Spin Off Film 'JOHN WICK', 'BALLERINA' Enters 24 Best-Selling Films in the World 2025

The film FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA has achieved global recognition amid various criticisms. Although it opened with earnings of $25 million in North America and $26 million in international markets, this film has secured the 21st position in the list of the world's highest-grossing films of 2025 with a total global revenue of $55 million, according to Box Office Mojo data at the time this article was written.

Starring Ana De Armas, this film is a spin-off from the JOHN WICK universe, with Keanu Reeves appearing only as a supporting character. Its premiere was overshadowed by the dominance of Disney's live-action LILO & STITCH, which remains firmly at the top of the global box office with over $770 million.

Although its initial performance is considered weak by film industry observers, BALLERINA has still managed to attract the attention of JOHN WICK franchise fans, particularly through the connections of characters and the atmosphere of the brutal criminal world that is widely recognized. Check out the full explanation below.

1. Weakly Perceived Global Launch

Film FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA (credit: imdb)

BALLERINA officially released with a total initial global revenue of $51 million over the opening weekend. Specifically, $25 million came from 3,409 theaters in North America and $26 million came from 82 international markets.

This result is lower than the studio's initial projections, which targeted a domestic opening of $30 million. Nevertheless, the film managed to become the strongest new opener in several regions such as the UK/Ireland, Mexico, and China.

2. Tight Competition with Major Films

In its opening week, BALLERINA had to compete with LILO & STITCH, which continued to lead the global box office. This family film grossed $100 million in the same weekend, becoming the box office champion for three consecutive weeks.

Additionally, BALLERINA also faced pressure from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE THE FINAL RECKONING, which remained strong in third place with $15 million. The tight competition made BALLERINA's debut even more commercially challenging.

3. Challenges From the Narrative Structure of the Spin-Off

Film FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA (credit: imdb)

Keanu Reeves' presence in this film is not dominant as he only appears briefly. The focus of the story is on a new character named Rooney, a ballerina who turns into a hitman.

The character Rooney is not known in the main JOHN WICK trilogy, so the audience does not have enough emotional attachment. This affects the film's appeal in its first week of release.

4. Comparison With Previous JOHN WICK Films

The main JOHN WICK series shows a trend of increasing revenue with each film, with JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 earning $440 million globally. In comparison, BALLERINA started with a global revenue of $51 million.

The studio previously managed to sell international distribution rights to cover part of the production costs. This has become a strategy to maintain profits even though domestic performance is less than satisfactory.

5. The Future Potential of the JOHN WICK Universe

Film FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA (credit: imdb)

BALLERINA is a crucial test for the expansion of the JOHN WICK universe beyond its main character. The studio hopes this spin-off can pave the way for new characters.

The film has yet to be released in several major markets such as Italy and Japan, which still have the potential to boost global revenue. With advanced distribution strategies, the studio is still relying on the strength of this franchise.

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(kpl/sjn)