Ballerina (2025) Movie Review: Ana de Armas Delivers a Vengeful Ballet of Brutality
Overview
- Title: Ballerina
- Release Year: 2025
- Genre: Action, Thriller
- Director: Len Wiseman
- Starring: Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Byrne, Anjelica Huston
- Franchise: Set in the John Wick universe
- Runtime: Approx. 2 hours 15 minutes
- Rating:
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Ballerina (2025) – A Spin-Off Worthy of the Wick Legacy
Set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, Ballerina (2025) brings Ana de Armas into the brutal ballet of underworld vengeance. Directed by Len Wiseman, the film is a standalone revenge thriller that borrows heavily from the signature style of the Wick franchise — gun-fu combat, neon-noir visuals, and a shadowy criminal underworld with strict codes of conduct.
🎠Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
Ana de Armas plays Rooney, a deadly assassin trained in the Ruska Roma ballet syndicate — the same one that raised John Wick. When her family is murdered, Rooney embarks on a vengeance-fueled journey through the dark corridors of the criminal underworld, crossing paths with familiar faces — including the Baba Yaga himself.
🎥 Cinematography and Direction
Len Wiseman, known for his work on Underworld, crafts a sleek, visceral film that pays homage to the John Wick aesthetic while carving out a female-led identity of its own. The ballet theme is woven beautifully into the action choreography — imagine pirouettes turned into headshots.
Standout moments include:
- A brutal fight in an abandoned opera house
- A night-time motorcycle chase through Eastern Europe
- A showdown that blends dance and death in haunting synchronization
🧨 Action and Choreography
This is where Ballerina truly shines. The action sequences are:
- Tightly choreographed
- Emotionally charged
- Aesthetic and brutal
Ana de Armas proves she’s not just a supporting star (see No Time to Die), but a true action lead. Every punch, twist, and bullet carries emotional weight. The ballet motif is not a gimmick — it shapes the character’s style and story arc.
🧠Themes and Emotional Depth
Unlike the stoic John Wick, Rooney shows emotional vulnerability. Themes of:
- Grief and trauma
- The cost of vengeance
- Female rage and redemption
…are explored subtly but effectively. There’s a balance between the high-octane thrills and introspective moments that ground the story.
👥 Performance Highlights
- Ana de Armas — A career-defining performance. Fierce, tragic, and captivating.
- Keanu Reeves — Appears briefly but meaningfully, passing the torch without overshadowing.
- Anjelica Huston — Returns as the Director with chilling elegance.
- Gabriel Byrne — A menacing presence as a high-ranking underworld patriarch.
🎶 Soundtrack and Score
The music fuses:
- Classical ballet compositions
- Dark electronic beats
- Atmospheric synths
Composer Tyler Bates delivers a haunting yet kinetic score that mirrors the protagonist’s journey.
🧩 How It Fits Into the John Wick Universe
Though a spin-off, Ballerina expands the Ruska Roma mythology, dives deeper into the traditions of the High Table, and hints at new syndicates that could influence future Wick lore.
Final Verdict
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Ballerina (2025) is a stunning, emotional, and action-packed addition to the John Wick universe. Ana de Armas owns the role, blending ballet elegance with brutal vengeance. It’s more than a spin-off — it’s a standalone triumph.
💠Should You Watch Ballerina?
Yes — whether you’re a John Wick loyalist or just love high-stakes action thrillers, Ballerina is a must-watch in 2025. It’s violent, poetic, and beautifully tragic — just like ballet itself.