--- title: "Ballerina: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/ballerina/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/ballerina" critics_score: 59 critics_reviews: 25 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Ballerina (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 59 from 25 reviews: 10 positive, 10 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews split almost evenly between approval and reservation, and the consensus is that Ballerina is a serviceable John Wick spin-off rather than a necessary one. Where critics agree is on Ana de Armas: most find her physically committed and likeable, improvising weapons with conviction and carrying a story few of them care about. The action draws the warmest praise, above all a flamethrower duel and the snowbound sequences late on, which several reviews say lift the film after a slow start. The reservations cluster on the script. Most critics call the plot thin and the first act clogged with exposition, and a few detect the marks of reshoots in the uneven early direction. The spread is wide. The Telegraph dismisses it outright as shoddy and tedious, The Observer finds it joyless, and Den of Geek is alone in thinking de Armas miscast, while Deadline argues her set pieces surpass earlier entries. ## Empire — Amon Warmann Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2025. The critic praises the film as a Wick-edly entertaining addition to the franchise, highlighting the variety and visceral quality of the action sequences and Ana de Armas's stunt work. They note the story is slight but appreciate the themes and fun approach by director Len Wiseman. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ballerina/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. 5 June 2025. The critic calls the spin-off propulsively flamboyant and satisfying, praising de Armas's high-intensity action work and inventive set pieces. It brings freshness to the John Wick template as a slick summer treat. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/app/ballerina-from-the-world-of-john-wick-review-ana-de-armas-leads-a-propulsively-flamboyant-spin-off/) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating B. 4 June 2025. The action sequences are satisfying and well-crafted, with de Armas improvising weapons effectively; it's a winning spin-off though the backstory is pedestrian compared to the original. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/ballerina-review) ## The i Paper — Francesca Steele Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2025. The critic calls it brilliant fun and a propulsive gun-fu joy that delivers on stunts and absurd world-building. They single out the imaginative action set pieces for praise while noting the thin plot and lack of actual ballet elements. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/john-wick-ballerina-review-3728223) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2025. Ballerina is a worthy, pulpy, ultraviolent, and entertaining spin-off in the John Wick canon, with Ana de Armas gamely taking up the mantle of mayhem in a revenge plot that is pure trash. The critic singles out de Armas’s calm, Zen-like presence and the film’s inventive weapon-based action (including a flamethrower duel) as highlights. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-john-wick-1236416050/) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating B-. 4 June 2025. It suggests the franchise can survive without Keanu Reeves but hasn't built up the courage to try something new; it's a serviceable addition with all the expected elements on display. [Read the review](https://indiewire.com/criticism/movies/ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-john-wick-keanu-reeves-1235129385) ## Los Angeles Times — Sergio Burstein Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2025. The John Wick spinoff delivers what it promises with spectacular fight scenes and an enchanting lead performance, resulting in unquestionably entertaining fare despite a weak script and unconvincing story. The critic singles out Ana de Armas’s physical commitment and the chaotic, distinctive fight style tailored to her character for praise. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/espanol/entretenimiento/articulo/2025-06-05/criticas-ana-toma-las-armas-al-pacino-combate-al-demonio-y-mas-estrenos-de-cine) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2025. The second half's thrilling action sequences make a strong case for the film's verve and humor, though the first half is uneven and the overall result feels like overstretched IP. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/ballerinas-john-wick-ana-de-armas.html) ## Slant Magazine Rating 2.5/4. 4 June 2025. It delivers some memorable action tricks like a flamethrower duel but lacks its own mythology, feeling like just another entry in the 87Eleven style with obligatory noise between set pieces. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-keanu-reeves-len-wiseman/) ## RogerEbert.com — Brian Tallerico Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2025. Ballerina is a halfway decent action movie that struggles in the shadow of the superior John Wick films but delivers unpretentious fun in its extended final action sequence. The critic singles out the improved choreography and stunt work in the later snow-covered and village-set sequences for praise while criticizing the early editing and mediocre fight scenes. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/john-wick-ballerina-movie-review-2025) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2025. The critic notes that the film conflates ballet and violence in a deliberate but unconvincing way and praises Ana de Armas for carrying the silliness and handling the action choreography effectively. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jun/04/ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-racks-up-the-kills-as-she-pirouettes-into-john-wick-spin-off) ## Time Out — Helen O’Hara Rating 3/5. 5 June 2025. The critic praises the inventive action sequences and Ana de Armas's charismatic, likeable performance as an assassin hero. The standard revenge plot is noted but the film delivers enough to stand alongside its predecessors. