Ana de Armas is about to enter the John Wick universe with Ballerina, hitting theaters this Friday—and if you’re wondering, do I need to watch all four Wick movies before this?
The answer is: not really.
But watching a couple of key ones will definitely make it more fun.
We’ve got your quick cheat sheet to the most important John Wick movies to watch before Ballerina, in the order that actually makes sense.
🥇 1. John Wick (2014)
If you’re going to dive into the John Wick universe you’ve got to start from square one, and this is where it all begins.
In the first movie we meet John, the world’s most reluctant assassin, and get introduced to the sleek, stylized criminal underworld that lives by its own brutal rules.
But here’s the part that matters for Ballerina: we learn that John was raised and trained by a mysterious organization called the Ruska Roma, a shadowy crime family that mixes ballet, discipline, and deadly combat.
That same organization? It’s where Rooney (Ana de Armas) comes from.
While, the first movie doesn’t quite glimpse into ballerinas at all quite yet, it sheds light on the organization and feel for the code she’s living by—and what she’s trying to escape.
🥈 2. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
This one’s key because Ballerina is set in between John Wick: Chapter 3 and 4.
In Parabellum, John goes on the run and turns to his old “family” for help—yep, the Ruska Roma.
He heads to their HQ, which doubles as a ballet academy and fight gym, run by a fearsome woman known as The Director (played by Anjelica Huston).
Here’s where it gets cool: while John is pleading for help, the camera lingers on a ballerina in the background, training with eerie grace. She doesn’t speak. She’s not Ana de Armas. But she’s the seed that Ballerina grows from.
Ballerina takes that fleeting scene and blows it out into a full story.
It’s your first peek into Rooney’s world—the ruthless ballet school where little girls grow up to be killers.
Plus, Parabellum expands the world dramatically, showing just how deep and strange the Wickverse goes. You’ll understand the High Table, the markers, the coins… all things that likely still apply in Ballerina’s timeline.
🥉 3. (Optional) John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
This one’s not 100% necessary, but it helps.
While Ballerina is set between John Wick: Chapter 3 and 4, this film gives you a better sense of the fallout from John’s war with the High Table—and where he stands by the time Ballerina rolls around.
Also, Keanu Reeves reportedly makes a cameo appearance in Ballerina, so if you want to refresh your Wick memory (or just watch him be a total menace in a tailored suit), this one’s a fun bonus.
The ideal watch order, as chosen by Secret NYC staff
If you’re short on time but want the key setup before heading into Ballerina, this is your list:
- John Wick (2014)
- (Optional) John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
- John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
- (Optional) John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Do you need to watch them all?
Nope.
Ballerina is designed to stand on its own, but it rewards fans who know the lore.
If you’ve never seen a John Wick film, watching just the first movie will help you understand the tone, rules, and emotional stakes of the world Ana de Armas is stepping into.
Ballerina lands in theaters in New York and worldwide on June 6th.