Episode 282 - From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption.
The “celebration” of 2025’s biggest cinematic misfires rolls on, and this week, Troy and Brad pirouette into the bullet-riddled ballet that is Ballerina. Set in the ever-expanding World of John Wick, this spin-off tries desperately to remind you that, yes, the John Wick franchise is still very cool, very successful, and very much alive—even if this particular entry feels like it’s limping to the finish line in high heels.
Ballerina stars Ana de Armas as Eve, a vengeance-fueled assassin with a tragic backstory and a penchant for pirouettes and pistol-whipping. The film’s marketing promised a sleek, stylish detour into Wick’s world, but what audiences got was a muddled mix of lore-dumping, recycled set pieces, and storytelling that felt like it was choreographed by committee.
Troy and Brad dive deep into the film’s long and winding production history, including the last-minute call to bring in franchise godfather Chad Stahelski to punch up the action. Is Ballerina a misunderstood gem or just a misstep in an otherwise bulletproof franchise? Tune in as they dissect the good, the bad, and the ballet of it all—and decide whether Ballerina deserves a second dance or a swift exit stage left.
From the world of John Wick: Ballerina is directed by Len Wiseman and stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.
To celebrate the last 25 years of film, the Not A Bomb podcast is compiling a Top 25 list from the Not A Bomb community. If you would like to submit your own list, please use this form to enter your 25 choices. For a film to be eligible, it must have been released between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2025. Those are the only rules. Hurry, this is the last week to submit your list! Thank you for being a part of the community! Stay tuned for a special episode revealing the results in December. Head over to Not A Bomb 25 in 25 to fill out the form!
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