Ballerina Stumbles at Box Office, Falls Short of 35M USD Expectations

• John Wick spinoff Ballerina underwhelms with 25M USD debut, raising doubts about franchise future
• Despite Ana de Armas action chops, Ballerina misses 35M USD box office target in opening weekend
• Ballerina falls short at box office as John Wick fans await Keanu Reeves full return

Lionsgate’s highly anticipated John Wick spinoff, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, has debuted with a disappointing $25 million at the domestic box office, significantly underperforming initial projections of over $35 million. The R-rated action thriller, playing in 3,409 North American theaters, opened in second place behind Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, which secured the top spot for its third consecutive weekend with $32.5 million.

Set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, Ballerina follows Eve Macarro (de Armas), a ballerina trained as an assassin by the Ruska Roma, out for revenge after her father’s murder. Despite a solid cast, including Keanu Reeves in a brief cameo, Anjelica Huston, and the late Lance Reddick, the film didn’t pull in the crowds. It added $26 million from 82 international markets, bringing its global total to $51 million.

Directed by Len Wiseman, with John Wick creator Chad Stahelski handling extra scenes, the movie had a $90 million budget. Lionsgate offset some costs by selling foreign rights, but the weaker-than-expected turnout has raised eyebrows. The film earned a decent 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore, but fans seem to miss Reeves as the main draw. “People like it, but they’re not showing up in droves,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

This stumble casts doubt on expanding the John Wick universe without its iconic lead. Lionsgate is hopeful, counting on good buzz and overseas sales to break even. The studio has big plans, including John Wick: Chapter 5, a Donnie Yen spinoff, and an animated prequel. Still, Ballerina’s soft opening shows it’s tough to match the pull of John Wick himself.

Also Read: Prabhas 'The Raja Saab' Teaser Ignites Fan Frenzy, Signals Vintage Return

Ana de Armas shines in the action scenes, and she’s open to returning as Eve. For now, though, Ballerina’s box office numbers highlight the challenge of keeping the John Wick magic alive without its star.