Ballerina

Ballerina

movie

R, 2025

WISE
38%

WISE Score

75

Avg. Tomatometer

Ana de Armas kicks serious ass in this ultra-violent John Wick spinoff—strictly for older teens who can handle R-rated carnage.

IMDb6.8
RT Critics75%
MC59
Common Sense Media
Where to Watch
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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a John Wick movie. You know what you're getting: stylized ultra-violence, a revenge plot, and impressive action choreography. Ana de Armas is great, and the film delivers on the franchise's signature aesthetic.

But let's be crystal clear—this is NOT for kids. The violence is graphic and relentless. Blood spray, severed body parts, eye-gouging, the works. Add in constant f-bombs and you've got a hard R.

For parents of older teens (16+) who are into action movies and can handle mature content, this could work as a watch-together experience with conversation afterward about revenge, violence, and consequences. The lack of sexual content is a plus, and the strong female lead adds something fresh to the genre.

But if your teen isn't ready for R-rated gore, skip it. And for the love of all that is holy, don't confuse this with the 2023 animated 'Ballerina' movie for little kids. Very different films.

Age Fit

This is firmly 16+ territory due to extreme violence and strong language. It's not appropriate for younger teens or children, period. For older teens who can handle R-rated action and want to discuss darker themes, it works—but parents should watch first or watch together.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
35

This is a revenge-driven assassin thriller with relentless graphic violence, including eye-gouging, severed limbs, flamethrower burns, and constant blood spray. Frequent f-bombs and profanity throughout. While Eve is portrayed as a strong, resilient character, the emotional core is vengeance and the tone is dark and brutal. Not emotionally healthy for younger viewers, though the lack of sexual content and the strong female lead provide some balance.

Imaginative
60

The John Wick universe has distinctive stylized action choreography and world-building around the assassin underworld with its own rules and mythology. The Ruska Roma training sequences and the balletic fight choreography offer visual creativity. However, it's ultimately a formulaic action revenge plot without much room for viewer creativity or exploration—you watch, you don't participate or imagine beyond what's on screen.

Safe
20

Absolutely not safe for children. Graphic violence with blood spatter, gore, severed body parts, eye-gouging, strangulation, and explosive deaths. Heavy profanity including frequent 'f---' and 'motherf----r.' This is R-rated content designed for mature audiences only. Common Sense Media rates it 16+ for good reason. No sexual content or nudity is a plus, but the violence alone makes this deeply unsafe for anyone under 16.

Enriching
45

For mature teens (16+), there's potential discussion material about revenge vs. justice, the cycle of violence, and female empowerment in a male-dominated action genre. Ana de Armas brings diverse representation. The stunt work and choreography are technically impressive. But the film doesn't offer deep philosophical insight—it's primarily spectacle. The revenge narrative doesn't provide particularly enriching moral lessons beyond 'violence begets violence.'

Parent Info

Why It Might Be Great

  • Ana de Armas delivers a compelling performance as a fierce, revenge-driven assassin—strong female lead in a typically male genre
  • The John Wick universe's stylized action choreography and unique assassin underworld mythology are visually creative and well-executed
  • Technically impressive stunt work and fight sequences that blend ballet-inspired movement with brutal combat
  • For mature teens (16+), opens conversations about revenge vs. justice, cycles of violence, and moral consequences
  • No sexual content or nudity—the R rating is purely for violence and language

What to Watch For

  • Relentless graphic violence: blood spray, severed limbs, eye-gouging, strangulation, flamethrower burns, and constant brutal kills
  • Heavy profanity throughout—frequent f-bombs, 'motherf----r,' and other strong language
  • Dark revenge-driven plot may be emotionally heavy for sensitive viewers
  • This is NOT the 2023 animated kids' movie 'Ballerina'—make sure you're watching the right one

Conversation Starters

  • "Eve wants revenge for her father's death—do you think revenge actually makes people feel better, or does it just continue the cycle of violence?"
  • "The movie shows a woman succeeding in a world dominated by male assassins. How does that change the typical action movie formula?"
  • "All these characters follow strict 'rules' in the assassin underworld. Why do you think people create codes of honor even in violent situations?"
  • "The action is super stylized and choreographed like a dance. Does making violence 'beautiful' change how we think about it?"
Stills
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