Ballerina (15)

.Stylish and sharply executed, this high-octane sidequel expands the John Wick universe with icy elegance, immersive set-pieces and a heroine driven by grief and fury.

Director Len Wiseman (Underworld) showcases the franchise’s signature world-building, eye-catching combat and deadly glamour, with Ana de Armas stepping confidently into the lead.

The story follows Eve, trained from childhood as both dancer and assassin after witnessing the murder of her father. Now an adult, she sets out to find his killer, threatening a fragile truce between rival underworld factions. Along the way, she crosses paths with Norman Reedus’s weary guide, the ever-imposing Director (Anjelica Huston), and, inevitably, John Wick himself. With every step, carnage erupts. And Eve will need to face the truth of who she is before she can find justice.

The film’s emotional undercurrent is understated, but de Armas grounds the action. Visually, it’s a feast, from ice-drenched nightclubs to a fiery flamethrower showdown, while every fight is meticulously choreographed for maximum impact.

Confidently treading familiar Wick ground, Ballerina is delivered with precision and flair and its themes of vengeance and identity hit home with quiet power. A sleek revenge thriller