Ballerina: The Epic Comeback of Keanu Reeves and Ana De Armas After Disappointing Films!
In “John Wick: Ballerina,” we find ourselves delving back into the world of the renowned assassin, now played by Ana de Armas as Eve, a character trained in the Ruska Roma tradition who’s on a mission for revenge following her father’s demise. During her journey, she crosses paths with none other than John Wick, portrayed once again by Keanu Reeves, marking his return to this role since “John Wick: Chapter 4.” Joining de Armas and Reeves in the cast are veterans such as Ian McShane, Angelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Juliet Doherty.
Despite not being the top-ranked film in the John Wick franchise, Ballerina is garnering favorable responses thus far. At present, the movie boasts a Certified Fresh 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 144 reviews. ScreenRant‘s Rachel Labonte awarded it 6 out of 10 stars, appreciating de Armas’ performance in the lead role while acknowledging that the film can be overly ambitious at times. Even with its recent release, audiences have shown a positive response, giving it a 93% rating on the Popcornmeter. This bodes well for a future collaboration between de Armas and Reeves, as their past projects together have been inconsistent in quality.
Ballerina Isn’t Keanu Reeves & Ana De Armas’ First Movie Together
They Have Been In Two Others Movies Together
Previously, De Armas and Reeves have collaborated on two projects. Their initial venture was the Eli Roth-directed psychological thriller titled “Knock Knock”. In this film, Evan (played by Reeves), a husband and father, encounters a shift in his life after offering assistance to two women who knock on his door, leading to perilous circumstances. This movie was released a year following Reeves’ debut in the “John Wick” series, prior to De Armas gaining significant fame with her role in “Knives Out” in 2019.
After that, they collaborated once more on the film “Exposed” in 2016. This movie was a gripping crime thriller that revolved around a detective uncovering the truth behind his partner’s death. However, the plot thickened as the investigation unveiled police corruption and a mysterious young woman (de Armas) became central to the case. At that time, de Armas wasn’t yet a household name, but she was gaining recognition as she was set to portray Joi in “Blade Runner 2049” shortly afterwards. It’s worth noting that “Exposed” was released prior to Reeves reprising his assassin role in “John Wick: Chapter 2.”
As a film aficionado, I can’t help but marvel at the reunion of Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves in “Ballerina,” a collaboration that has been ten years in the making. Both have experienced remarkable career advancements since their last joint project. De Armas is now an Oscar-nominated actress (for “Blonde”), establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with, while Reeves has become a mainstay in the action genre, appearing in four “John Wick” films and now adding another with “Ballerina.” This reunion promises a captivating spectacle that showcases their growth and talent.
Ballerina Is Easily The Highest-Rated Ana De Armas & Keanu Reeves Movie On Rotten Tomatoes
And It’s Not Close
The ballet movie “Ballerina” holds the title as the highest-rated film for Reeves and de Armas, outshining their other collaborations significantly. Critics rated “Knock Knock” with a 37% Tomatometer score, classifying it as “rotten”, while audiences gave it an even lower rating of 19%. The review scores for “Exposed” were even worse at 8% and 16%, respectively, making it the lowest-rated film in de Armas’ career and the second-lowest for Reeves, with only his 2012 movie, “Generation Um”, scoring lower at 0%.
| Keanu Reeves & Ana de Armas Projects | Tomatometer | Popcornmeter |
|---|---|---|
| Knock Knock | 37% | 19% |
| Exposed | 8% | 16% |
| Ballerina | 72% | 93% |
Regardless of minor shifts in its rating as more reviews pour in over the weekend, the John Wick film could be the unique production among their collaborations to make it onto Rotten Tomatoes’ ‘fresh’ list. Its robust opening indicates that the movie’s score will likely remain within the 70s, signifying generally positive review patterns overall.
Why Ballerina Got Good Reviews But Ana De Armas & Keanu Reeves’ Other Movies Didn’t
Ballerina Had A Bigger Budget Behind It
Different factors explain why these three films received varying critic reviews. The movie “Knock Knock,” produced by Roth, often faces mixed reviews despite his significant contributions to the horror genre. Critics often question his work due to a somewhat inconsistent track record, with many of his movies receiving poor ratings, such as “Cabin Fever,” which he wrote and executive produced, having a 0% score. Surprisingly, “Knock Knock” received a 37% score compared to some of Roth’s other works, but it was criticized for its questionable plot development and clumsy use of humor. Critic Bilge Ebiri from Vulture pointed out that the characters in “Knock Knock” seemed to act based on convenience rather than genuine motivation.
Beyond its poor reception, the movie “Exposed” was a significant box office flop, earning less than $300,000 on an estimated budget of $6 million. Consequently, fewer individuals had the chance to watch the film overall. However, those who did catch it generally expressed disapproval. Mark Kermode from the “Observer” described it as “incoherently fragmented and mind-numbingly dull“. Guardian‘s Peter Bradshaw labeled it “a puzzling and exasperating jumble“. The general sentiment was that “Exposed” seemed hastily assembled, lacking the coherent storyline essential for a thriller of its kind.
In contrast, the film titled “Ballerina” has garnered appreciation from most viewers. Although some found flaws in its narrative, many were fond of de Armas’ portrayal of Eve, and appreciated the movie’s quirky elements. Unlike the other two films, “Ballerina” benefits from being a spin-off of an established franchise, which means it has a ready-made audience who enjoy Reeves in the John Wick series. Moreover, it boasts a larger budget and a talented crew, enhancing its chances of success.
Ballerina’s Rotten Tomatoes Record For Keanu Reeves & Ana De Armas Is Good News For The Future
They Could Work Together Again
It’s great that the movie “Ballerina” has become the highest-rated film for Reeves and de Armas as a duo, indicating a potential successful collaboration in the future. Given their extensive backgrounds in action roles, it’s not unreasonable to expect them working together again. Their captivating performances make them sought-after talents, and another collaboration would be eagerly anticipated. The high Rotten Tomatoes rating for “Ballerina” may also encourage studios to team them up again, potentially continuing their successful partnership that started with their first two movies together, which initially set a poor precedent.
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2025-06-08 00:09