Ballerina, the newest movie in the John Wick series, is a stylish, action-packed spin-off that keeps the franchise’s signature style but doesn’t quite change it. The movie takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. It stars Ana de Armas as Rooney, a trained ballerina-assassin who wants to get back at the people who killed her family. This story is similar to John Wick’s original arc in that it is driven by grief and revenge. This is a familiar formula that works well for fans of the franchise but doesn’t go too far from what has already been done.
Most critics agree that Ballerina is great where it counts in a John Wick movie: the action. The fighting is both balletic and brutal, just like in the previous movies. This is fitting for a main character who is trained in both dance and death. People have praised the creativity and spectacle of standout scenes like an icy shootout with ice skates as weapons and a flamethrower duel. Ana de Armas gives Rooney grit, elegance, and emotional weight in a lead role that is more physically demanding than any other. Her performance is powerful, balancing vulnerability with a deadly edge. Critics have praised her for being able to hold her own in a world where Keanu Reeves’ famous character is the main character.
But Ballerina’s storytelling is where it falls short. Many reviews say that even though the action is new, the revenge-driven plot feels like a copy of John Wick’s own journey, with not much new story to tell. Rooney’s character is well-played, but he doesn’t have the mythic weight or mystery that made Wick an instant legend. There are supporting characters and details about the world, like Ian McShane’s Winston and the late Lance Reddick’s Charon, but they don’t add anything meaningful; they just connect the dots.
The movie keeps the sleek, neon-soaked look that the series is known for. The snowy, secluded assassin town setting in the movie has a dreamlike, violent fairy tale quality thanks to director Len Wiseman’s style. But some critics think Ballerina plays it too safe. It could end up being just another movie in a growing cinematic universe, instead of a bold new chapter, if it doesn’t add to the lore or give any real surprises.
In the end, Ballerina gives you what it promises: intense action, an interesting main character, and a true-to-life expansion of the John Wick universe. It doesn’t change the genre or break new ground, but it’s still a hit with action fans and fans of the franchise. It is a stylish and powerful movie that stands on its own. It suggests that there is more to discover in the Wickverse, but it also shows that future spin-offs need to go deeper and take more risks.