‘Pretty Lethal’ is Action on Pointe at SXSW Premiere

From Amazon MGM Studios, Pretty Lethal held its world premiere on Mar. 13, during the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX. The film was selected for the festival’s Headliner section presented by the Louisville Film Office. It was released on Mar. 25, streaming on Prime Video. 

Directed by Vicky Jewson with a screenplay by Kate Freund. The film stars Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, Maddie Ziegler, Michael Culkin, Lydia Leonard, and Uma Thurman.  

Pretty Lethal is an action-packed thriller featuring a troupe of ballerinas: Bones (Maddie Ziegler), Princess (Lana Condor), Grace (Avantika), Chloe (Millicent Simmonds), and Zoe (Iris Apatow) from Los Angeles, who, en route to a prestigious dance competition in Hungary have their lives altered when their bus breaks down in a remote forest. Desperate to find shelter, they stop at a dreary roadside inn run by Devora Kasimer (Uma Thurman), a former ballerina prodigy now gang-leader living in solitude at her inn. Trouble awaits the ballerinas from the moment they step in. After a deadly encounter puts their lives at stake, the girls must set their differences aside and put their graceful yet grueling ballerina training to the test to survive Kasimer and her minions.

Released on Mar. 25 on Prime Video. Pretty Lethal is refreshing in the landscape of female-led action; while it plays upon the usual conventions in the genre, it is a unique display of the beauty and strength of ballet as a means not only to express oneself, but also to help one survive. This combination adds a camp flair with memorable scenes that have you on the edge of your seat and make you laugh at the makeshift weapons the ballerinas create, such as razor-blade pointe shoes and synchronized choreography and ‘’ballet-fu’’ as these ballerinas execute their captors with style.

Each ballerina exudes a different rhythm that somewhat borders on being one-dimensional, but can expand their limits throughout the increasing danger the girls face. Ziegler holds her own as the central ballerina, who is strangely nicknamed Bones, a hint at the character’s poor background. Don’t let that deter you from her badass performance as Bones, who pulls the troupe together when all seems lost, encouraging each ballerina to fight to the death. Her casting feels right, as Ziegler is an experienced dancer off-screen; the film utilizes her dancing background in a fun way.

Avantika is a standout as the annoying but good-natured, ditzy, and devout Grace whose transformation goes from 0-100 over the course of its runtime. The actress elevated her comedic strengths in the film, and watching her be unhinged in a violent manner was a real treat.

Condor is a foil to Ziegler’s Bones, as the appropriately named Princess, a spoiled rich girl used to getting what she wants. Princess aims for the spotlight, competing with Bones, who comes from poverty and has to work hard to prove her talent to earn her rightful place on stage. Condor is not new to the action genre. While her talents were sadly wasted in the X-Men franchise, she is redeemed here. She plays her role to irritating perfection.

Simmonds’ character Chloe, like her actor, is deaf. Feeling like a wallflower, she struggles to communicate with others, which is what draws her to ballet. I felt that, of all the cast, Simmonds did not have adequate screentime as she joins in the action pretty late. This makes sense plot-wise, but as a viewer appreciating the inclusivity, I felt shafted.

Apatow is given the least to work with as Zoe. Unfortunately, her role is the most forgettable character of them all, being nothing more than a devoted yet anxious sister to Simmonds.

While Thurman’s presence feels grand, as her inclusion is a nod to her iconic role as one of the modern action heroines in Kill Bill. Devora is set up to be an interesting villain. However, the more she descends into her villainous and vengeful nature over the course of the film, the more it starts to get off-balance. What makes up for it is that you can clearly tell that she had fun and does her best with the given material.

The chemistry and camaraderie between them are what make this fun to watch. Ballet is one of the most challenging art forms that, in recent conversations, has seemingly become undervalued, making the film feel timely and appealing. However, the writing feels dated and comes across as too self-aware at times, with how it expresses its message through its exposition of highlighting the strength of a ballerina. This is beaten over one’s head more than enough times in the film to get the literal pointe across. Overall, the film was serviceable for what was presented. I expected nothing more and nothing less from its premise. If you’re in for dumb fun with ridiculous choreographed dance-fight scenes that feature a silly yet endearing message of empowerment and unity through friendship and sisterhood. Challenging the conventions of being not just a woman, but a ballerina, this is for you.

3 out of 5 tutus.

Pretty Lethal is R-rated and is now streaming on Prime Video. Watch the trailer below.