Ballerina
June 3rd, 2025
MOVIE: BALLERINA
STARRING: ANA DE ARMAS, KEANU REEVES, IAN MCSHANE, ANJELICA HUSTON, GABRIEL BYRNE
DIRECTED BY: LEN WISEMAN
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 125 MINUTES
In the John Wick universe, momentum is everything. From John Wick 1 through 4, the franchise has maintained a relentless pace, always moving, never lingering too long on the punches, gunshots, or knives thrown into flesh, dazzling audiences with every kinetic set piece. Slowing that momentum and then starting again is a bold move. For Ballerina’s first act, things feel shaky. But once Ana de Armas takes hold of her action-hero status, and the fresh, bone-crunching stunt work turns on, we’re reminded why this world is still so kick-ass. This Ballerina is on point.
The latest spin-off in the Wick saga follows Eve (de Armas), an assassin raised by the Ruska Roma. She’s a furious orphan on a mission to avenge her father’s murder—her target played by a game Gabriel Byrne. That’s a perfect setup, providing all the fuel needed to launch into the mayhem we expect from this genre. Unfortunately, writer Shay Hatten and director Len Wiseman open with a heavy dose of exposition, leaning on returning franchise figures like Wick (Keanu Reeves), Winston (Ian McShane), and the Ruska Director (Anjelica Huston, regal as ever) to re-establish the world.
Once the timeline-jumping (“12 years later,” “2 years later”) settles, Ballerina hits its stride. Eve’s path to revenge becomes the movie’s lifeblood—not just through the choreography, but through its raw authenticity. Don’t walk into this expecting a glamorized “boss lady” flick. Eve has to claw, kick, bite, fry, gouge, and fight dirty to survive. She isn’t John Wick; her survival depends as much on her grit as it does on her brutal environment.
Like its predecessors, Ballerina shines in its set design and world-building, especially in a third act set in a snowy Swiss village where nearly every resident is an assassin or killer. It echoes Assault on Precinct 13, The Raid 2, and most recently, Monkey Man. The action escalates with inventive new weapons—including fine china plates and a flamethrower—that elevate the chaos to operatic levels.
What’s most exciting is that Ballerina feels like just the beginning. Ana de Armas proves more than ready to carry the torch, blending intensity with vulnerability in a way that carves out a space all her own in this universe. Yes, the story takes time to get going—but once the engine roars, you’re rewarded with a satisfying dose of bloodshed and beautiful mayhem. The final result proves that there is plenty of Wick to burn on this action candle.
3 STARS
BALLERINA IS PLAYING IN THEATERS FRIDAY, JUNE 6TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
