Best Movies like Black Widow (2021)

Atomic Blonde and Black Widow both feature a female protagonist navigating the deadly world of espionage, with high-stakes missions and layers of personal betrayal. Each film centers on a secret agent entangled in conspiracies connected to her past, offering a blend of combat, deception, and the burdens of past loyalties.

An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents. Atomic Blonde is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 6.4 by 6,703 people. The movie made an estimated total of $100,014,025 in the box office.

Red Sparrow traces a narrative of a skilled female spy confronting manipulation and control by powerful organizations, echoing Black Widow's themes of a protagonist overcoming dangerous conspiracies tied to her history. Both films immerse the audience in the psychological and physical challenges of women who have survived rigorous spy training.

Prima ballerina Dominika Egorova faces a bleak and uncertain future after she suffers an injury that ends her career. She soon turns to Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service that trains exceptional young people to use their minds and bodies as weapons. Dominika emerges as the most dangerous Sparrow after completing the sadistic training process. As she comes to terms with her new abilities, she meets a CIA agent who tries to convince her that he is the only person she can trust. Red Sparrow is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 20m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.5 by 6,414 people. The movie made an estimated total of $151,572,634 in the box office.

Salt explores the life of an elite female operative on the run after her identity is questioned, aligning with Black Widow’s premise of a protagonist targeted because of her secretive past as a spy. Both stories blend action with tales of espionage and shifting allegiances.

As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a Russian defector accuses her of being a Russian sleeper spy. She goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, protect her husband, and stay one step ahead of her colleagues at the CIA. Her efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who is Salt?" Salt is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 6.4 by 6,005 people. The movie made an estimated total of $293,329,073 in the box office.

Haywire shares the theme of a highly trained operative betrayed by superiors and forced to use her skills to survive. The conflict centers on personal vendettas and agency, similar to Black Widow's confrontation with former allies and the repercussions of a shadowy past.

A black ops soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and left for dead. Haywire is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 5.7 by 1,503 people. The movie made an estimated total of $33,372,606 in the box office.

In Hanna, a young woman raised for covert operations must confront the legacy of her training and evasion from those seeking to control her, paralleling Natasha Romanoff’s journey in Black Widow. Both films explore the impact of weaponized childhoods and the pursuit of autonomy.

Raised by her father, an ex-CIA agent, in the wilds of Finland, Hanna's upbringing has been geared to making her the perfect assassin. Sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys across Europe, eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative. As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence. Hanna is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.6 by 3,728 people. The movie made an estimated total of $63,782,078 in the box office.

Nikita follows a female protagonist forced into government espionage, paralleling Black Widow’s exploration of the consequences from a life shaped by secret programs. Both films examine themes of identity, redemption, and the aftereffects of being transformed into a weapon.

A beautiful felon, sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a policeman, is given a second chance – as a secret political assassin controlled by the government. Nikita is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 1990 with an average rating of 7.1 by 2,180 people. The movie made an estimated total of $5,018,604 in the box office.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation aligns with Black Widow’s blend of international espionage, secret organizations, and intense action. Both showcase operatives confronting clandestine threats, dealing with betrayal, and relying on a mix of intellect and combat expertise to unravel conspiracies.

Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet—eradicating 'The Syndicate', an International and highly-skilled rogue organization committed to destroying the IMF. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.2 by 9,827 people. The movie made an estimated total of $682,716,636 in the box office.

The Long Kiss Goodnight, centered on a woman reclaiming lost memories of a dark operative past, mirrors Black Widow’s narrative of confronting hidden histories and dangerous former lives. Both protagonists must reconcile personal transformation while battling threats linked to their previous identities.

Samantha Caine is a small-town schoolteacher and mom with no memory of her life before washing up on a beach eight years ago. After a car accident and a violent home invasion trigger flashes of her past, she discovers she used to be a deadly CIA assassin. Teaming up with a wisecracking private investigator, Samantha must return to her old ways to take down the people who tried to erase her. The Long Kiss Goodnight is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 1996 with an average rating of 6.6 by 1,375 people. The movie made an estimated total of $89,456,761 in the box office.

