From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025)
- R , 2h 5m
- Action,Mystery & Thriller
- Directed By: Len Wiseman
- In Theaters: Jun 6, 2025
Directed by: Len Wiseman
Written by: Shay Hatten
Based on Characters by Derek Kolstad
Produced by: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Chad Stahelski
Starring: Ana de Armas,Anjelica Huston,Gabriel Byrne,Lance Reddick,Norman Reedus,Ian McShane,Keanu Reeves
Cinematography: Romain Lacourbas
Edited by: Jason Ballantine,Julian Clarke,Nicholas Lundgren
Music by: Tyler Bates,Joel J. Richard
Production companies: Summit Entertainment,Thunder Road Films,87Eleven Entertainment
Distributed by: Lionsgate
Release date: June 6, 2025 (United States)
Running time: 125 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $90 million
Box office: $95.2 million
Ballerina (marketed as From the World of John Wick: Ballerina) is a 2025 American action thriller film directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten. It is the fifth installment in the John Wick franchise and it takes place after the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and before the events of John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).[7] It stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick (in his final screen appearance), Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves. In the film, ballerina-turned-assassin Eve Macarro (de Armas) takes on an army of killers as she seeks revenge against those responsible for the death of her father
Lionsgate acquired Hatten's spec script for the spin-off film in 2017, leading to him contributing to the final script for Parabellum and serving as the lead writer for Chapter 4. In October 2019, Wiseman was hired as director; Chad Stahelski, who had directed the previous John Wick films, was confirmed as a producer by May 2020. Ballerina was officially announced in April 2022, with de Armas confirmed as the lead. Principal photography occurred from November 2022 to January 2023 in Prague; additional action sequences were shot starting in February 2024.
Ballerina was released in the United States on June 6, 2025. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, and grossed over $95 million worldwide.
Plot
Eve Macarro is the daughter of two assassins: Javier of the Ruska Roma and his Cultist wife. At a young age, Eve was taken away from the Cult by Javier, which led to the death of Eve's mother. As the Cult's Chancellor seeks to retrieve Eve, they assault her residence, killing her guards and fatally wounding Javier, who helps her escape. New York Continental owner Winston Scott brings Eve to the Ruska Roma, where she meets their Director and agrees to join them.
Over the next 12 years, Eve trains as a ballerina and an assassin/bodyguard under the Director and Nogi. At one point, she encounters John Wick, who was visiting the Director to ask for safe passage to Casablanca.[c] John advises Eve to abandon her violent path, though unsuccessful. Eve graduates from the program after killing a fellow Ruska Roma assassin, who is implied to have failed in her duties. Eve then successfully protects her first ward, heiress Katla Park. Two months later, after completing a contract, Eve is attacked by an assassin, whom she kills and identifies as a Cultist. She asks the Director about the Cult, seeking revenge. The Director forbids Eve from pursuing the Cult due to a longstanding truce between the Cult and the Ruska Roma.
Eve disobeys the Director and visits the New York Continental, where Charon grants her a meeting with Winston. Winston reveals that one Cultist, Daniel Pine, is staying at the Prague Continental with a large bounty on him, so Eve travels there and books a room. Eve infiltrates Pine's room, discovering his daughter Ella, whom Pine reveals he is hiding from the Cult, having escaped from them. As several Cultists stationed at the hotel observe Eve and Pine, their leader Lena increases Pine's bounty. The Cultists and other mercenaries attack Pine on Continental grounds. Pine entrusts Ella to Eve, promising to give her information on the Cult later. As they exit the Continental, Cultist Dex shoots Pine, while Lena incapacitates Eve and kidnaps Ella. The Prague Continental staff spare Eve and execute two captured Cultists/mercenaries for their attack.
Eve goes to purchase weapons from arms dealer Frank, but the Cult attacks his shop. After Eve kills the Cultists, Frank helps her narrow down the location of the Cult's base and provides her with transport. Eve's search leads to the town of Hallstatt, where she quickly comes under attack by its people, who are all assassins working for the Cult. Eve is eventually captured and brought to the Chancellor, who discovers her Ruska Roma affiliation. Eve reveals her revenge plot, while he reveals that Pine is his son and Ella his granddaughter. The Chancellor remembers Eve, informing Lena that she is Eve's older sister. Eve breaks free before being cornered by Lena, who reveals their kinship. Lena says Javier abandoned her during his escape due to fearing that the Cult had already indoctrinated her. Hearing of Eve and Lena talking, the Chancellor orders their deaths; Lena is killed by the Cult's grenades while Eve escapes.
The Chancellor calls the Director to declare war between their factions due to Eve's actions, despite the Director sharing that Eve had gone rogue. To appease the Chancellor, the Director sends John Wick to eliminate Eve as a compromise, which the Chancellor accepts. John arrives at Hallstatt, where he finds and defeats Eve, repeatedly sparing her and imploring her to abandon her pursuit. Eve pleads for her revenge, prompting a sympathetic John to give her less than thirty minutes to kill the Chancellor, after which he will continue his contract.
Eve continues fighting against the Cult across Hallstatt, with John assisting her from a distance. When the Cult loses track of John, the Chancellor attempts to flee with Ella, but Eve corners them. The Chancellor attempts to reason with Eve, but she executes him and rescues Ella. John informs the Director of the Chancellor's death.
Ella is reunited with a recovering Pine at the New York Continental where Eve seeks refuge. The Cult places a large bounty on Eve. While watching former Kikimora trainee Tatiana's ballet performance, Eve learns of the bounty and leaves the theater.
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