From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025) Movie FilmyFly

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina brings Ana de Armas into the spotlight as the lethal yet graceful protagonist Eve Macarro. Directed by Len Wiseman, this action-thriller spinoff introduces a new chapter set between John Wick 3 and 4. The film features Keanu Reeves reprising his iconic role alongside Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, and Norman Reedus.

The movie centers around the Ruska Roma, the secretive Russian assassin organization that masquerades as a ballet company. Ana de Armas steps into this world as a trained killer seeking vengeance for her father’s death. Released in June 2025, the film promises the same high-octane choreographed violence that made the series a modern action cinema phenomenon.

Ballerina Cast Names

Plot and Storyline

The story follows Eve Macarro, a ballerina-assassin trained within the Ruska Roma organization. When her father is murdered, Eve embarks on a quest for vengeance through the underground assassin world. The unique twist incorporates ballet training into deadly combat techniques.

Set between John Wick 3 and 4, the film provides crucial backstory to the Ruska Roma while establishing Eve as a formidable force. The plot weaves together themes of family, loyalty, and the price of violence. While the revenge storyline follows a predictable path, the execution and world-building add depth to the narrative.

Cast Performance

Ana de Armas delivers a powerhouse performance that anchors the entire film, proving she can carry an action franchise with both physical prowess and emotional depth. Her portrayal showcases remarkable range, seamlessly transitioning from graceful ballet movements to brutal assassin efficiency. I found her commitment to the role evident in every fight sequence and dance-inspired combat scene.

Keanu Reeves makes strategic appearances as John Wick, providing continuity without overshadowing the new lead. Ian McShane returns as Winston, bringing characteristic gravitas and wit. Anjelica Huston reprises her role as the Director, delivering a performance that combines maternal warmth with ruthless pragmatism.

Direction and Technical Excellence

Len Wiseman brings his signature visual style to the John Wick universe, maintaining the franchise’s aesthetic while adding personal flourishes. The direction successfully balances balletic grace with raw brutality. Wiseman’s action filmmaking experience shines in complex fight sequences utilizing ballet studio settings.

The cinematography captures both dance elegance and visceral violence. Camera work flows seamlessly between graceful ballet sequences and kinetic action scenes. The sound design and score incorporate classical music elements while maintaining pulse-pounding energy that defines the franchise.

Critical Reception and Ratings

The film has received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, Ballerina holds a 75% critics’ score based on 230 reviews. The consensus praises Ana de Armas’s performance and creative action choreography while noting familiar revenge movie patterns.

IMDB users rated the film 7.3/10, indicating solid audience approval. Variety praised it as “unabashedly pulpy, ultraviolent, and entertaining.” The Hollywood Reporter noted that de Armas elevates the material beyond typical spinoff territory. Roger Ebert’s review acknowledged it as “a halfway decent action movie” but noted it struggles under the John Wick shadow.

What I Liked

Ana de Armas proves herself as a compelling action lead with both physical credibility and emotional depth. Her ballet background translates beautifully into fight choreography, creating a unique visual signature. I appreciated how the film successfully expands John Wick mythology without feeling derivative.

The action sequences blend dance-inspired movements with brutal combat effectively. Production values maintain high franchise standards with excellent cinematography and design. The supporting cast, particularly Huston and McShane, provides strong dramatic anchors that ground outlandish action elements.

What Could Be Better

The storyline follows a predictable revenge narrative that rarely surprises. Eve’s emotional motivation could have been developed with more complexity and originality. Some supporting characters, particularly Norman Reedus, feel underutilized despite strong screen presence.

The film occasionally struggles to establish its own identity separate from John Wick films. While action choreography impresses, a few sequences feel repetitive, lacking innovative surprises. The runtime could benefit from tighter editing in dialogue-heavy sequences that slow momentum.

Final Verdict

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina succeeds as both entertaining action and meaningful franchise expansion. Ana de Armas proves capable of carrying an action franchise with authentic performance. While it doesn’t revolutionize the genre, it provides solid entertainment and effective world-building.

The film’s greatest achievement demonstrates that the John Wick universe has room for different perspectives while maintaining core franchise elements. For action enthusiasts and John Wick fans, Ballerina offers an engaging addition that enhances rather than diminishes the franchise’s reputation. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for stylish action with genuine heart.