Black Widow
Movie, 2021, Phase 4, Set in 2016
Black Widow is #33 of 69 in release order and #17 of 69 in chronological order in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story
Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
Black Widow recap
In 1995, young Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova live as a family in Ohio with Alexei Shostakov, the super soldier Red Guardian, and Melina Vostokoff, all Russian agents. The cover ends and the girls are sent to the Red Room. In 2016, after Civil War, Natasha is on the run and receives a package from Yelena: vials of red gas that frees Widows from the Red Room's chemical mind control. The masked Taskmaster attacks. Natasha finds Yelena in Budapest and learns Dreykov, the Red Room's leader, is alive; Natasha thought she killed him in the bombing that also took his daughter. The sisters break Alexei out of a Siberian prison and go to Melina, who reports them to Dreykov, but she is on their side. Taskmaster is Dreykov's daughter, Antonia, alive and controlled. A pheromone keeps Natasha from striking Dreykov, so she breaks her own nose.
Black Widow ending explained
On the Red Room, a facility hidden in the sky, Natasha frees Antonia with the gas, and Yelena releases it into the air to free the other Widows. Dreykov dies as the facility falls apart, and Natasha and Yelena escape. Natasha takes a jet and leaves to free her friends from the Raft, leading into Infinity War.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. In the post-credits scene, set after Endgame, Yelena visits Natasha's grave. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine tells her Clint Barton is responsible for her sister's death, setting up Hawkeye.
Where to watch Black Widow
Black Widow is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 79%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Loki, before What If…?.
- Chronological order: after Captain America: Civil War, before Doctor Strange.
What to watch before Black Widow
In release order, 25 Marvel Cinematic Universe essentials come before Black Widow (2021), from Iron Man (2008) to Loki (2021).
Cast
- Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
- Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
- Rachel Weisz as Melina
- David Harbour as Alexei
- Ray Winstone as Dreykov
- Ever Anderson as Young Natasha
- Violet McGraw as Young Yelena
- O-T Fagbenle as Mason
- William Hurt as Secretary Ross
- Olga Kurylenko as Antonia / Taskmaster
- Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Young Antonia
- Liani Samuel as Lerato
Directed by Cate Shortland.