The John Wick franchise has been a box office juggernaut, raking in over $1 billion worldwide since Keanu Reeves first stepped into the role of the legendary assassin. But even the mightiest empires have their stumbles. Last year, Lionsgate released Ballerina, a spin-off starring Ana de Armas that was meant to expand the universe—but instead became the franchise's lowest-grossing entry. Now, nearly a year later, the film is finding a second life on streaming, climbing the HBO Max charts in May 2026.
Directed by Len Wiseman, Ballerina follows Eve Macarro (de Armas), a young woman trained in the deadly arts of the Ruska Roma ballet academy, who sets out on a bloody quest for vengeance after her family is murdered. The film boasted a star-studded cast including Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus, and the late Lance Reddick in his final on-screen role. Despite the pedigree, the movie earned just $140.2 million globally against a $90 million production budget—a rare miss for a franchise known for consistent hits.
But streaming has a way of rewriting narratives. As of May 2026, Ballerina has landed on HBO Max's Top 10 list in the U.S., giving the film a fresh audience and a chance at redemption. For fans who skipped the theatrical release, this is an opportunity to see de Armas bring a new kind of lethal grace to the John Wick universe—and to witness Reddick's poignant final performance.
The John Wick franchise isn't slowing down, despite this box office hiccup. Lionsgate has a packed slate ahead: an anime-style prequel with Reeves voicing the character, a fifth mainline installment still under wraps, and a spin-off titled Caine, following Donnie Yen's blind assassin from Chapter 4. That film recently entered production, promising to continue the story of one of the franchise's most beloved new characters.
For those catching up on streaming, Ballerina offers a different flavor of action—more balletic and brutal, with de Armas proving she can hold her own in the high-octane world. It's also a reminder that even a franchise's missteps can find new life in the streaming era. If you're in the U.S., you can watch Ballerina now on HBO Max.
Meanwhile, other streaming hits are making waves. Stephen King's 'The Outsider' is haunting HBO Max charts, and Apple TV+'s 'Widow's Bay' is scaring up perfect scores. The streaming landscape is full of surprises—just like Ballerina's quiet comeback.
