The John Wick franchise, now over a decade old, has reached a point of undeniable fatigue. With confirmation of a fifth John Wick movie in development—despite the conclusive ending of John Wick: Chapter 4—it’s hard to see how the series can keep its spark.

For years, Keanu Reeves has been Hollywood’s go-to action hero, mowing down arena-sized armies of goons with every creative kill imaginable. You’d think the villains would learn to steer clear. But with Reeves only able to deliver a new Wick film every three to four years, the franchise needs fresh blood to stay alive. Enter Ballerina, a spin-off banking on Ana de Armas to carry the torch.

Ballerina follows Eve Macarro, a young woman whose father, Javier, was murdered by a sinister cult marked by X-shaped scars on their arms. Orphaned, Eve is taken in by Winston Scott, the New York Continental’s enigmatic owner, who introduces her to the Ruska Roma, a shadowy assassin clan.

Under their Director’s guidance, Eve trains for 12 years to become a lethal killer, driven by a thirst for vengeance. When the cult resurfaces, threatening her new life in the underworld, Eve defies the Roma’s warnings and hunts the cult’s leaders, following a lead to a man in Prague and eventually to the Chancellor’s hideout in a snowy Central European village.

The deeper she digs, the more she uncovers unsettling ties between the cult and her own past. Ana de Armas, who stole scenes as a Bond girl in 2021’s No Time to Die, proves she can hold her own in an action-heavy role.

Ballerina is the strongest John Wick spin-off to date, though that’s a low bar given the lackluster The Continental series. Last year’s delay of the film’s release—prompted by reshoots to inject more Wick-style action—sparked fears of a misfire. Fortunately, de Armas brings a fresh energy to a franchise gasping for air.

Audiences know what to expect from a John Wick movie: relentless violence, stylish kills, and a neon-soaked underworld. Ballerina delivers, but it doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Keanu Reeves pops up for a brief cameo, lending a dose of Wick nostalgia for fans still craving the OG Baba Yaga.

The film’s visuals are as slick as you’d expect, with vibrant locations—from Prague’s gritty streets to a wintry village—paired with dynamic cinematography and the franchise’s signature world-building. Fight scenes dazzle, blending balletic gunplay with de Armas’ graceful yet brutal combat style. A standout sequence in a derelict train yard channels the series’ knack for turning mundane settings into kill zones. Yet, the film’s two-hour-plus runtime drags, bogged down by excessive exposition about the cult’s origins.

Trimming 20 minutes could’ve sharpened the pacing, making it leaner and meaner like its predecessors. Ballerina is serviceable, a solid popcorn flick in a year where 2025’s first half has been a cinematic wasteland. It doesn’t break new ground, but it doesn’t need to. De Armas carries the film with charisma and physicality, proving she’s more than a sidekick in the Wick universe.

The supporting cast, including Norman Reedus as a grizzled mentor and Ian McShane reprising Winston, adds texture, though the cult villains feel like generic Wick baddies recycled from earlier chapters. The bigger question is where the John Wick franchise goes from here.

Diminishing returns have plagued the mainline series, and Ballerina’s modest ambition—while refreshing—may not justify a full spin-off saga. Will audiences clamor for more Eve Macarro, or is this a one-off? The film’s box-office fate will decide, but it’s hard to imagine it sparking the same frenzy as Reeves’ early outings.

For now, Ballerina succeeds as a fun, no-frills action movie that delivers exactly what it promises: stylish carnage and a compelling lead. Don’t expect a revolution—just enjoy the bloodshed and call it a night.

In a better year, Ballerina might fade into the background. But in 2025’s barren landscape, it’s a rare win, offering enough thrills to justify a theater trip. De Armas is the real deal, and if the franchise must continue, she’s a worthy successor to Reeves’ throne. Just don’t ask it to be more than a bloody good time.

3/5

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