In ‘Ballerina,’ director Len Wiseman delivers a sharp, elegant spin-off of the ‘John Wick‘ franchise, a film that pirouettes between blistering action and aching grief. Anchored by Ana de Armas’ powerful performance as Eve Macarro, ‘Ballerina’ finds its place in the Wick-verse by expanding upward and digging inward into the psyche of a trained killer who dances with death, rage, and the ghosts of her past. This isn’t just a film about vengeance, it’s about what happens when vengeance consumes the last thing that makes you human.
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A New Kind of Assassin
We first met Eve Macarro briefly in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ among the ranks of ballerina-assassins being trained in the Russian crime syndicate known as the Ruska Roma. ‘Ballerina’ zooms in on her backstory; a young woman raised in violence and discipline, whose graceful movements hide the brutality she’s been taught to unleash. When Eve learns that her family’s murder wasn’t random but orchestrated by someone she once served, she sets out on a path of icy retribution.
But ‘Ballerina’ is more than a revenge tale. Unlike John Wick, whose rampages are often grand in scale, Eve’s quest is intimate and psychological. This is about a woman trying to remember who she was before the world made her forget. Her rage is quieter, her wounds fresher. Ana de Armas plays her with a balance of control and chaos with every movement precise and every emotion just beneath the surface.
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Elegance Meets Brutality
Ana de Armas carries the film with ferocity and grace. Known for her breakout role in ‘Knives Out’ and her explosive appearance in ‘No Time to Die,’ de Armas proves she’s more than capable of leading an action franchise. She imbues Eve with a haunted stillness, a woman so used to pain she flinches at kindness. Her performance resonates because it undercuts the usual stoic assassin archetype. Eve hesitates and reflects. She’s a killer who hasn’t yet decided if she herself wants to keep living.
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Director Len Wiseman infuses ‘Ballerina’ with a distinctive visual style that distinguishes it from its predecessors without betraying the franchise’s aesthetic. The neon-drenched corridors, acorbatic gunplay, and kills are there, but so are softer, more mournful visual motifs such as crumbling theaters, long silences, snow-covered hideouts. The contrast between Eve’s past in ballet and her present in bloodshed is reflected in the cinematography’s sharp balance of elegance and fighting for control.
Wiseman also brings sensibility to the fight choreography. Each action sequence is composed like a dance, fluid, brutal, deliberate. Eve doesn’t just fight to survive, she performs. Whether she’s moving through a snowbound forest or facing down a cartel, the violence is stylized yet visceral and always rooted in character. And the film rarely lets us forget the toll it takes. Every bruise and every breathless pause, reminds us this isn’t just spectacle, it’s sacrifice.
Supporting Cast and Subtle Storytelling
‘Ballerina’ is careful not to overload itself with fan service, though the Wick-verse is still present. Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick, initially sent to stop Eve, but ends up letting her get away and assists her from afar. Ian McShane and Anjelica Huston also reprise their roles as Winston and the Director, adding connection without overshadowing the new story. Their scenes ground Eve’s journey while allowing her story to stand on its own.
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There are also fresh faces. Gabriel Byrne as the Chancellor, the leader of a cult of assassins, and Catalina Sandino Moreno as Eve’s long-lost sister now an assassin working for the Chancellor. These characters widen the emotional scope of the story and frames ‘Ballerina’ as a meditation on what this kind of life does to a community of people shaped by violence.
Revenge With Reflection
Unlike most Wick-verse entries, which lean heavily into grandeur and immense set pieces, ‘Ballerina’ feels more introspective. Eve doesn’t tear down institutions, she confronts her trauma. The film asks whether revenge actually satisfies, or simply feeds the very systems that broke you. It’s a quieter film, but not a smaller one.
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The screenplay, written by Shay Hatten, offers the expected action beats but lingers more on grief, guilt, and memory. At times, this slower pace may test viewers hoping for non-stop combat, but the payoff is emotional resonance. When the final confrontation arrives, it feels earned not just because of the stakes but because we care who Eve has become.
Final Verdict
If the ‘John Wick’ franchise is a symphony of bullets and blood, ‘Ballerina’ is a haunting solo. It doesn’t redefine the universe, but it enriches it. By focusing on a female assassin whose story is about emotional survival, it opens up new thematic terrain. It shows us not just how one kills, but why one continues living afterward. In an era where franchises often stretch themselves thin, ‘Ballerina’ feels rare as it’s a spin-off that earns its existence by narrowing its focus, rather than widening its scope. It’s proof that the Wick-verse can support new kinds of stories.
‘Ballerina’ is a stylish, sorrowful, and striking addition to the ‘John Wick’ canon. With Ana de Armas delivering a career-defining performance and Len Wiseman crafting some of the franchise’s most poetic visuals, the film offers a powerful blend of action and introspection. It doesn’t dance in the shadow of Wick, it finds its own spotlight.
For fans of the franchise and newcomers alike, ‘Ballerina’ is a beautiful movie. One that reminds us that even in a world built on death, some things, like grace, memory, and survival, are still worth fighting for.
Cast: Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane
Cinematography: Romain Lacourbas | Editor: Jason Ballantine, Nicholas Lundgren
Director: Len Wiseman | Writer: Shay Hatten | Producers: Shay Hatten, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Chad Stahelski
By Rachel Squire
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Rachel Squire is a passionate writer with a strong commitment to authentic storytelling and ethical journalism. As a writer for Hollywood Insider, she brings a deep appreciation for cinema’s power to inspire positive change. She values promoting meaningful media over gossip and sensationalism, and strives to contribute to a culture of integrity and substance in entertainment journalism.
Rachel Squire is a passionate writer with a strong commitment to authentic storytelling and ethical journalism. As a writer for Hollywood Insider, she brings a deep appreciation for cinema’s power to inspire positive change. She values promoting meaningful media over gossip and sensationalism, and strives to contribute to a culture of integrity and substance in entertainment journalism.