The Bourne Supremacy investigates the challenges of a former spy unraveling conspiracies linked to their previous actions, reflecting Black Widow's confrontation with past deeds and unresolved conflicts from her espionage years. Both stories combine international scope, moral conflict, and a protagonist on the run.

A CIA operation to purchase classified Russian documents is blown by a rival agent, who then shows up in the sleepy seaside village where Bourne and Marie have been living. The pair run for their lives and Bourne, who promised retaliation should anyone from his former life attempt contact, is forced to once again take up his life as a trained assassin to survive. The Bourne Supremacy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 7.3 by 8,286 people. The movie made an estimated total of $288,500,217 in the box office.

The Villainess focuses on a female assassin grappling with a history of manipulation and betrayal, themes central to Black Widow. Each film presents high-octane action sequences and explores the psychological toll of violence and a life shaped by clandestine organizations.

Honed from childhood into a merciless killing machine by a criminal organization, assassin Sook-hee is recruited with the promise of freedom after ten years of service. However, secrets from her past destroy everything she’s worked for and now she embarks on a roaring rampage of revenge. The Villainess is a movie from South Korea in Korean, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 6.9 by 779 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,737,458 in the box office.

Peppermint showcases a woman seeking retribution for past traumas, much like Black Widow’s focus on confronting the consequences of earlier choices. Both tell stories of strong female leads using their training and tenacity to dismantle powerful adversaries tied to personal grievances.

A grieving mother transforms herself into a vigilante following the murders of her husband and daughter, eluding the authorities to deliver her own personal brand of justice. Peppermint is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.7 by 2,266 people. The movie made an estimated total of $53,918,723 in the box office.

Anna features a protagonist with a secret identity, recruited into espionage and forced to navigate government control, mirroring themes found in Black Widow. Both films examine issues of autonomy, transformation, and the dangers inherent in undercover operations.

Beneath Anna Poliatova's striking beauty lies a secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill to become one of the world's most feared government assassins. Anna is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.7 by 3,042 people. The movie made an estimated total of $31,626,978 in the box office.

Safe House delivers a narrative of operatives entangled in betrayal and secrets tied to intelligence agencies, similar to Black Widow’s focus on conspiracies from the world of espionage. Both films emphasize survival in the face of persistent agency threats and compromised trust.

A dangerous CIA renegade resurfaces after a decade on the run. When the safe house he's remanded to is attacked by mercenaries, a rookie operative escapes with him. Now, the unlikely allies must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. Safe House is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.5 by 3,979 people. The movie made an estimated total of $208,076,205 in the box office.

Spy Game weaves together the training and legacy of covert operatives, with its narrative exploring mentor-student relationships and missions gone awry. Black Widow similarly delves into the impact of past spy work and the long-standing consequences from those formative alliances.

On the day of his retirement, a veteran CIA agent learns that his former protégé has been arrested in China, is sentenced to die the next morning in Beijing, and that the CIA is considering letting that happen to avoid an international scandal. Spy Game is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 6.9 by 2,399 people. The movie made an estimated total of $143,049,560 in the box office.

Everly tells the story of a female lead battling relentless attackers due to her troubled past, paralleling Black Widow’s protagonist, who is hunted for reasons rooted in a history of violence and betrayal. Both films focus on survival, vengeance, and self-liberation.

After she betrays a powerful mob boss, a woman matches wits and weaponry with a legion of killers who are out to collect the bounty on the heads of her and her family. Everly is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 5.5 by 593 people. The movie made an estimated total of $358,156 in the box office.

Run Lola Run centers on a woman racing against time to correct a crisis rooted in her relationships and decisions, echoing the urgency and personal stakes found in Black Widow. Both films play with the theme of rewriting destiny by confronting one’s past.

