Scarlett Johansson has playedBlack Widowin a wide variety ofMarvel Cinematic Universemovies over the years, and because of the size of her roles in certain films or the story Natasha Romanoff had in them, someBlack Widow appearances in the MCUrank higher than others. After being part of some of theMCU’s best moviesand leading a solo film, Johansson has revealed thatshe is unlikely to play Black Widow again.
While aBlack Widowsequelstarring Johansson might be difficult, the actress is once again involved with the MCU. Unlike Avengers stars Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, who have teamed up with Marvel Studios to act in different roles,Johansson returned to the MCU as an executive producer onThunderbolts*. If she never plays Natasha again, the MCU already has plenty of exciting appearances by the character, with some of them being better than the rest for key reasons.
9Captain Marvel
A Quick Post-Credits Scene Cameo
The lowest Black Widow MCU appearance on the list has to be the character’s role inCaptain Marvel. The reason there is no other option for this position is clear, asNatasha Romanoff barely appears in the movie. The character was only used for connective tissue between two major 2019 Marvel releases.
Captain Marvelwas one of two MCU movies to bereleased between 2018’sAvengers: Infinity Warand 2019’sAvengers: Endgame. Just likeAnt-Man and the Wasp, the film used its post-credits scene to explain how its lead character could be part ofAvengers: Endgame. That setup allowed Johansson to show up.
Captain Marvel
Cast
Captain Marvel is set in the 1990s and introduces Carol Danvers, portrayed as one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. As Earth becomes entangled in a galactic conflict between two alien races, the film explores an unseen chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The scene in question showed a group of the remaining Avengers watching as Nick Fury’s pager, which he used to contact Carol Danvers, suddenly turned off. Black Widow and Captain America look at all the lives Thanos took beforeCaptain Marvel appears at the Avengers Compound. Natasha is only there briefly, so this appearance comes last.
8Avengers: Age Of Ultron
Natasha Romanoff Is Wrapped In A Romance That Came Out Of Nowhere
Avengers: Age of Ultronis a controversial filmwhen it comes to Natasha Romanoff. Not only is it the worst of theMCU’s Avengers movies, but it also put Black Widow and the Hulk in a romantic plot that made little sense. The decision came from director Joss Whedon, though it was short-lived.
Captain America and Black Widow had more chemistry than she and the Hulk ever did, which added to the confusion over the new Avengers romance.
Throughout the film, Black Widow gets a bit to do. She is part of many of the film’s action scenes and has a little more of her past shown.Avengers: Age of Ultronlooks into her past in the Red Room, revealing that the shadowy organization took out her reproductive organs and made her a killer.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron, released in 2015, follows Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man and Captain America, as they contend with Ultron, a rogue AI with plans for global annihilation. This Marvel sequel sees The Avengers form uneasy alliances and embark on a perilous global adventure to thwart Ultron’s schemes.
The film ended up being mostly bad for the character. Natasha’s romance with Banner serves little more purpose than to make herthe only one who can calm down the Hulk with a lullaby. Black Widow also seeing herself as a monster for not being able to have children was a bad choice, even with her assassin training adding context to the quote.
7Avengers: Infinity War
Black Widow Returns From Being On The Run
Avengers: Infinity Wardoes not feature Black Widow in a major role. However, her appearance in the movie ranks above the last two because it is bigger than Johansson’sCaptain Marvelcameo and does not impact the character negatively likeAvengers: Age of Ultrondid.
Following the events ofCaptain America: Civil War, Natasha Romanoff had been on the run with Chris Evans' Steve Rogers and other heroes for some time. The Avengers film featured a visual change for the character, withBlack Widow sporting blonde hairand not red, connecting to her spy origins and her need to disappear alongside her team.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War brings together the Avengers and their allies to face a new threat from the cosmos, Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unites numerous superhero characters in a battle to prevent Thanos' ambition of altering reality itself.
Avengers: Infinity Warhad several moving parts, with the movie featuring a huge chunk of the MCU’s heroes. Due to that, Black Widow ended up having little impact on the plot. However,Johansson’s Marvel character did get some solid action beats, with Black Widow, Okoye, and Scarlet Witch taking down Proxima Midnight being the highlight.
6The Avengers
Black Widow Gets To Shine In The Team-Up
The Avengerswas the movie that completely changed the superhero landscape. It brought together all the members of the team after they had debuted in solo movies or in other characters' projects.The Avengersallowed Scarlett Johansson to show Black Widow’s key skills right from the start.
Black Widow does not get as much focus as Captain America, Iron Man, the Hulk, and Thor do in the film, butThe Avengersshined a light on her manipulation skills. She allows herself to be captured at the start of the film, gets the information she needs, and, with ease, breaks free and overpowers her enemies.
The Avengers
The sixth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers is an action superhero film that sees the heroes assembled across the franchise face off with a deadly galactic threat. With the arrival of Thor’s brother, Loki, heroes such as Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, and Black Widow are brought together to stop him from unleashing an alien race upon earth.
Later,Natasha pretends to let Loki think he has the upper handwhen she goes to interrogate him, eventually getting what she needs after tricking him. Nat gets to be part of cool action scenes, including the Hulk’s rampage at the Helicarrier and the Battle of New York. Black Widow also had some fun dialogue with Hawkeye and Bruce Banner.
5Iron Man 2
Black Widow’s MCU Debut
Iron Man 2is easily one of the worst movies in the MCU. While that could lead to confusion in regard to the film’s placement on the list, Black Widow does play a pretty sizable role in the movie.Iron Man 2was Scarlett Johansson’s MCU debut, and she did not disappoint.
