The shallow plot and story are secondary to the action, but the pace of that action makes it a summer movie worth watching. It’s not John Wick but it succeeds enough to warrant this spin-off’s existence.

Full Review | Jul 30, 2025

“Ballerina” is passable as a continuation of “John Wick” mythology. However, it’s not strong enough to organically generate comparable enthusiasm for continued storytelling with this character.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jul 30, 2025

Despite the riveting and ridiculous action on display, bad pacing and a worse director keep pulling 'Ballerina' to the depths of mediocrity.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Jul 24, 2025

The John Wick faithful should be pleased.

Full Review | Jul 23, 2025

De Armas certainly makes a worthy new action hero, while Reeves and McShane are in particularly fine form as their familiar characters.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 22, 2025

Does Ballerina earn its place in the John Wick universe? Mostly, yes. It doesn’t rewrite the assassin rulebook, but it doesn’t need to - it just needs to dance to the same rhythm and land its hits.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 19, 2025

The fact that Ana de Armas comes out of almost every fight in this movie – including one where she is literally thrown through a sheet of glass – and her makeup isn't even smudged should tell you all you need to know. Empty girl power through and through.

Full Review | Jul 18, 2025

If moviegoers have to endure some mythology to get to a scene with dueling flamethrowers, that’s a price I’m willing to pay.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 18, 2025

Perhaps the most die-hard of “John Wick” fans might delight in the visual thrills of the action in “Ballerina” but it’s ultimately a case of diminishing returns with a story that feels stitched-together with its own ambivalence.

Full Review | Jul 17, 2025

Innovative action, thrilling stunt work, and a backboard shattering performance from De Armas, “Ballerina” is a certified blast sure to satisfy both action and Wick fans alike.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 15, 2025

Ballerina is a vengeance-driven body count bonanza. Eve firmly plants her flag within this universe, solidifying two things: the franchise just got better, and Ana de Armas is a bona fide badass.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Jul 14, 2025

Ana de Armas kills it as a vengeful, yet relatable assassin. Stahelski proves -once again- that he is the undisputed Baba Yaga of today's action filmmaking. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Jul 11, 2025

Thin on plot but heavy on body count, the film never asks the audience to do more than sit back and enjoy the carnage.   

Full Review | Jul 7, 2025

Ballerina is worthy of the franchise, which is no mean feat.

Full Review | Jul 3, 2025

I’m not sure the world of the High Table is much chop without Mr Wick at the centre.

Full Review | Jul 3, 2025

Despite some rousing action sequences, Ballerina pirouettes directly to the river of forgetfulness in this rather unconvincing revenge saga diluting the already threadbare John Wick franchise.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 2, 2025

Action heavy but plot light, Ballerina is a perfectly adequate insert into the John Wick universe.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 1, 2025

This isn’t the start of a new franchise. It’s just a producer’s way of getting more mileage out of a vehicle whose driver has already moved on.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 30, 2025

Ballerina is a solid addition to the John Wick universe, anchored by thrilling action and a surprisingly layered lead performance from Ana de Armas.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.25/5 | Jun 28, 2025

The action builds slowly, then explodes like a Molotov in ballet flats. Stay for the second half — it’s worth it.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 26, 2025