The John Wick franchise finally delivered a spinoff that feels like it belongs. Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas as assassin-on-a-mission Eve, strikes a satisfying balance between expanding the universe and giving fans exactly what they want: slick fight scenes, somber assassins, and yes, Keanu Reeves back in action.
Unlike The Continental the clunky, inconsistent Peacock series that leaned too hard into lore without the thrill Ballerina feels like a real part of the Wick timeline. Set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, the film plays almost like John Wick 3.5. And that’s a good thing. It doesn’t just borrow the tone it brings back the man himself.
Keanu Reeves doesn’t just show up for a flashback or a throwaway line. He’s part of the narrative. Wick’s scenes with Eve not only ground her in the existing world, but give the movie real weight. Their eventual fight is a highlight not just because it’s two highly skilled assassins going at it, but because it reminds you exactly who John Wick is. His technique, timing, and instinct are still unmatched. Watching him go toe-to-toe with Eve is like watching a master test someone who might one day rival him.
Ana de Armas is strong in the lead role. Her character, Eve, is cut from similar cloth as Wick: grief-stricken, driven, and precise. The choreography fits her style more fluid and elegant, with a violent grace that feels earned. Her fight scenes don’t quite reach the relentless inventiveness of John Wick’s best sequences, but they’re better than most action films. They keep you locked in, with plenty of knife work, close-range gunplay, and creative use of space.
One of the film’s most emotional beats comes with the appearance of Lance Reddick, reprising his role as Charon. Knowing that Reddick passed away in 2023 gives his presence an added weight. He doesn’t just show up he brings calm authority, grace, and the sense of tradition his character always carried. It’s a fitting, respectful final performance and a subtle but powerful tribute.
Ballerina deepens the John Wick mythology without getting tangled in it. We revisit the Ruska Roma, the rules of the High Table, and the cultural layers that make this world feel more than just a cool backdrop. Eve’s connection to the ballet branch of the Ruska Roma adds a personal, artistic dimension to the violence she’s not just an assassin, she’s a survivor shaped by ritual and pain.
There’s clear setup for future crossovers. With Eve established and her bond (and tension) with Wick made clear, it wouldn’t be surprising to see her reappear in John Wick 5 as an ally or a complication.
If The Continental tried to be the franchise’s Game of Thrones but fell flat, Ballerina remembers what made the original movies great: clear stakes, slick action, and characters who say more with a glance than a speech. It doesn’t overreach. It delivers.
Ballerina is the best spinoff from the John Wick universe so far. It doesn’t just expand the story it earns its place in it.
