Pretty Lethal (2026)

Movie · 2026 · Music, Thriller, Action, Horror · 1h 29m · R · English

Curator score: 1.1/10 (150.4K ratings)

Blood, sweat and tutus.

Overview

A troupe of ballerinas find themselves fighting for survival as they attempt to escape from a remote inn after their bus breaks down on the way to a dance competition.

Ratings

Director

Vicky Jewson

Production

87North Productions, GulfStream Pictures, Pioneer Stillking, Amazon MGM Studios

Cast

Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Iris Apatow, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, Michael Culkin, Lydia Leonard, Uma Thurman, Tamás Hagyó, Julian Krenn, Miklós Béres, Péter Végh, Adam Boncz, Krisztián Csákvári, Kate Freund, Tamás Szabó Sipos, Béla Orsányi, David Benko, Balázs Megyeri, Gary Cothenet

Where to watch

Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

Curator Review

Verdict

A pulpy, high-concept survival thriller with a strong hook: ballerinas trapped in a remote inn and forced into bloody improvisation. The premise and choreography-forward action sound like the main attraction, and the film seems to lean into camp, gore, and ensemble chaos. But the modest critical response suggests it’s more of a slick genre diversion than a fully polished standout.

Best for

  • fans of female-led survival thrillers
  • viewers who like campy horror-action hybrids
  • people drawn to dance-centric genre mashups
  • audiences seeking bloody, fast-moving B-movie energy

Skip if

  • you want serious ballet drama
  • you dislike gore or splatter violence
  • you need airtight plotting and tonal consistency
  • you prefer prestige horror over pulpy genre fare

Overview

Pretty Lethal sells itself on a deliciously absurd premise: ballerinas stranded at a remote inn, then forced to turn pointe shoes into weapons. That alone gives it instant curiosity value, and the audience reaction points to a movie that knows exactly what kind of chaos it is aiming for. The appeal here is less elegance than escalation, with dance discipline repurposed into survival instinct.

Worth noting

What seems to work best is the blend of action, horror, and dark comedy. The ensemble energy and choreography-forward violence give it a playful, crowd-pleasing edge, especially for viewers who enjoy “good for her” mayhem and stylish bloodletting. It sounds like the film’s biggest asset is its commitment to the bit.

Bottom line

At the same time, the middling reception suggests some roughness around the edges. If you’re hoping for a deep character study or a genuinely scary horror film, this probably won’t be the one. But if you’re in the mood for a glossy, ridiculous, moderately bloody genre ride, it looks like an easy yes for the right audience.

Top Letterboxd reviews

-ˏˋ mak ˊˎ- (1.5★) · 8690 likes

is this what timothée chalamet meant when he called ballet a dying art?

Kylo (3.5★) · 6165 likes

I can only imagine the chaos if Abby Lee Miller had been there.

varalika ♡ (3★) · 4396 likes

maddie showing why she was always at the top of the pyramid

lauren📽️ (4★) · 3342 likes

you could tell me this is an archived episode of dance moms and i’d believe you

lecommissaire (2.5★) · 3074 likes

Ready or Not: Here Comes Uma Tuturman

Recommended similar titles

Ready or Not

2019 · Horror, Comedy · 1h 36m · R · Curator 5.1/10 (1.3M ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu, fuboTV

Shares the same gleeful blend of survival stakes, dark comedy, and a heroine pushed into escalating violence.

Abigail

2024 · Horror, Thriller · 1h 49m · R · Curator 2.3/10 (615.7K ratings)

A similarly playful, blood-soaked genre mashup with ensemble chaos and a strong “fun horror” sensibility.

M3GAN

2022 · Science Fiction, Horror · 1h 42m · PG-13 · Curator 1.9/10 (999.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus

For viewers who like glossy, self-aware horror that balances menace with camp and audience-pleasing momentum.

The Menu

2022 · Comedy, Horror · 1h 47m · R · Curator 5.5/10 (3.5M ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

For a contained, high-concept pressure cooker that mixes satire, dread, and escalating violence.

The Descent

2005 · Adventure, Horror · 1h 40m · R · Curator 5.5/10 (701.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Philo

A more serious survival-horror counterpart centered on women under extreme physical pressure in a trapped environment.

The Red Shoes

1948 · Drama, Romance · 2h 13m · NR · Curator 9.8/10 (204.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Max

For the ballet connection, especially if the viewer wants dance as obsession, sacrifice, and psychological pressure.

Promising Young Woman

2020 · Thriller, Crime, Drama · 1h 54m · R · Curator 6.2/10 (1M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, USA Network, Peacock Premium Plus

A sharp, stylized revenge thriller with a strong sense of performance, control, and confrontation.

The Raid

2012 · Action, Thriller, Crime · 1h 41m · R · Curator 8.2/10 (503.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu

For pure, propulsive action choreography and survival intensity in a confined setting.

Train to Busan

2016 · Horror, Thriller, Action · 1h 58m · NR · Curator 8.2/10 (1.4M ratings)

A high-energy survival thriller that keeps the momentum relentless while balancing ensemble emotion and action.

Topics

survival thriller, horror-action, campy, female-led ensemble, dance, gore, remote setting, dark comedy, genre mashup, bloody

Open Pretty Lethal (2026) on Curator TV