Ballerina is the latest chapter in the John Wick franchise. It stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro​​​​​, a ballerina assassin trained in the Ruska Roma tradition. Since the movie takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick Chapter 4, it would certainly make sense to revisit the entire John Wick franchise before watching Ballerina. However, there are several other movies that would make sense to enjoy if you loved the latest chapter in the beloved franchise.

Some movies, like Maria Full of Grace, feature stars that appear in Ballerina. These movies offer a glimpse at these actors’ earlier works, and make it easier to appreciate the characters they create in Ballerina. Other movies, like Black Widow, are movies that highlight highly trained assassins who are constantly underestimated because they are women. The best movies like Ballerina combine action and thrills with stories about compelling characters who are relatable even at their most flawed.

10

‘Black Swan’ (2010)

Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Black Swan is a psychological thriller starring Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers, a professional dancer who struggles with her mental health. The story follows Nina as she does her best to fully embrace the softness and innocence of the White Swan in Swan Lake, while also trying to embody the more sensual and darker parts of the Black Swan. Black Swan follows Nina’s unraveling mental health as she becomes paranoid that her rival is trying to steal her role from her.

For those who love the fact that Ballerina is an action movie set against the backdrop of professional ballet, Black Swan uses dance to create a unique kind of horror movie. Both movies explore the fact that professional dancers have an innate drive for perfection that extends beyond their career. While Ballerina is a revenge story and Black Swan is a deeply intimate character study of a woman losing grip on reality, both present characters whose drive for excellence leaps off the screen.

Black Swan

Release Date

December 3, 2010

Runtime

108 minutes

9

‘Knock Knock’ (2015)

Directed by Eli Roth

Knock Knock is a psychological thriller that introduces Evan Webber (Keanu Reeves), a father who is home alone for a weekend when his family leaves on vacation. Two women, Genesis (Lorenza Izzo) and Bel (Ana de Armas), knock on his door during a rainstorm and ask for help since they claim to be lost. Knock Knock is a story about the consequences of a seemingly innocent act of kindness and the power of temptation.

Before watching de Armas and Reeves team up in the latest chapter of the John Wick franchise, it would make sense to see these two share the screen in Knock Knock. Before seeing them together in Ballerina, it’s important to watch how well they play off of one another in a story that explores dark themes. While Knock Knock is no romance, it highlights de Armas and Reeves’ chemistry and how well they are able to lean into flawed and complex characters.

Knock Knock

Release Date

October 9, 2015

Runtime

96minutes

8

‘Knives Out’ (2019)

Directed by Rian Johnson

Knives Out introduces Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), a private detective hired to investigate the death of famed author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). Blanc interrogates each member of the family as well as his nurse Marta (de Armas) and his housekeeper Fran (Edi Patterson). Although Thrombey’s death is initially ruled a suicide, Blanc suspects foul play and makes it his mission to delve deeper into the mystery, keeping everyone in the mansion a suspect.

Although Knives Out is a murder mystery at its core, it’s also a pointed commentary on class division in America. Ana de Armas creates a character who is able to represent these themes perfectly. For fans of Ballerina wanting another example of de Armas being able to carry a story as a leading figure, Knives Out fits the bill. Knives Out and Ballerina showcase de Armas’ ability to create deeply sympathetic characters.

Knives Out

Release Date

November 27, 2019

Runtime

130 minutes

7

‘Maria Full of Grace’ (2004)

Directed by Joshua Marston

Maria Full of Grace follows Maria Álvarez (Catalina Sandino Moreno), a Colombian teenager working on a flower plantation. She works to support her family, but is left in a desperate position when she finds out she’s pregnant. When she leaves her job despite her family’s protests, she is approached by the cartel and starts working as a drug mule. Moreno was recognized for her performance in this movie by winning the Best Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

For those who appreciate Moreno’s performance in Ballerina as Lena, an assassin working for the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), Maria Full of Grace is a look at her ability to carry a movie as its star. Maria Full of Grace cements the fact that Moreno has an undeniable star quality that can carry any movie. Moreno plays complex women in both Ballerina and Maria Full of Grace. For those who saw Moreno’s supporting role in Ballerina and want more, Maria Full of Grace showcases her full range as an artist.

6

‘No Time to Die’ (2021)

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga

No Time to Die is the final James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig as the iconic British spy. The movie follows Bond as he is recruited for a special mission by the CIA after he has left MI6. Bond is tasked with rescuing a scientist from a new villain, Safin (Rami Malek), whose technology could kill millions of people. Ana de Armas joins Craig as Agent Paloma, a CIA agent who is critical to the high-stakes mission.

