John Wick Spinoff Ballerina Finds Streaming Success After Poor Box Office

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Despite a lukewarm reception in theaters, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, is performing well on streaming services and video-on-demand platforms, according to data from Flix Patrol.

Currently, Ballerina is the second most-watched movie on Canal+. It’s also quickly gained popularity on other streaming services, making the top ten on both Apple TV and Prime Video within just the last week.

Len Wiseman directed the film, based on a script by Shay Hatten. The story centers on a woman who narrowly avoided a dangerous cult as a child, a cult responsible for her parents’ deaths. Afterward, she dedicated herself to rigorous training, becoming a skilled ballerina, assassin, and bodyguard – all within the notorious Ruska Roma criminal organization.

Throughout the movie, Eve investigates the mysterious cult responsible for taking her family, and in doing so, discovers shocking secrets about her own past. Her quest for answers happens at the same time as John Wick’s escape from the powerful High Table, and the two end up helping each other along the way.

Joining Ana de Armas, Ian McShane returns as Winston Scott, and the film features a poignant performance by the late Lance Reddick as Charon. Ballerina also includes Anjelica Huston as the Director, Gabriel Byrne as the Chancellor, Norman Reedus as the former cultist Daniel Pine, and Catalina Sandino Moreno as assassin Lena.

Despite receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews when it came out in 2025 – currently holding a 92% ‘Verified Hot’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes – Ballerina didn’t perform as well financially as other movies in the John Wick series. The film earned a little over $137 million at the box office, while it cost $90 million to make.

What’s Next for the World of John Wick?

Besides the fifth John Wick movie currently being made, there are two more projects in the works. One is an animated prequel that will show fans what John Wick’s life was like before the first film.

The filmmakers chose animation for the prequel instead of a live-action film because they wanted to avoid the challenges of revisiting the past. As one of them explained, animation doesn’t require de-aging actors or creating complicated backstories. Anime can simply exist on its own terms, offering a fresh and immediate experience.

Okay, so the John Wick universe is expanding! We’re getting a live-action spinoff, and this one’s really different – Keanu Reeves won’t be involved. Director Chad Stahelski has said it’s a Donnie Yen vehicle, and it’s going to be a love letter to classic kung fu films. It’s a whole new story within that world, but without John Wick himself. Sounds promising!

While the first John Wick film felt like a throwback to classic action stars like Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin, this one is more inspired by the stylish gun-fu of Chow Yun-fat, John Woo, and Wong Kar-wai. I think that makes it more immediately appealing to audiences because it taps into a familiar and beloved action style.

You can now watch From the World of John Wick: Ballerina on streaming services like Starz and Prime Video, or rent or buy it through platforms like Rakuten TV and Canal+.

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2026-01-05 23:38