Uma Thurman Stars in 'Pretty Lethal,' a New Ballet Slasher Premiering at SXSW

The film follows a group of ballet dancers who run into trouble when their bus breaks down near a reclusive prodigy's home in the woods.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 3:39pm

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Amazon and MGM Studios' new horror-thriller 'Pretty Lethal,' directed by Vicky Jewson, will premiere at this year's SXSW Film Festival. The movie stars Uma Thurman as well as a cast of young dancers including Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Iris Apatow, Avantika, and Millicent Simmonds. In the film, a group of ballet dancers on their way to a competition encounter a reclusive prodigy living in the woods when their bus breaks down.

Why it matters

Pretty Lethal marks Uma Thurman's return to the horror genre, having previously starred in cult classics like Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill. The film also features a diverse young cast of up-and-coming actors and dancers, blending horror, action, and comedy elements in a unique premise centered around the high-stakes world of competitive ballet.

The details

In Pretty Lethal, Thurman plays a reclusive prodigy living in the woods, with the young dancers - Grace (Avantika), Princess (Lana Condor), Bones (Maddie Ziegler), Chloe (Millicent Simmonds), and Zoe (Iris Apatow) - running into her after their bus breaks down on the way to a competition. Director Vicky Jewson aimed to bring the specific skillset of ballerinas to the action-horror space, creating a 'breathless rollercoaster ride' as the dancers use their 'ballet-fu' to try and stay alive.

  • Pretty Lethal will premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, running from March 12-18, 2026.
  • The film will then be released on Amazon Prime Video starting March 26, 2026.

The players

Uma Thurman

An acclaimed actress known for her roles in films like Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill series, Thurman stars as a reclusive prodigy in Pretty Lethal.

Vicky Jewson

The director of Pretty Lethal, Jewson aimed to bring the specific skillset of ballerinas to the action-horror genre in the film.

Maddie Ziegler

A dancer and actress known for her work on the reality TV series Dance Moms, Ziegler plays one of the young ballet dancers in Pretty Lethal.

Lana Condor

The actress, known for her roles in the To All the Boys I've Loved Before films, plays another of the ballet dancers in Pretty Lethal.

Iris Apatow

Daughter of filmmaker Judd Apatow, Iris Apatow plays one of the ballet dancers in Pretty Lethal.

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What they’re saying

“In Pretty Lethal, I wanted to bring the highly specific skillset of a ballerina to the action space. We created a world built on the broken dreams of a dancer, played by the iconic Uma Thurman. This world and our incredible young cast gave me the freedom to swing between horror, comedy and action to create a breathless rollercoaster ride. The troupe embraces teamwork, sisterhood and ballet-fu in order to stay alive. Dance like your life depends on it!”

— Vicky Jewson, Director (Dread Central)

What’s next

Pretty Lethal will have its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in March 2026, before being released on Amazon Prime Video on March 26, 2026.

The takeaway

Pretty Lethal promises to be a unique and thrilling addition to the horror-action genre, blending the high-stakes world of competitive ballet with a talented young cast led by the iconic Uma Thurman. The film's creative premise and blend of genres have generated significant anticipation ahead of its SXSW debut.