It’s been eight lengthy years because it was introduced that John Wick was getting a derivative, so there’s little doubt that Ballerina comes extremely anticipated for followers of the John Wick franchise. The movie — starring Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, the ballerina murderer who seeks revenge for her father’s dying — lastly hit the 2025 film calendar on June 6, and critics are right here to assist us determine if we need to purchase tickets to the brand new motion film.
The John Wick spinoff Ballerina, in line with director Len Wiseman, is definitely extra of a parallel story, because it takes place between 2019’s Chapter 3 – Parabellum and 2023’s Chapter 4 (accessible to stream with a Peacock subscription).
The movie obtained a glowing response from Tom Cruise (who has sparked courting rumors with Ana de Armas). Nevertheless, in CinemaBlend’s evaluation of Ballerina, Eric Eisenberg contends his low expectations helped his enjoyment of the “meh” spinoff. He charges the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing:
On a story and character degree, the movie skates on doing just about the naked minimal (good instance: it by no means really gives a reputation for the antagonist cult that the hero is concentrating on for revenge), however relating to the ass-kicking, it doesn’t skimp, and it gives satisfying thrills.
Clint Gage of IGN offers the film a “Nice” 8 out of 10, admitting the film does get off to a gradual begin, however as soon as the story kicks in, Ballerina proves a worthy providing within the franchise, persevering with the traditions that draw followers to John Wick however standing by itself in a stunning means. Gage continues:
From The World of John Wick: Ballerina finds a brand new vengeful murderer to observe by way of the shadows below the Excessive Desk. It’s a derivative that is aware of why the John Wick collection has been so profitable, and each successfully follows the foundations whereas including to the ever increasing world. Whereas it takes an excellent portion of its screentime to search out assured footing, when the second half will get transferring, the vitality is plain as Ballerina turns into one humorous, bloody and artistic combat scene after one other. I’m hoping for an encore.
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com offers it 2.5 out of 4 stars, noting that the combat scenes — particularly early on — don’t stay as much as what we’ve come to anticipate from this franchise. Nevertheless, the film’s second half is filled with sufficient motion that you simply received’t care. In Tallerico’s phrases:
Ballerina is a midway first rate motion film that may endure as a result of it lives within the huge shadow of John Wick, probably the greatest trendy franchises. It struggles to flee the spectacular, no-misses Keanu Reeves quadrilogy, particularly when its weaknesses are matched up particularly with the energy of Chad Stahelski’s movies. But, this younger murderer has additionally realized a factor or two from her mentor. Very like Mission: Not possible – The Remaining Reckoning, the primary half of Ballerina requires extra endurance than the second, when motion does the speaking and even the enhancing/choreography tightens up. The final third of Ballerina is principally one prolonged, really goofy motion sequence, and it’s the sort of unpretentious enjoyable that one desires from a film subtitled From the World of John Wick.
Brian Truitt of USA TODAY calls the Ana de Armas film a “game-changer,” because the actress is deemed a fantastic addition to the John Wick universe. Truitt enjoys how the character makes use of extra random objects, flamethrowers and knife work for her kills as an alternative of mimicking Wick’s gun fu. He offers the film 3.5 stars out of 4 and writes:
De Armas smacks, smashes and crashes by way of a gauntlet of gunfights and brawls within the chilly revenge mission Ballerina, director Len Wiseman’s important facet journey for the favored action-movie collection. If you happen to thought watching Tom Cruise grasp off a biplane for 20 minutes was a blast, simply wait till de Armas picks up a flamethrower.
David Rooney of THR says everybody in Ballerina understands the project, together with director Len Wiseman, who doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel with the franchise’s new protagonist. The flick very a lot stays true to the extraordinary gun-fu franchise, making for a fantastic summer season afternoon on the films. Rooney says:
As a protagonist, Eve doesn’t have the droll Zen vibe of Reeves’ John, exhibiting her rage in a extra apparent dying stare, and she or he loses the tutu early, making the title appear considerably arbitrary. However de Armas is a magnetic presence with all the proper strikes, and Wiseman’s muscular route — together with DP Romain Lacourbas’ modern visuals and an unrelenting tempo that by no means lets up on the violence for lengthy — makes for senseless summer season motion leisure with quite a lot of type.
Ballerina can be notable because it was Lance Reddick’s ultimate film earlier than his 2023 dying at age 60. If you happen to’re a fan of the ever-expanding John Wick franchise and need to give this new murderer a shot, Ballerina is in theaters now.