Ballerina: A New John Wick Spin-Off That’s Got Action, But Not Everyone’s Sold
So there’s this new movie called Ballerina, and it’s part of the whole John Wick universe. If you’ve seen those movies, you already know they’re all about intense action and this mysterious underworld of assassins. Well, Ballerina tries to take that world in a slightly new direction — and this time, it’s got Ana de Armas right in the middle of it.
Watch the Trailer here-
What’s the story?
Okay, here’s the basic idea. Ana plays this woman named Eve. When she was young, she saw her dad get killed. Rough, right? So after that, she’s raised by this secretive group called the Ruska Roma — they’re like this assassin training crew that hides behind a ballet school. That’s where she learns how to fight.
Eventually, Eve sets out to find the guy behind her father’s murder. Her search takes her to this cold and quiet town in Austria (the shots of the place are honestly stunning). There, she faces off against a pretty creepy guy called the Chancellor, who she thinks is behind everything. The whole thing is supposed to happen between the third and fourth John Wick movies, timeline-wise.
Is it as cool as the original Wick movies?
Well... kinda. There’s definitely some really slick action scenes. Ana de Armas really goes all in with the physical stuff — you can tell she trained hard for this. And there are a few moments that do make you go “wow,” like this one snowy fight scene in the village. But, not gonna lie, the story does feel a bit thin at times.
Some people felt like the movie was more focused on looking cool than really feeling anything. Like, you get all this setup, but sometimes you just don’t feel that same emotional pull you get from John Wick and his dog or his loss. That human angle feels a bit missing here.
So, what are people saying?
The reviews are kind of mixed. Some folks are saying it’s a solid entry into the franchise and love seeing a female lead get the spotlight. Others? They’re not super impressed. They think it’s stylish but kind of forgettable.
Here’s a quick summary of what critics are pointing out:
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Good stuff: Strong visuals, Ana’s action scenes, cool new setting
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Not-so-good stuff: Flat characters, weak story, missing emotional depth
If you’re a die-hard John Wick fan, you might enjoy it just to stay in that world a little longer. But if you’re hoping for a movie that hits as hard as the originals — this one might leave you feeling like something’s missing.
Final thoughts
Ballerina isn’t a bad film — not at all. It brings something different to the table by focusing on a female assassin and diving into a different part of the Wick universe. But at the same time, it doesn’t hit all the marks you’d expect. It looks great, sure. And Ana de Armas definitely brings it in terms of action. But emotionally? It doesn’t always land.
Still, it’s worth watching if you’re curious or love this franchise. Just don’t go in expecting it to blow your mind the way the first John Wick movie did.
