Ballerina (2025) is a dark, stylish action-thriller set in the John Wick universe, focusing on a new protagonist whose story blends revenge, discipline, and brutal elegance. Directed by Len Wiseman, the film expands the mythology of the assassin world while maintaining the franchise’s signature gun-fu intensity.
Detailed Summary
Origins: The Ruska Roma and a Broken Childhood
The film opens with a traumatic event from Eve Macarro’s childhood: the violent murder of her father. This moment becomes the emotional core of the movie. Eve is taken in by the Ruska Roma, the same criminal organization that trained John Wick, where ballet and assassination are taught side by side.
The film emphasizes that pain is part of the curriculum. Dance is not art here; it is control, endurance, and obedience.
Training the Perfect Weapon
As Eve grows older, we follow her intense training under The Director, who enforces the Ruska Roma’s rules without mercy. Ballet sequences are intercut with combat drills, visually reinforcing the idea that every movement must be precise and lethal.
Unlike John Wick, Eve’s struggle is internal. She questions the rules and the price of loyalty, making her arc more emotionally driven than purely professional.
The Assassination Contract
Eve eventually discovers clues pointing to a powerful underworld faction responsible for her father’s death. Acting against orders, she begins hunting those involved. This places her in direct conflict with the Ruska Roma, whose strict neutrality forbids personal vendettas.
Her journey takes her across multiple locations, each encounter escalating in violence and moral complexity.
Crossing Paths with John Wick
Midway through the film, Eve crosses paths with John Wick, who serves as both a warning and a mirror. Their interaction is brief but significant. Wick makes it clear that revenge always comes at a cost, subtly foreshadowing Eve’s fate.
Their meeting reinforces the idea that no one escapes this world cleanly.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Eve confronts the true architect behind her father’s murder: a high-ranking figure protected by the same underworld rules that govern the assassins’ society. She realizes that killing him will make her a permanent target, cutting off any possibility of freedom.
Eve chooses revenge anyway.
The climax is a brutal, tightly choreographed assault that blends gunfights with balletic movement, visually echoing her upbringing. She succeeds in killing her target but violates the Ruska Roma’s sacred laws in the process.
The Director confronts Eve afterward. Instead of ordering her execution, she declares Eve “dead” to the organization, effectively erasing her identity. Eve walks away alive but hunted, forced into exile.
The final scene shows Eve leaving the city alone, wounded but resolute, fully aware that her war is not over and that the assassin world will never stop coming for her.
The ending deliberately mirrors John Wick’s trajectory while making it clear that Eve’s path will be even lonelier.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Ballerina (2025) does not include a post-credits or mid-credits scene. The film ends definitively, reinforcing its tragic and self-contained arc, though it leaves narrative room for future appearances.
Type of Movie
Ballerina is a neo-noir action thriller rooted in revenge storytelling, combining highly stylized violence with character-driven drama set within an established cinematic universe.
Cast
- Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro
- Anjelica Huston as The Director
- Keanu Reeves as John Wick
- Ian McShane as Winston
- Lance Reddick as Charon (one of his final performances)
- Gabriel Byrne as the primary antagonist
Film Music and Composer
The score is composed by Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard, continuing the sonic identity of the John Wick franchise. The music blends pulsing electronic rhythms with dark orchestral elements, emphasizing tension and momentum rather than sentimentality.
Filming Locations
The film was shot primarily in Prague, Budapest, and other Central European locations, chosen for their old-world architecture and moody streets. These locations enhance the mythic, timeless feel of the assassin underworld and visually connect Ballerina to the broader John Wick aesthetic.
Awards and Nominations
As of now, Ballerina (2025) has not received major awards, but it has been widely praised for action choreography, stunt coordination, and Ana de Armas’ performance, making it a strong future contender in technical categories.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Ana de Armas trained for months in ballet, firearms, and close-quarters combat.
- Many action scenes were performed with minimal CGI, emphasizing practical stunts.
- The film was shot alongside John Wick: Chapter 4 to maintain timeline consistency.
- Len Wiseman worked closely with Chad Stahelski to preserve franchise continuity.
- Lance Reddick’s scenes were completed before his passing, making the film especially meaningful to fans.
Inspirations and References
- The Valérian ballet-assassin concept from the original John Wick lore
- Classic revenge films such as La Femme Nikita
- Russian ballet discipline and Cold War-era spy fiction
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Early drafts reportedly included an ending where Eve joins another assassin faction. This was removed in favor of a bleaker, more character-faithful conclusion that emphasizes exile over escape. Several extended training scenes were also cut for pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Ballerina is not based on a book. It is an original cinematic expansion of the John Wick universe, though it draws heavily from lore established in previous films.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Eve’s first assassination mission performed immediately after a ballet recital
- The mirror-lined fight sequence blending dance and combat
- The tense, quiet conversation between Eve and John Wick
Iconic Quotes
- “Pain is not your enemy. Emotion is.”
- “If you want revenge, you give up everything else.”
- “This is the life you chose. Now finish it.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Subtle visual callbacks to John Wick (2014) training sequences
- Ruska Roma symbols hidden in background set designs
- A brief mention of events directly tied to John Wick: Chapter 3
- Costume colors subtly reflect Eve’s emotional state
Trivia
- This is Ana de Armas’ first lead role in a franchise film
- The ballet school set was built entirely from scratch
- Several fight scenes required over 30 takes to perfect timing
- Eve’s fighting style is intentionally more defensive than John Wick’s
Why Watch?
If you enjoy stylish action with emotional weight, Ballerina offers a darker, more intimate take on the John Wick universe. It explores what happens when revenge is personal, not professional, and asks whether survival is worth the cost.
