From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is making waves, but not quite the splash anticipated. This Len Wiseman spinoff marks the fifth chapter in the John Wick saga, unfolding between Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4. While Keanu Reeves steps back into the shoes of the titular assassin, the plot largely pivots around Eve Macarro, portrayed by Ana de Armas, a ballerina turned assassin. The film, released on June 6, kicked off with a domestic opening weekend figure of $24.5 million, which stands as the second lowest in the franchise’s history, just above the original John Wick’s $14.4 million.
As reported by Deadline, the film is projected to rake in approximately $4.6 million during its third weekend, dropping from fifth to seventh place at the domestic box office, overshadowed by new entrants like 28 Years Later and Elio. Nevertheless, it has achieved a cumulative total of $51.2 million, becoming the 17th film of 2025 to cross the $50 million mark in North America.
What This Means For Ballerina
It Still Can’t Stack Up To John Wick’s Sequels
In terms of box office performance, Ballerina has outpaced the original installment, which collected $34.8 million by its third weekend. However, it still trails significantly behind each of the three sequels, with little change in its position relative to these films since its opening. Here’s a look at how Ballerina performs against previous John Wick titles during their respective third weekends:
Title | Domestic Opening Weekend | Domestic Cume (Weekend 3) | Worldwide Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
John Wick (2014) | $14.4 million | $34.8 million | $86 million |
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) | $30.4 million | $74.8 million | $174.3 million |
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) | $56.8 million | $125.7 million | $328.3 million |
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) | $73.8 million | $146.9 million | $440.2 million |
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025) | $24.5 million | $51.2 million | TBD |
If it maintains its current trajectory, Ballerina is likely to end its run below the $174.3 million mark set by Chapter 2. Financially, this may not pose a significant issue for Lionsgate, as they already mitigated much of the film’s reported $90 million budget through pre-salesâ€â€a common industry strategy. Nevertheless, Ballerina is poised to retain a place as the second lowest-grossing chapter in the franchise, which is a notable dip following the impressive highs of Chapter 4 in 2023.
Our Take On The Ballerina Milestone
Action Movies In General Are Failing In 2025
Although From the World of John Wick: Ballerina isn’t lighting up the box office compared to its predecessors, its performance mirrors a broader trend in the action genre for 2025. Many high-profile titles like Thunderbolts, The Amateur, and Captain America: Brave New World have also struggled to meet expectations despite their hefty budgets. This suggests a possible shift in audience appetite, indicating that perhaps the John Wick franchise still holds the potential for success in a year with more favorable conditions for action films. As we anticipate future projects, the landscape of cinematic action is certainly under scrutiny.
Source: Deadline