Ana de Armas dominates 2025 with Ballerina‘s $137M global run, a high-profile Tom Cruise split, and a new romance—while the 37-year-old Oscar nominee confirms she’s starting Reenactment in January 2026 with Cameron Diaz and Benicio del Toro, begging Spanish filmmakers to “please call me” at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival.
Key Takeaways
- Ballerina grossed $137.2M worldwide on a $90M budget, falling short of the $180M breakeven target despite 85% critics approval
- Split from Tom Cruise in October 2025 after 9-month romance, with sources saying “the spark had gone”
- Spotted with new man Marcelo Valente, a venture capitalist, in Los Angeles (November 2025)
- Confirmed January 2026 shoot for Reenactment with Benicio del Toro and Cameron Diaz, directed by Grant Singer
- Appeared at Red Sea Film Festival (December 5, 2025) begging Spanish directors to cast her: “Please call me, send me scripts”
- Released Eden on Prime Video (October 24, 2025) after theatrical run
- Revealed desire to have children “soon if possible” during interview earlier this year
The Ballerina Box Office Mystery
When From the World of John Wick: Ballerina hit theaters on June 6, 2025, expectations were sky-high. The John Wick spinoff starring Ana de Armas as a ballerina-turned-assassin was projected to open at $35-40 million. Instead, it debuted with just $25 million domestically and $51 million globally opening weekend—a stunning disappointment.
Despite positive reviews (85% Rotten Tomatoes score) and critics praising Ana de Armas as “a worthy successor to Keanu Reeves,” the film struggled to find an audience. Director Len Wiseman delivered innovative action sequences, and Tom Cruise himself called the movie “kicks ass” at the Mission: Impossible premiere.
Yet the numbers tell a brutal story. With a $90 million production budget, Ballerina needed to gross $180 million to break even. It ultimately finished its theatrical run with $137.2 million worldwide—missing its target by nearly $43 million.
“She’s perfect for the role in many ways. What I love about this franchise is that it is more actor-based action, and so we see the actors doing more of their own performance and choreography. And she was game with that.”
— Director Len Wiseman on Ana de Armas
Ana de Armas’ 2025 Year in Review
The Tom Cruise Romance That Wasn’t Meant to Be
Hollywood’s most talked-about couple of 2025 quietly ended their relationship in October after just nine months together. Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise, who went public with their romance in February during a Vermont getaway, reportedly split because they realized “the spark had gone”.
The relationship had all the hallmarks of a Hollywood power couple. They attended David Beckham’s 50th birthday party together, jetted to Madrid and London, and were even spotted at an Oasis concert at Wembley Stadium. Engagement rumors swirled for months.
But by October, insiders told The Sun that “Tom and Ana de Armas had a good time together, but their time as a couple has run its course. They’ll stay friends, but they aren’t dating anymore”.
The split came despite the pair collaborating on multiple projects, including the supernatural thriller Deeper (currently on hold) and another film tentatively titled Pressure. De Armas was even cast in Cruise’s next film before the breakup.
Moving On: The Marcelo Valente Connection
Just weeks after the Cruise split became public, de Armas was photographed in Los Angeles with Marcelo Valente, a partner at venture capital firm Babel Ventures. TMZ reported the November sighting showed the pair “simply spending time together” with no overt PDA, but the appearance sparked immediate speculation.
A source told National Enquirer that de Armas is “enjoying her independence” and “testing” Cruise’s patience, though the pair had already officially split by then.
For Ana de Armas, who previously dated Ben Affleck (2020) and was briefly linked to Manuel Anido Cuesta (stepson of Cuba’s president) in 2024, the focus appears to be on her career and personal fulfillment.
Red Sea Festival: “Please Call Me!”
At Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival on December 5, 2025, de Armas delivered an emotional plea to Spanish filmmakers. During a Deadline conversation, the Cuban-born actress reflected on her career trajectory—from Cuban TV to Spanish teen dramas to Hollywood stardom.
But one dream remains unfulfilled: starring in a major Spanish film.
“I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in as many films as I desired. I adore Spanish cinema and admire Spanish directors,” she confessed. “Every time I visit Spain, I express, ‘Please call me. I want to work here. I’m available, send me scripts'”.
She revealed that Spanish directors assume she’s “unreachable” because she’s not around often, adding: “I believe they think I’m unreachable because I’m not around often… I enjoy traveling back and forth and cherish European cinema”.
Reenactment: The January 2026 Reunion
Ana de Armas confirmed to Deadline at Red Sea that she’ll begin filming Reenactment in January 2026. The Grant Singer-directed thriller reunites her with Cameron Diaz (returning to acting after a decade) and Benicio del Toro.
“I’m excited to work on this film in LA with Grant Singer. Just from our rehearsals and script work so far, I really enjoy collaborating with him. He’s a very talented young director,” she said.
Plot details remain “top secret,” but Ana de Armas praised del Toro’s recent performance in One Battle After Another and expressed excitement about working with Diaz.
The Keanu Reeves Friendship
One of the most heartwarming stories from 2025 was Ana de Armas deepening friendship with Keanu Reeves. The pair first met on the set of 2015’s Knock Knock, when de Armas was still learning English. A decade later, they reunited for Ballerina, with Reeves reprising his John Wick role in a supporting capacity.
At Red Sea, de Armas opened up about their “beautiful friendship” and how Reeves championed her throughout production. Director Len Wiseman revealed that de Armas performed most of her own stunts and choreography—a testament to the training standards Reeves helped establish in the franchise.
In one behind-the-scenes clip, Ana de Armas was shown immediately hugging her co-star after hitting him with a frying pan during a fight scene, checking “if he is okay”.
What’s Next: Babies, Spanish Cinema, and Hollywood Domination
Despite the Ballerina box office disappointment and personal upheaval, de Armas remains one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents. She’s confirmed to appear in:
- Reenactment (January 2026 shoot)
- Bananas – Apple TV+ series with Oscar Isaac, directed by David O. Russell
- Multiple untitled projects with directors Doug Liman and Christopher McQuarrie
But her most personal goal remains starting a family. In July 2025, she told F Magazine: “Yes, I would like to have children and a family, soon if possible”.
At 37, Ana de Armas is navigating the delicate balance between Hollywood stardom and personal fulfillment. Her journey from Havana to Hollywood—arriving in LA in 2016 with “just three suitcases, her dog, and limited English skills”—remains a testament to her resilience.
As she told Deadline at Red Sea: “I feel like some may view it [the Oscar nomination] as a fluke… there’s still this lingering sense of needing to validate myself”.
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