A year-old action thriller quickly became the most popular title on HBO Max. Since being added to the streaming service on March 27th, it’s outperformed other popular movies like Dune, Spider-Man, and the new comedy Fackham Hall starring Tom Felton.
Many action movies have successful sequels, but it’s rare for a spin-off to achieve the same level of popularity as the original series. A recent example is Hobbs & Shaw, which spun off from Fast & Furious and starred Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. The new hit on HBO Max does something different – it took a risk by creating a completely new character to carry the action thriller.
The action thriller Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas as a skilled assassin seeking revenge for her father’s death, arrived in theaters on June 6, 2025. While the character wasn’t previously featured in the John Wick films, the movie cleverly fits into the existing timeline between Chapters 3 and 4. After becoming available on HBO Max last Friday, Ballerina quickly rose to the top of the streaming charts and is now the platform’s most-watched movie in the United States.
‘Ballerina’ Is Just as Good as ‘John Wick’
Despite a $90 million production cost, the movie Ballerina didn’t do well in theaters, earning only $137 million. Traditionally, that would mean a loss for the studio. However, it’s found a much larger audience through streaming over the past year, making it a success overall.
Just because Ballerina didn’t perform as well as the main John Wick films doesn’t mean it’s inferior. Like its predecessors, Ballerina delivers impressive, seamless action directed by Len Wiseman, a focused, revenge-driven story by Shay Hatten, and a compelling performance by Ana de Armas. She portrays Eve with a fierce determination that’s comparable to Keanu Reeves’ iconic John Wick.
With constant action, Ballerina is a fantastic addition to the John Wick universe. Both critics and audiences agree – it currently boasts a 75% ‘Certified Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and an impressive 92% audience score, making it a fan favorite and likely a future cult classic.
Will There Be Another ‘John Wick’ Movie?
If you enjoyed Ballerina and want to revisit the world of John Wick, you’re in luck! All four of the main John Wick movies are now available to stream on HBO Max. You can start from the beginning or watch them in order – whatever you prefer.
If you’ve been following the John Wick saga, you’ll be glad to hear a fifth movie is confirmed! It was officially announced in April 2025, though details are still limited. Keanu Reeves will return as the legendary assassin, and Chad Stahelski is back as director. Production hasn’t begun yet, so we don’t have a release date just yet.
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2026-04-01 15:32