The new John Wick spin-off, Ballerina, fails to capture the essence of its parent franchise. While Keanu Reeves’ character was the face of a billion-dollar franchise, it’s the darkly cartoonish universe that sets the series apart. However, Ballerina takes a generic revenge thriller and tries to pass it off as part of the John Wick world.
The film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), a young girl who seeks vengeance after her father is gunned down by assassins. She’s trained by the Director (Anjelica Huston) to become a killer, but lacks the mystique and style that makes the original John Wick films so compelling.
De Armas shines in fight scenes, moving with ease and aplomb, but the rest of the film is marred by lackluster plot developments. The viewer watches Eve go through training and complete uneventful jobs without purpose, making the experience feel dull and unengaging. Despite a charming lead actress, Ballerina fails to deliver the same level of intrigue and excitement as its predecessor films.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/06/ballerina-john-wick-spin-off-review/683099