Black Widow first appears undercover,posing as Stark Industries' employee Natalie Rushman. The character would become Tony Stark’s secretary, flirting with him at Stark’s birthday party, which was all just an act under S.H.I.E.L.D.’s orders so that Nick Fury could monitor Iron Man closely.
Iron Man 2
The third film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 2, is an action-superhero film that occurs six months after the original film’s events. After outing himself as the heavy metal superhero known as Iron Man, Tony Stark goes to great lengths to avoid demands from the government for his tech. But, unfortunately, the technology Tony used to save his life is beginning to impact his health inversely - just in time for a man named Ivan Vanko to arrive, who creates his version of the Iron Man tech to settle a decades-long score with Howard Stark’s son.
Natasha Romanoff got her own Daredevil-style corridor fight scenebefore Charlie Cox’s hero even debuted in his Netflix series, with Black Widow easily dispatching Justin Hammer’s security. Romanoff manages to give Rhodey control of the War Machine armor back, playing a direct role in Rhodey and Stark being able to defeat Ivan Vanko.
4Captain America: Civil War
Black Widow Is Forced To Pick A Side
The film shows that Romanoff was never really sure of which path to choose — or so it seems. There are two interpretations of Natasha’s heel turn in the film.Black Widow ends up betraying Team Iron Manduring the film’s major airport fight. She hits Black Panther with shots from her signature electroshock weapon, allowing Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes to escape.
Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War focuses on the aftermath of Age of Ultron as international governments legislate to regulate superhuman activity. This divides the Avengers, forming opposing factions led by Iron Man and Captain America, culminating in a significant conflict between former allies.
Natasha could have had a change of heart, believing that Captain America was not a bigger threat than the other “Winter Soldiers.” However,Black Widow could also have always been secretly on Steve’s side, as her spy skills and their friendship could have led to that.
3Avengers: Endgame
Black Widow Makes The Ultimate Sacrifice
The three biggest appearances by Natasha Romanoff in the MCU begin with her final Avengers appearance. After not playing as big of a role in the team’s films as most of her fellow heroes,Black Widow is crucial toAvengers: Endgame’s plot. That comes in two different forms.
Black Widow ended up being the one to die, and without her sacrifice, the heroes would not have been able to defeat Thanos and bring back everyone who was lost.
Avengers: Endgamebegins with the heroes killing Thanos. After a five-year time jump, it is revealed thatBlack Widow has been leading the Avengers, keeping tabs on the heroes that were left alive and helping direct them to those in need. Natasha Romanoff did so by Captain America’s side, showing their deep bond remained.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, concludes the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga. It follows the remaining Avengers as they attempt to reverse the destruction caused by Thanos, navigating complex dynamics and forging alliances to restore balance to the universe.
Black Widow’s other important MCU connection was to Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye. It was explored in one of the movie’s most emotional moments, asNatasha and Clint Barton fought to see who would sacrifice themselves for the other. Black Widow ended up being the one to die, and without her sacrifice, the heroes would not have been able to defeat Thanos and bring back everyone who was lost, making her one ofAvengers: Endgame’s most important characters.
2Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Black Widow & Captain America Form A Great Duo
Black Widow also played a substantial role in another movie that ranks among the MCU’s best. 2014’sCaptain America: The Winter Soldierestablished the friendship between Black Widow and Captain America. While Steve Rogers was the film’s main character, Natasha Romanoff had a lot to do, being his partner in crime throughout the film’s run.
Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans showed how much chemistry they had in the film. The actors did so well together that many wanted Captain America and Black Widow to get together instead of her romance with the Hulk. Still, Natasha’s role in the film went far beyond a possible romantic interest.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, follows Steve Rogers as he adapts to contemporary life while confronting a new adversary, the mysterious Winter Soldier, amidst internal threats to S.H.I.E.L.D. The film explores themes of trust and loyalty as Rogers teams up with allies to uncover hidden conspiracies.
Black Widow once again gets dynamic action scenes, also having plenty of investigative moments that show her spy skills. She manipulates Pierce with ease and latermakes the hard call of revealing S.H.I.E.L.D.’s secretsto the world, destroying the organization that changed her life in order to take down HYDRA.
1Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff Finally Gets Her Solo Movie
Finally, thebest appearance of Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff in the MCUhas to be her first and only solo project. Save for her and Hawkeye, every other original member of the Avengers led a movie during the MCU’s Phase 1. After several years, Johansson starred in 2021’sBlack Widow.
Scarlett Johansson Has 1 MCU Regret & I Need Her Return To The Franchise To Fix It
Now that Scarlett Johansson is back in business with the MCU, I hope that her return can lead to the star getting to fix her one Black Widow regret.
The Black Widow movie did what fans had long been asking for.It explored Natasha Romanoff’s backstory, showing how her fake family evolved into becoming a real one, the impact the Red Room had on her from an early age and more. This was the film that really got to peel back Natasha’s layers.
Black Widow
Black Widow: Released in 2021, Black Widow follows Natasha Romanoff as she faces a conspiracy linked to her past. Pursued relentlessly, Natasha must confront her history as a spy and navigate fractured relationships from her previous life before becoming part of the Avengers.
Black Widowallows Johansson to do what she does best as the character for one final time. There are creative action sequences, hard-hitting emotional moments, huge set pieces, and plenty of humor and heart. The film places first on the list because it is the only MCU project to be fully dedicated to Black Widow, and she soars in it.
