side note to the Wick legacy.
Still, the brief appearance of John Wick suggests the creators remain partially reliant on franchise familiarity. While Eve stands on her own, the film uses established faces to help ease the transition for loyal viewers. Her motivations are deeply personal, and her evolution gives the story emotional weight. Yet the callbacks and cameos serve as narrative safety nets. Despite this balance, Ballerina lays a strong foundation for a broader future. It proves the Wick universe has room to grow beyond its original protagonist.
Final thoughts
Ballerina expands the John Wick universe with a protagonist who combines skill and subtlety, blending physical precision with emotional depth. Ana de Armas delivers a grounded performance that balances the film’s stylized moments. The action and narrative choices mark a departure from the original series’ formula. Although it leans on familiar franchise elements, Ballerina stands alone as a strong entry that could lead to further expansions. The film focuses less on imitation and more on evolving a growing cinematic world.
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
