Ballerina (15) Close-Up Film Review

Still catching my breath after the Ballerina world premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square —and let me tell you, this film does NOT hold back. From the moment the lights went down and the pounding bass of that opening sequence kicked in, I knew we were in for a ride. And what a ride it was. Brutal, balletic, blood-soaked, and beautiful.

Set in the gritty, neon-drenched underworld we’ve come to know from the John Wick universe, Ballerina is less a spin-off and more a pulsing, full-bodied extension of that world’s lore. But this time, we’re seeing it through an entirely different lens: feminine, fierce, and full of soul. It doesn’t copy Wick—it carves its own path with stilettos and scars.

Welcome back to the high-octane, blood-slicked universe of John Wick, but this time—it’s HER story. Ballerina follows Rooney (Ana de Armas), a razor-sharp assassin with ballet dancer grace and a firestorm brewing in her soul. Raised by the shadowy Ruska Roma (yes, the same crew who trained John Wick himself), Rooney was built for survival, precision, and pain. But now? She’s on a mission to unleash hell.

After her adoptive family is brutally murdered, Rooney doesn’t flinch—she loads up, locks in, and dives headfirst into a violent quest for revenge. Her search for answers spirals through a hidden world of ruthless killers, corrupt alliances, and dangerous truths. This isn’t just about payback—it’s personal. It’s spiritual. It’s war.

As bullets fly and bodies fall, Ballerina strips back the flesh of this criminal underworld and reveals its beating, blood-soaked heart. Rooney isn’t just another deadly weapon—she’s a wounded soul dancing through grief, rage, and revelation. Every movement she makes, every hit she lands, is driven by purpose and pain. And Ana de Armas? She moves like poetry with a punch.

This isn’t a side story—it’s a full-throttle, emotionally charged, visually stunning revenge odyssey that proves the Wick universe isn’t just surviving… it’s evolving.

Ana de Armas is an absolute revelation. We’ve seen her deliver knockout action in No Time to Die and showcase her range in prestige dramas, but here, she levels up. This is her movie, and she OWNS every inch of the screen. She brings elegance and grit, pain and power. Whether she’s smashing through a hallway of enemies or sharing a quiet, aching moment of loss, her presence is magnetic. I genuinely believe she’s just delivered one of the most iconic action performances of the decade.

If you’re wondering whether the action matches up to Wick-level expectations—oh, it does. And then some. Bone-crunching choreography, bullets flying like ballet confetti, and one extended kitchen fight sequence that had the whole theatre gasping, flinching, and cheering. The stunt work is savage but graceful—like death on pointe.

Visually, Ballerina is stunning. The cinematography leans into icy blues, burning neons, and velvety shadows. The production design weaves seamlessly into the Wick world—the Ruska Roma are back, and a few familiar faces pop up (don’t worry, no spoilers!). Continuity is strong, but this is very much its own beast.

This film has heart. Beneath the carnage lies a deep emotional current about grief, identity, and power. There’s raw, feminine rage here—and a vulnerability we’ve not seen before in this franchise. Rooney fights with her fists, but she also fights with her soul.

The cameos had the audience buzzing, and they never feel like distractions. They build the mythology, but it’s still Ana’s show. And let’s just say… one moment in particular got a massive round of applause. Perfectly placed and powerful.

Too much music at times—overused when a little silence could’ve hit harder. Just a small gripe in an otherwise slick, satisfying, stylish thrill ride.

Ballerina is pure adrenaline, pure emotion, pure cinema. A fierce, stylish, and emotionally rich expansion of the John Wick world. Ana de Armas cements herself as an action icon, and this film proves there’s so much more left to explore in this universe. Believe the hype. It’s a bloody, beautiful knockout.

It’s not just a spin-off. It’s a new chapter with its own soul and rhythm.