Black Widow 2021

In 1995, super-soldier Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), who serves as the Russian equivalent of Captain America and acts as a father figure to both Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), along with Black Widow Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz), portray a seemingly ordinary family living in Ohio. However, their life is a facade as they work undercover for the Russian government. In their mission, they successfully steal S.H.I.E.L.D. intelligence and flee to Cuba, where they encounter their superior, General Dreykov (Ray Winstone). It is here that Romanoff and Belova are forcefully taken to the infamous Red Room for training. While Yelena eagerly anticipates the return, a reluctant Natasha feels heartbroken about leaving her home in Ohio and returning to the ruthless life in the Red Room.

As years pass, Shostakov finds himself imprisoned in Russia, while Romanoff ends up defecting to S.H.I.E.L.D. after a harrowing mission that leads her to bomb Dreykov’s office in Budapest, supposedly killing him and his daughter, Antonia (Olga Kurylenko) in the process. By 2016, Romanoff becomes a fugitive in the wake of the Sokovia Accords—a series of legal documents aimed at regulating the activities of enhanced individuals. This legislation causes a deep rift among the Avengers, leading to a divide between those who support the Accords, like Tony Stark, and those who oppose them, notably Steve Rogers. The schism culminates in a battle at an airport, further complicating alliances and turning many superheroes into fugitives.

Amidst the chaos, Natasha escapes from U.S. Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) with the help of her ally Rick Mason (O-T Fagbenle), seeking refuge in a safe house in Norway. Meanwhile, Belova, on her end, takes down a rogue former Black Widow, but inadvertently comes into contact with a synthetic gas that neutralizes the Red Room’s chemical mind-control serum. She courageously removes her own tracker and sends antidote vials to Natasha, aiming to assist the Avengers in liberating the enslaved Widows, before going underground herself.

In a twist of fate, while driving with the vials, Romanoff is confronted by the vengeful Red Room agent, Taskmaster. It becomes apparent that Taskmaster aims to seize the vials, prompting an adrenaline-fueled escape. Eventually, Natasha learns of Dreykov’s continued existence and the operational status of the Red Room on meeting Belova. The duo partners with Mason to procure a helicopter and enact their rescue mission, unraveling the grim truth that Dreykov has orchestrated horrific outcomes for countless young girls training to become Black Widows.

In a daring bid, Romanoff and Belova orchestrate a prison break for Shostakov, who points them toward Vostokoff’s farm near Saint Petersburg. The pair come to understand that Vostokoff has been perfecting the mind-control chemicals that dominate the Widows’ lives. With tensions rising, Belova confronts Melina about the chemical manipulation, leading to explosive revelations regarding Natasha’s past. As they evade Dreykov’s forces, a march toward the floating Red Room ensues, where even darker secrets await them.

In their confrontation with Dreykov, it’s revealed that Taskmaster is actually Antonia, augmented to become an ultimate fighter capable of mimicking any combatant. Romanoff undergoes a battle of wits—breaking her own nose to escape a pheromone lock preventing her from attacking Dreykov. With thrilling confrontations, Belova and Vostokoff join forces to free their comrades, ultimately triggering an explosive climax that dismantles the Red Room and its sinister operations. At the end, with new allegiances formed and old grudges settled, Natasha prepares to embark on yet another chapter as she gathers essential intel to assist the Avengers.

In the poignant post-credits scene, after the life of Romanoff, Valentina Allegra De Fontaine ([Julia Louis-Dreyfus]) emerges, framing Clint Barton as the one responsible for her demise, setting a new vendetta into motion for Belova. This intricate narrative captures the trials and tribulations of these female warriors, their capacity for resilience, and the often tumultuous paths they navigate in their quests for redemption.