Movie Review

Ballerina

June 09, 2025
by Mish'al K. Samman

I didn’t expect to shake my head at the end.
Not in disbelief. Not even in awe.
But in that damn-they-got-it-right kind of way ... the one that bubbles up when a film doesn’t just honor the world it came from…
It fluently speaks it.

Ballerina isn’t trying to be louder than John Wick.
It’s not here to replace him.
It’s a story built in the shadows of what came before ... and it knows exactly how long to linger there.

Keanu Reeves doesn’t miss a beat.
When he appears, everything shifts ... not just the screen, but the tone.
He’s still the Baba Yaga. Still the myth.
Not overused. Not nerfed.
Just precise.
The kind of presence that reminds you who wrote the book ... even if he only whispers now.

But then there’s Norman Reedus.
Let’s be honest ... he’s new to this level of stylized action, and it shows.
His scenes? Clearly sped up.
And in one fight, they literally let a train pass between him and the camera ... a brilliant cheat to cover the cracks.
And I’m not even mad. That’s not sloppy.
That’s craft.
That’s a director protecting the frame, protecting the illusion.

But this isn’t a movie about them.

It’s Eve’s story.
And she doesn’t fight like a man.
She doesn’t pretend to be stronger.
She cheats.
She learns.
She adapts.
And thank God.

There’s a moment that lingers:
"You’re a girl. He’s stronger. You’ll lose. So don’t play his game."
And for once, the movie doesn’t backpedal.
It leans in.
She wins not because she overpowers ... but because she refuses to play fair.

That, right there? That’s respect.
Not just for the character. But for reality.
And in a world this absurd ... this drenched in blood rituals and killer etiquette ... that little nod to truth?
It hits.

This universe has always been insane.
But if you’re fluent in its rules, Ballerina isn’t just more content.
It’s canon.

Is it perfect? No.
But it's damn close.
And I don’t say that lightly.
If you know me, you know I don’t throw out 9.5s.
But this?
This goes on the shelf with Empire Strikes Back and Infinity War.
Because like those films, it understands how to carry weight.
Not just narrative. But legacy.

Never seen a John Wick film?
You’ll still enjoy the ride.

But if you have?
You’ll feel that familiar thud in your chest.
That heartbeat the franchise always knew how to hit.

And this time, it dances to it.
Like a ballerina who bleeds from her toes to get her spin just right.

Ballerina (2025) – From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is a 2025 American action thriller film and the fifth installment in the John Wick franchise, serving as a spin-off.

About the Author
Mish’al Samman is a writer, performer, and lifelong fanboy who began his career covering comics, film, and fandom culture for Fanboy Planet in the early 2000s. With a voice rooted in sincerity, humor, and cultural observation, his work blends personal storytelling with pop-culture insight. Whether he’s reflecting on the soul of Star Wars or exploring identity through genre, Mish’al brings a grounded, human perspective to every galaxy he writes about.