Today’s Prayer Focus
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
also known as “Ballerina: A John Wick Story,” “Ballerina,” “John Wick: Ballerina,” “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina,” See all »
MPA Rating:
for strong/bloody violence throughout, and language.
for strong/bloody violence throughout, and language.
| Moral Rating: | Not Recommended |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Adults |
| Genre: | Crime Thriller |
| Length: | 2 hr. 5 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2025 |
| USA Release: |
June 6, 2025 (wide release) DVD: September 9, 2025 |
Relevant Issues
Assassins
Tough woman
Seeking revenge
For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge. I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” —Hebrews 10:30
FILM VIOLENCE—How does viewing violence in movies affect families?
| Featuring |
|---|
|
Ana de Armas … Eve Keanu Reeves … John Wick Lance Reddick … Charon Norman Reedus … Pine Ian McShane … Winston Anjelica Huston … The Director Gabriel Byrne … The Chancellor Catalina Sandino Moreno … See all » |
| Director |
|
Len Wiseman |
| Producer |
|
Thunder Road Pictures Basil Iwanyk Erica Lee See all » |
| Distributor |
Ultraviolent, brutal, murder-spree revenge movie displaying almost every possible way of killing
Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “Taking place during the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ ‘Ballerina’ follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) a young ballerina-assassin who begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma and sets out to exact revenge for her father's death.”
- Violence: Very Heavy to Extreme (graphic) —gouges eyeballs, sticking hand grenades in people’s mouths and seeing the result, smashing throats, spearing, choking, knives to face (plus hammers and grenades), people shot in the head, stabbings, impalements, gun and crossbow battles, arm-breaking, people thrown from heights, branding iron used, fights with fire (flame-throwers), bloody, gory deaths, sword slashing, etc.
- Profane language: J*sus, Oh my G*d, For G*d’s sake, H*ll
- Vulgar/Crude language: F-words (10+), S-words (6+), P*ss, etc.
- Nudity: Low-cut tops, short dresses, bare legs to hips
- Sex: None, but a passionate kiss and suggestive dancing
- Drugs/Alcohol: Drinking in a nightclub
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.
Secular Movie Critics
…“Ballerina” drops the ball. …good fights, bad everything else… De Armas has never been much of an actress. She’s more of a presence. …[2/4]
Johnny Oleksinski, New York Post
…The story’s a mess, the cliches and conventions of this “world of assassins” collide as our heroine keeps tumbling into vast, conveniently unprotected weapons stashes and villains three times her throw-weight who never figure out “Just SIT on her.” Not once. …[1½/4]
Roger Moore, Movie Nation
…bloodbath of grief and revenge… dizzying crescendo of intricately choreographed fight scenes… an unrelenting pace that never lets up on the violence for long…
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
…“Ballerina” fails to clear the franchise barre…
Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
…too often the movie slides into a generic groove… a standard-order revenge thriller… While there’s plenty of action, only a few scenes are standouts and the dour tone, especially in the early-going, undercuts some of the fun of watching de Armas kick ass. … [2½]
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
…“Ballerina” is a worthy addition to the John Wick franchise… plenty of balletic violence… you’re not going to remember the plot…
Stephanie Zacharek, Time
…Ultraviolent… with a revenge plot that’s pure trash…
Owen Gleiberman, Variety
…underwhelming… Ballerina’s revenge plot has none of John Wick’s emotional underpinnings… it is noticable how flat Ballerina’s non-action sequences are. …
Tim Grierson, Screen Daily
…spinoff with thrills but no mythology of its own… the film transitions to a sort of loopy, ammosexual Wicker Man riff, with Eve being trapped in a pleasant European village controlled by the hissing patriarch of a death cult (Gabriel Byrne). But there’s still not much holding the film together. It’s all just obligatory noise between bullets firing. [2/4]
Justin Chang, Slant magazine
…A cluttered mess with a boring storyline but the action is often amazing… a terrible first act… glorious, inventive violence…
William Bibbiani, The Wrap
…may leave you with a queasy feeling when it’s all over. …
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly
…Ana de Armas fights her way through a movie in need of character and a coherent plot …
Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence