
Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Eve Macarro begins her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.
In 2025, the ever-expanding world of John Wick welcomed a bold new chapter with Ballerina, a stylish, high-octane action thriller that blends the grace of ballet with the brutality of assassination. Centered on a fierce new female protagonist, the film adds depth and emotional weight to the sleek, bullet-riddled world first introduced in 2014.
Ballerina follows Eve, a former ballet dancer raised and trained by the secretive Ruska Roma crime family. After the brutal murder of her father, Eve leaves behind the world of performance and embraces her deadliest role yet: assassin. Her quest for vengeance puts her on a collision course with powerful enemies from deep within the underworld, all while grappling with the haunting discipline of her past.
Set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, the film explores a timeline where Eve is hunting those responsible for her family’s suffering, as the criminal world begins to spiral further into chaos. The story draws on familiar Wick elements—personal codes, secret societies, high-table politics—while introducing a fresh, emotionally charged perspective.
What sets Ballerina apart is its elegant visual style. The action is meticulously choreographed, fusing ballet movements with close-quarters combat, gunplay, and knife fights. Fight sequences unfold like dance routines—fluid, explosive, and aesthetically striking. Snowy rooftops, candlelit sanctuaries, and neon-lit corridors provide a hauntingly beautiful backdrop to Eve’s vengeance.
The film leans heavily into visual storytelling, with long takes and sweeping camera movements highlighting both the skill and vulnerability of its lead character. The contrast between Eve’s past as a performer and her present as a killer adds emotional weight to every confrontation.
Leading the film is Ana de Armas, whose performance as Eve is both fierce and grounded. She brings a compelling blend of physical intensity and emotional restraint, capturing the internal conflict of a character shaped by grief and survival.
The film also features returning figures from the Wick franchise, including John Wick himself, The Director, and Winston, further anchoring it in the shared universe. These appearances aren’t just cameos—they help enrich the broader narrative arc, tying Eve’s journey to the events and legacy of John Wick.
At its heart, Ballerina is more than just a revenge thriller. It explores identity, control, and transformation. Eve’s evolution from ballerina to assassin mirrors her struggle to reconcile artistry and violence, obedience and independence. Her pursuit of justice challenges the rigid hierarchies and codes that dominate the assassin underworld, positioning her as both an inheritor and disruptor of its legacy.
Upon release, Ballerina garnered solid box office numbers and enthusiastic audience reception. Viewers praised its kinetic energy, visually rich direction, and the performance of its lead. While some noted the plot followed familiar revenge tropes, most agreed the film carved out a unique space within the Wick universe.
Critically, it was recognized for its ambition and craftsmanship, even if it didn’t quite reach the narrative complexity of its predecessors. Its emotional undercurrents and focus on a female perspective brought new dimensions to the franchise.
With Ballerina establishing a new central figure in the John Wick mythos, discussions of sequels and spin-offs have already begun. The ending leaves just enough open threads to suggest Eve’s story—and her place in the criminal world—is far from over.
Ballerina is a compelling, beautifully violent addition to the John Wick universe. It balances emotional depth with explosive action, offering a fresh take on vengeance through the lens of a character shaped by both performance and pain. For fans of the franchise—and lovers of stylish action cinema—it’s a captivating chapter that stands confidently on its own.