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/ballerina-review-2025) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2025. The critic highlights Ana de Armas's ferocious, muscular performance as nearly overcoming the film's weaknesses. Spectacularly violent set pieces are savoured, but a bland villain and underwhelming narrative prove limiting. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-shoots-to-kill-in-underwhelming-john-wick-spinoff/5205723.article) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2025. Ballerina extends the John Wick mythology but thins it out into an unthrilling action film that prioritizes story and character confirmation over spectacular action. The critic singles out one wide shot of the protagonist silhouetted against fire for its cinematic identity while noting the functional but uninspired fight sequences overall. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/ballerina-leaps-into-john-wicks-bloody-world) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2025. The critic finds the film bloody but bloodless, with lacklustre action, heavy-handed storytelling and underwhelming performances overall. Inventive bits of carnage stand out amid the blitheness of the violence and obligation-driven vibe. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ballerina-lifeless-john-wick-spin) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2025. The film is a lukewarm, joyless addition to the John Wick series with no sense of humour despite its violent set pieces; Keanu Reeves is underused and the direction lacks flair. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/film-of-the-week-ballerina-is-on-pointe-blank) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2025. The spin-off is an absolute stinker: shoddy, nasty, tedious and lacking any of the flair of the original series, with poor photography, stunts and dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/from-the-world-of-john-wick-ballerina-review-keanu-reeves/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 4 June 2025. The critic praises Ana de Armas's magnetic presence and the film's muscular direction and unrelenting pace, calling it mindless summer action entertainment with a lot of style. The story sticks closely to the John Wick template without reinvention. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/from-the-world-of-john-wick-ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-1236255035/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating 7/10. 4 June 2025. The critic praises Ana de Armas as a worthy successor and the over-the-top action once it gets going, but notes a shaky start with too much exposition and uneven direction due to reshoots. [Read the review](https://collider.com/ballerina-review-john-wick-ana-de-armas/) ## The Ringer — Miles Surrey Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2025. The critic finds it a worthy spinoff that delivers on action, especially the flamethrower scene, though not quite at the level of mainline films, with a threadbare plot. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2025/06/06/movies/john-wick-movies-ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-keanu-reeves) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Rating 3/5. 4 June 2025. The critic praises the near-constant action and set pieces as worthy of the John Wick series but complains that the film has too much action and too much focus on John Wick, which detracts from Eve's story. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a64943255/ballerina-review-john-wick/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Rating 3/5. 4 June 2025. Ballerina is an interesting experiment that dares to be different but falls short of the excellence of its predecessors. Ana de Armas delivers a committed performance with impressive fight scenes. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/ballerina-review-2/) ## NME — James Mottram Rating 3/5. 5 June 2025. The critic calls it a fun but forgettable John Wick spin-off, praising the inventive, bone-shattering fights and De Armas's athleticism but criticizing the difficulty in caring about Eve's journey and the lack of the main man's cool factor. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-john-wick-spin-off-3867576) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 5/10. 4 June 2025. Some great inventive action scenes cannot save this dull John Wick spin-off. The action is a blast when it happens, but the exposition-heavy story and bland filmmaking drag it down. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1877855/ballerina-john-wick-spin-off-movie-review/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 2/5. 4 June 2025. The critic finds Ballerina a disappointing John Wick spinoff lacking heart, character, and conviction, with a miscast and bland Ana de Armas as the lead. They single out the overlong, unpleasant flamethrower fight sequence as an example of the film's excesses. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-john-wick/) ## Film Stories — Ryan Lambie Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2025. The story feels thin and the action repetitive and exhausting despite solid craft. Ana de Armas convincingly plays the unkillable assassin Eve. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/news/ballerina-review-is-this-john-wick-spin-off-en-pointe-or-tutu-much/) ## Deadline — Gregory Nussen 4 June 2025. Ana de Armas elevates the John Wick spinoff with her beguiling presence and immaculate movement in inventive action set pieces that surpass prior entries. The film suffers from clunky, expository storytelling and a lack of narrative efficiency in the first act. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/06/ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-spinoff-john-wick-1236423083/) ## The Wrap 4 June 2025. After a terrible first act and signs of post-production meddling, the film explodes into glorious, inventive violence with a genuine sense of humor. The cluttered mess has a boring storyline but features amazing action, including an awesome flamethrower duel. [Read the review](https://thewrap.com/ana-de-armas-ballerina-john-wick-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/ballerina.md