From the World of John Wick: Ballerina — “A Silent Pirouette”

It’s been almost two years since audiences last stepped into the John Wick universe, and lemme tell alyuh something — Ballerina have some rell bad action scenes. It’s the first major spin-off from the series, starring Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, an assassin on a quiet but deadly quest for revenge.

The film leans more into style than substance — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing — but if you're looking for deep storytelling or major lore expansion, you might feel a little underwhelmed.

Set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, Ballerina introduces Eve, a troubled soul taken in by Winston (Ian McShane) and trained by the Ruska Roma — a Belarusian crime family disguised as a ballet academy.

The first part of the film kinda drags. It focuses on Eve’s backstory and how she becomes the badass assassin we know she’s destined to be. But it makes you wonder — is she really choosing this path, or was it chosen for her?

The film touches on fate and destiny — asking if we really shape our lives or if everything’s already set. It’s a solid theme, but the execution doesn’t hit as hard as it should.

When the action shows up, though, it’s honestly mad. Ballerina doesn’t reach the heights of the main John Wick films, but if you came for the kills and chaos, you’ll get your fill. I went from slouching to locked in, eyes glued to the screen waiting for the next hit.

Ana de Armas does alright with what she’s given, but Eve just doesn’t land. She’s more talkative, less mysterious than Wick, and hard to connect with. Gabriel Byrne’s cult leader had real potential to be a standout villain — but instead of exploring his ideology or backstory, he mostly just complains. Big missed opportunity.

All in all, Ballerina is a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry in the John Wick franchise. It opens the door for the universe to grow in new and interesting directions, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessors.

The film officially hit cinemas on June 6th, and if you're looking for a fun action flick, it's definitely worth checking out — whether you’re going solo or with a group of friends. And if you’re trying to save a lil’ money, Tuesdays might be your best bet: Caribbean Cinemas offers $25 tickets, and CinemaOne has a two-for-one special. Either way, it's a good time at the movies.