Black Widow

After years operating as a covert asset, Natasha Romanoff is pulled back into the shadowy world she thought she'd left behind when a plot linked to her past surfaces. Hunted by an organization that won't stop at anything to silence her, she returns to old contacts, confronts choices she made as a spy, and reconnects with fractured relationships that predate the Avengers. Alongside uneasy allies and a sister figure she hasn't seen in years, Natasha tries to unravel who set the conspiracy in motion while holding together the fragile trust she's rebuilt, all as old wounds and loyalties resurface. Reunited with a sisterlike operative and former handler, she must weigh loyalties forged under coercion against the life she now leads.

Cate Shortland directed this Marvel Studios feature, scripted by Eric Pearson, Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson. The movie stars Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, David Harbour and Ray Winstone, and was released to audiences in 2021, following pandemic delays.

Released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access, it faced a fragmented marketplace. The split release and global health restrictions curtailed its traditional box office trajectory, though it still reached a wide audience across platforms and alternative home-viewing options.

As Natasha's standalone story, the film renewed interest in pre-Avenger espionage threads and the character's moral complexity. Yelena's presence generated fan buzz, and debates over simultaneous streaming versus theatrical windows continued across industry and fandom. Pugh's Yelena became a standout talking point, and the leads' dynamic reframed Natasha's earlier history.

Audience and critic reactions skewed mixed-to-positive, reflected by a vote average near 7.2. Many praised Johansson and Pugh's chemistry and the action set pieces, while some critics noted familiar MCU plotting and uneven pacing. The film emphasizes family, identity, and accountability, and many fans appreciated seeing Natasha find some closure emotionally.