Both Ballerina and No Time to Die are action thrillers that feature heroes who have to face incredible odds. While Ballerina is a story that focuses more on revenge and No Time to Die is about a character at the end of his career, both feature surprisingly poignant reflections on what leaving a legacy means. Additionally, while de Armas headlines Ballerina and is in a supporting role in No Time to Die, both emphasize her talents as an action star.

5

‘Total Recall’ (1990)

Directed by Paul Verhoeven

Total Recall is a sci-fi drama that introduces Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a construction worker who has strange dreams about Mars. He visits Rekall, a company that implants false memories, and chooses a Mars-themed adventure in which he is a secret agent. Total Recall blurs the line between reality and fiction, as Quaid eventually believes that he is truly an agent on Mars seeking to save the planet from tyrannical forces.

For those who love the pure thrills and action Ballerina provides, Total Recall has a similar feel. Although Ballerina is slightly more grounded in reality and Total Recall‘s story is more on the fantastical side, both stories feature action heroes who have to think and fight their way out of difficult situations. Both also feature sympathetic protagonists who are doing their best to fight for what they believe is right.

4

‘Atomic Blonde’ (2017)

Directed by David Leitch

Atomic Blonde is a spy thriller that takes place in Berlin during the final days of the Cold War. The movie follows Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron), an MI6 agent who is sent to retrieve a list of double agents on the eve of the collapse of the Berlin Wall. She finds herself in the middle of an international conspiracy as she navigates a dark underworld of agents with shifting loyalties and those who want to carve out a space for themselves in a new world.

Director David Leitch brought Atomic Blonde and the John Wick universe to life. Since Ballerina is a continuation of the John Wick franchise, it makes sense that it would be visually comparable to Atomic Blonde. Both movies feature limited dialogue and action that essentially speaks for itself. Atomic Blonde and Ballerina are also similar in tone, as they feature two characters who have honed their physical skills to perfection, and who also need to rely on their intelligence to get them where they need to be.

3

‘Salt’ (2010)

Directed by Phillip Noyce

Salt introduces Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie), a CIA operative accused of being a Russian sleeper agent. The story revolves around Salt’s quest to clear her name and prove her loyalty. As she is hunted by those who see her as a threat, she ends up reckoning with her past and the fact that she was trained in the Soviet Union. Salt will stop at nothing to clear her name and track down those who are the actual sleeper agents operating around the world.

Like Ballerina, Salt features a complicated protagonist who has to rely on her extensive training to save herself. Evelyn Salt and Eve Macarro​​​​​ are women who find themselves in compromising positions that they have to shoot, fight, or outsmart their way out of. Both of these characters have to rely on their instincts and training since there are few people they can trust. For those who appreciate the high stakes featured in Ballerina, Salt features a protagonist facing similar threats.

Salt

Release Date

July 23, 2010

Runtime

100 Minutes

2

‘Black Widow’ (2021)

Directed by Cate Shortland

Black Widow is the solo movie Marvel fans waited on for years. The movie serves as both an origin story for Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and a final send-off for the character after the events of Avengers: Endgame. At its core, Black Widow is a family drama as Romanoff reunites and fights with those whom she considered family for most of her life. Romanoff ultimately has to reckon with her past as a Russian spy.

Ballerina and Black Widow feature highly trained assassins with similar motivations and backstories. Ballerina and Black Widow highlight the high level of discipline required to be trained in the Russian style of ballet, and how this training can make assassins that much more deadly. Both movies also feature protagonists who have been through trauma and who use the fear and sadness that have come from this to pursue their own sense of justice.

Black Widow

Release Date

July 9, 2021

Runtime

134 minutes

1

‘Red Sparrow’ (2018)

Directed by Francis Lawrence

Red Sparrow is a spy thriller based on the novel of the same name by Jason Matthews. The story follows Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence), a Russian ballerina whose career is abruptly ended by injury. She is recruited into a covert intelligence program that has been built in the wake of the Soviet Union’s collapse. Dominika is assigned to a CIA operative, in the hopes that she can turn him into a mole who will provide Russia with valuable intelligence.

For those who appreciate Ballerina‘s deep dive into the psychological skills required to succeed as an assassin, Red Sparrow explores similar themes. Both are spy thrillers with female leads, which adds a different dynamic to the genre that is usually dominated by men. Although Red Sparrow relies more on graphic sex and violence, both movies have a similar gritty tone that is featured in every action sequence.

Red Sparrow

Release Date

March 2, 2018

Runtime

140minutes

NEXT: Every ‘John Wick’ Movie, Ranked by Entertainment Value