Black Widow (2021), directed by Cate Shortland, is a standalone installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) that dives into the backstory of Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow. Set between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, the film explores Natasha’s past, her surrogate family, and the dark world of the Red Room that shaped her into a deadly assassin. While this is technically a prequel in terms of release order, it serves as a final character arc for Natasha following her death in Avengers: Endgame.
The film begins with a flashback to 1995 in suburban Ohio, where a young Natasha and her sister Yelena live with their “parents” Alexei Shostakov (the Red Guardian) and Melina Vostokoff. It’s soon revealed they are Russian spies living under deep cover. When their mission ends, the family flees to Cuba, and the girls are separated and handed over to the Red Room to begin their brutal assassin training.
Present Day: Natasha on the Run
Fast forward to after Civil War, Natasha is a fugitive, hiding from General Ross and the U.S. government. She’s living off the grid when she receives a mysterious package from her sister Yelena. This leads her to reunite with Yelena (now grown and played by Florence Pugh), who is also a former Widow and has recently broken free from Red Room mind control via a synthetic gas known as the “Red Dust.”
The Red Room and Dreykov
Natasha and Yelena realize that the Red Room program is still operational and is led by the elusive General Dreykov, who Natasha believed she had killed years ago in Budapest. This realization shakes Natasha and sets her on a mission of redemption—not only to stop Dreykov but also to free the other Widows who remain brainwashed.
The Family Reunion
Natasha and Yelena break their “father,” Alexei (David Harbour), out of a snowy Russian prison, and together they track down Melina (Rachel Weisz), who turns out to still be working for Dreykov. However, she secretly aids Natasha and the others in a plan to take down the Red Room, a massive airborne fortress.
The family dynamics—awkward, strained, but heartfelt—are a major emotional anchor in the film. While they’re not a real family, their shared trauma and eventual reconciliation add layers to Natasha’s personal arc.
In the climax, the family infiltrates the Red Room. Natasha confronts Dreykov and discovers that he has programmed a “pheromonal lock” preventing her from attacking him directly. She breaks her own nose to overcome this control (yes, literally), a brutal but effective metaphor for reclaiming autonomy. She then fights Dreykov while Yelena disables the mind control software.
Meanwhile, Melina sabotages the ship’s systems and Alexei battles Dreykov’s elite guards. Natasha releases the Red Dust, freeing the other Widows from mind control, while Dreykov attempts to escape. Yelena sacrifices herself to destroy Dreykov’s escape craft, but Natasha saves her mid-air in a tense, gravity-defying sequence.
After the Red Room is destroyed and the Widows are freed, Natasha stays behind to face General Ross and his forces, allowing her sister and family to escape. This sets up her transition into Avengers: Infinity War, explaining how she changes her appearance and rejoins her teammates.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes. There is one post-credits scene, and it’s emotionally loaded. It takes place after Natasha’s death in Avengers: Endgame. Yelena visits Natasha’s grave, which is located in the woods under a tree in Ohio. As she mourns, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) approaches her. Valentina assigns Yelena a new target: Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, implying he’s responsible for Natasha’s death.
This sets up Yelena’s storyline in the Hawkeye Disney+ series and ties the film into Marvel’s Phase Four plans, specifically the potential formation of a new team (possibly the Thunderbolts or Dark Avengers).
Type of Movie
Black Widow is a spy thriller/action-adventure wrapped in a Marvel superhero shell. It’s reminiscent of films like The Bourne Identity or Mission: Impossible, featuring hand-to-hand combat, espionage, and globe-trotting missions. Despite being part of a massive franchise, it stands fairly well on its own.
Cast
Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian
Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff
Ray Winstone as Dreykov
O-T Fagbenle as Rick Mason
William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (post-credits)
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Lorne Balfe, who brought a darker, more emotional tone to the music. The opening credits feature a haunting cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Malia J, which sets a dystopian and somber mood for Natasha’s traumatic upbringing in the Red Room.
Filming Locations
Filming took place across multiple locations:
Norway: Used to represent Natasha’s hideout and the naturalistic, cold scenery post-Civil War.
Budapest, Hungary: Long-teased in MCU lore, it’s finally shown in the film. It’s a key location in Natasha’s past and her mission with Hawkeye.
Pinewood Studios, UK: Many of the interior and set-piece scenes were filmed here.
Atlanta, Georgia: Used for various exteriors and SFX-heavy sequences.
These locations help ground the story in real-world espionage settings, giving the movie a more tactile feel despite its MCU roots.
Natasha’s Red Room history draws on Cold War-era KGB programs and real-life Soviet spy tactics.
The Black Widow comic run by Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto provided several narrative and visual inspirations.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
A longer version of the family dinner scene was filmed, showing more vulnerability from Melina.
A deleted scene featured Natasha walking through the ruins of the Red Room’s facility post-battle, mirroring the start of the film and symbolizing closure.
An alternate intro showed more details of the Widows’ indoctrination but was cut for pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
While not based on a single book, the film pulls from various Black Widow comic runs, notably:
The Name of the Rose
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Deadly Origin
Differences include:
Yelena’s comic version is more antagonistic, while in the film she’s a sympathetic ally.
The Red Room is far more high-tech and sci-fi in the movie than in its original portrayal.
Taskmaster (revealed as Dreykov’s daughter Antonia) is completely reimagined from the comics, where he’s a mercenary named Tony Masters.
