Scarlett Johansson has played MCU's best movies and leading a solo film, Johansson has revealed that she is unlikely to play Black Widow again.

While a Black Widow sequel starring 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 on Thunderbolts*. 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.

9 Captain Marvel

A Quick Post-Credits Scene Cameo

The lowest Black Widow MCU appearance on the list has to be the character's role in Captain Marvel. The reason there is no other option for this position is clear, as Natasha Romanoff barely appears in the movie. The character was only used for connective tissue between two major 2019 Marvel releases.

Captain Marvel was one of two MCU movies to be released between 2018's Avengers: Infinity War and 2019's Avengers: Endgame. Just like Ant-Man and the Wasp, the film used its post-credits scene to explain how its lead character could be part of Avengers: Endgame. That setup allowed Johansson to show up.

The scene in question showed a group of the remaining Avengers watching as Nick Fury's pager, which he used to Carol Danvers, suddenly turned off. Black Widow and Captain America look at all the lives Thanos took before Captain Marvel appears at the Avengers Compound. Natasha is only there briefly, so this appearance comes last.

8 Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Natasha Romanoff Is Wrapped In A Romance That Came Out Of Nowhere

Avengers: Age of Ultron is a controversial film when it comes to Natasha Romanoff. Not only is it the worst of the MCU'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 Ultron looks into her past in the Red Room, revealing that the shadowy organization took out her reproductive organs and made her a killer.

The film ended up being mostly bad for the character. Natasha's romance with Banner serves little more purpose than to make her the 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.

7 Avengers: Infinity War

Black Widow Returns From Being On The Run

Avengers: Infinity War does 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's Captain Marvel cameo and does not impact the character negatively like Avengers: Age of Ultron did.

Following the events of Captain 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, with Black Widow sporting blonde hair and not red, connecting to her spy origins and her need to disappear alongside her team.

Avengers: Infinity War had 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.

6 The Avengers

Black Widow Gets To Shine In The Team-Up

The Avengers was the movie that completely changed the superhero landscape. It brought together all the of the team after they had debuted in solo movies or in other characters' projects. The Avengers allowed 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, but The Avengers shined 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.

Later, Natasha pretends to let Loki think he has the upper hand when 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.

5 Iron Man 2

Black Widow's MCU Debut

Iron Man 2 is 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 2 was 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.

Natasha Romanoff got her own Daredevil-style corridor fight scene before 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.

4 Captain America: Civil War

Black Widow Is Forced To Pick A Side

Captain America: Civil War featured an interesting role for Black Widow. The movie's main conflict revolved around the creation of the Sokovia Accords, which made it so that heroes had to sign up for government oversight. A group of characters led by Captain America fundamentally disagreed with that, but Natasha Romanoff was initially on Iron Man's 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 Man during 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.

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.

3 Avengers: 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 to Avengers: 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: Endgame begins with the heroes killing Thanos. After a five-year time jump, it is revealed that Black 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.

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, as Natasha 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 of Avengers: Endgame's most important characters.

2 Captain 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's Captain America: The Winter Soldier established 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.

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 later makes the hard call of revealing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets to the world, destroying the organization that changed her life in order to take down HYDRA.

1 Black Widow

Natasha Romanoff Finally Gets Her Solo Movie

Finally, the best appearance of Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff in the MCU has 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's Black Widow.

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 allows 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.

All Announced MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

  

  4/10

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  Thunderbolts*

  

  8/10

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  Blade (2025)

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  Avengers: Doomsday

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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