Black Widow is a 2021 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 24th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Cate Shortland from a screenplay by Eric Pearson and stars Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow alongside Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, Olga Kurylenko, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, and Rachel Weisz. Mostly set during the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016), the film sees Romanoff on the run and forced to confront her past as a Russian spy before she became an Avenger.
Black Widow”, directed by Cate Shortland, is a gripping MCU espionage thriller that unveils Natasha Romanoff’s shadowed past. Scarlett Johansson stars as Natasha, reuniting with Florence Pugh’s fierce Yelena and David Harbor’s flaws Red Guardian to topple a sinister conspiracy, blending high-octane action with raw family drama in a poignant send-off.
Johansson’s layered performance is a career highlight, her steely resolve and vulnerability shining—her dynamic with Pugh’s witty Yelena, especially in sisterly banter, is electric, tied to your love for her MCU roles. Harbor’s bumbling Guardian adds heart, though the villain feels generic. The action sequences—rooftop chases, prison breakouts—are thrillingly choreographed with vivid CGI and Lorne Balfe’s intense score. Shortland’s 134-minute runtime balances spy grit with emotional heft, though midsection flashbacks slow the pace. The film’s themes of autonomy and chosen family resonated, grossing $379 million. Johansson, Pugh, and Harbor craft a fierce, emotional tribute to a Marvel legend that captivated global audiences.
Lionsgate Films began developing a Black Widow film in April 2004, with David Hayter attached to write and direct. The project did not move forward and the character’s film rights had reverted to Marvel Studios by June 2006. Johansson was cast in the role for several MCU films beginning with Iron Man 2 (2010), and began discussing a solo film with Marvel. Work began in late 2017 and Shortland was hired in July 2018. Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson contributed to the script before Pearson joined. The film was written to be a prequel that expands on Romanoff’s history and helps end her MCU story following the character’s death in Avengers: Endgame (2019). Shortland put an emphasis on the fight sequences and said this was the most violent MCU film so far. Filming took place from May to October 2019 in Norway, England, Budapest, Morocco, and Macon, Georgia.
Black Widow premiered at events around the world on June 29, 2021, and was released in the United States on July 9, simultaneously in theaters and through Disney+ with Premier Access. It is the first film in Phase Four of the MCU, and was delayed three times from an original May 2020 release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Widow broke several pandemic box office records and grossed over $379 million worldwide.[a] The film received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for the action sequences and for the performances of Johansson and Pugh. In July 2021, Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney over the simultaneous release, which was settled two months later.
