Ballerina 2023 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ballerina 2023

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

35%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

If you're looking for tutus and Nutcracker vibes, run—this is a neon-soaked, blood-spattered Korean revenge flick that takes no prisoners.

91%

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Ballerina 2023

movie

2023

35%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

If you're looking for tutus and Nutcracker vibes, run—this is a neon-soaked, blood-spattered Korean revenge flick that takes no prisoners.

91%

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Screenwise Verdict

Don't let the title fool you; there are no sugarplum fairies here. Ballerina is a high-octane, hyper-violent Korean thriller that is more about 'eye for an eye' than 'plié and jeté.' It’s a gorgeous, brutal watch for adults, but it’s the definition of 'not for kids.'

If you're looking for the 2016 animated movie about a girl who wants to dance in Paris, keep scrolling—this is a very different vibe. This is a Friday night movie for when the kids are fast asleep and you want something that looks like a neon fever dream and hits like a sledgehammer.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults and the most mature of older teens who can handle John Wick levels of carnage. It's a hard TV-MA for a reason.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a pure revenge story. It prioritizes stylized vengeance and cold-blooded justice over any sense of kindness, cooperation, or emotional health.

Imaginative

The cinematography is stunning. It uses a neon-noir aesthetic and creative color theory that makes the action feel like a dark, high-fashion fever dream.

Safe

Extreme graphic violence, gore, drug trafficking, and themes of human trafficking make this entirely unsafe for children or sensitive viewers.

Enriching

While it offers little in the way of moral growth, it's a high-quality piece of genre filmmaking for those interested in choreography and visual storytelling.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Visual flair that makes every frame look like a high-end music video or a neon nightmare.
The choreography is top-tier; it's a masterclass in stylized, brutal action for fans of the genre.
A strong female lead who is competent, silent, and absolutely terrifying when she's on a mission.

⚠

What to Watch For

The violence is graphic and frequent—think stabbings, shootings, and bone-crunching hand-to-hand combat.
The plot involves human trafficking and drug rings, which makes for a very dark, mature undercurrent throughout.
There is a disturbing sexual assault backstory that drives the revenge plot, though it's handled with stylistic distance.

Conversation Starters

"Why does stylized violence in movies feel different than realistic violence?"
"Can revenge ever actually bring peace to someone who is grieving?"
"How does the use of color in this movie change the way you feel about the characters?"

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