Lionsgate had ambitious plans to expand the John Wick franchise into a sprawling cinematic universe, blending the main saga with spin-off films and series. The first major step in this strategy was the release of Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas and featuring a cameo by Keanu Reeves as the legendary assassin John Wick. Given its placement in a beloved universe and a high-profile cast, expectations were sky-high.
Despite early positive reviews and a significant $90 million production budget, Ballerina fell short at the box office. The film grossed just $25 million domestically and only $26 million internationally in its opening weekend, totaling $51 million worldwide. These figures pale in comparison to John Wick 4, which had an impressive $137.5 million global debut.
This underwhelming performance has raised concerns about the future of other spin-offs tied to the franchise. Even with a star like Ana de Armas and a recognizable link to John Wick himself, Ballerina failed to ignite audience interest. As a result, there are growing rumors in Hollywood circles that Lionsgate might cancel some of its upcoming projects.
Among the previously announced spin-offs are an anime series set in the John Wick universe and a standalone film centered around Donnie Yen’s character. However, fans can rest assured that John Wick 5 remains unaffected for now, as the main saga continues to enjoy strong audience support and box office success.