Lola receives a phone call from her boyfriend Manni. He lost 100,000 DM in a subway train that belongs to a very bad guy. She has 20 minutes to raise this amount and meet Manni. Otherwise, he will rob a store to get the money. Three different alternatives may happen depending on some minor event along Lola's run. Run Lola Run is a movie from Germany in German, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 7.3 by 2,615 people. The movie made an estimated total of $7,660,911 in the box office.

Ava revolves around a female assassin confronting the fallout of her covert work and personal demons, aligning with Black Widow’s exploration of a protagonist forced to answer for her past life in espionage. Both narratives investigate isolation and redemption in a perilous world.

A black ops assassin is forced to fight for her own survival after a job goes dangerously wrong. Ava is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 5.8 by 2,783 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,987,741 in the box office.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. presents secret agents navigating Cold War-era intrigue and complex cross-border missions, sharing with Black Widow a foundation in espionage, shifting allegiances, and high-adrenaline action across international landscapes.

At the height of the Cold War, a mysterious criminal organization plans to use nuclear weapons and technology to upset the fragile balance of power between the United States and Soviet Union. CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin are forced to put aside their hostilities and work together to stop the evildoers in their tracks. The duo's only lead is the daughter of a missing German scientist, whom they must find soon to prevent a global catastrophe. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.1 by 6,951 people. The movie made an estimated total of $110,045,109 in the box office.

Colombiana follows a woman shaped by violence and seeking revenge against those who wronged her, paralleling Black Widow’s villain-hunting arc driven by personal motivations and past trauma. Both center on themes of justice, family, and female resilience amid organized crime or espionage.

After witnessing her parents’ murder as a child in Bogota, Cataleya Restrepo grows up to be a stone-cold assassin. She works for her uncle as a hitman by day, but her personal time is spent engaging in vigilante murders that she hopes will lead her to her ultimate target: the mobster responsible for her parents' death. Colombiana is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.6 by 2,913 people. The movie made an estimated total of $71,508,440 in the box office.

Widows focuses on women tackling criminal enterprises after being thrust into dangerous situations by the actions of their partners, much like Black Widow’s heroine contending with the legacy of a dark past. Themes of female agency, reinvention, and confronting systemic threats are central.

A police shootout leaves four thieves dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows have nothing in common except a debt left behind by their spouses' criminal activities. Hoping to forge a future on their own terms, they join forces to pull off a heist. Widows is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.5 by 2,505 people. The movie made an estimated total of $75,984,700 in the box office.

The Debt’s story of secret agents confronting their past mistakes in later years resonates with Black Widow’s journey of reckoning with long-buried conspiracies and unresolved relationships from her spy days. Both underscore how former missions cast long shadows over the present.

Rachel Singer is a former Mossad agent who tried to capture a notorious Nazi war criminal – the Surgeon of Birkenau – in a secret Israeli mission that ended with his death on the streets of East Berlin. Now, 30 years later, a man claiming to be the doctor has surfaced, and Rachel must return to Eastern Europe to uncover the truth. Overwhelmed by haunting memories of her younger self and her two fellow agents, the still-celebrated heroine must relive the trauma of those events and confront the debt she has incurred. The Debt is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 6.6 by 980 people. The movie made an estimated total of $45,636,368 in the box office.

The East involves infiltrating secretive organizations, mirroring Black Widow’s entanglement with clandestine groups and missions shaped by hidden agendas. Both films examine personal ethics, infiltration conflicts, and shifting loyalties shaped by suspenseful, morally ambiguous environments.

An operative for an elite private intelligence firm finds her priorities irrevocably changed after she is tasked with infiltrating an anarchist group known for executing covert attacks upon major corporations. The East is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 6.6 by 876 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,401,510 in the box office.

Cleanskin examines the pursuit of covert operatives against terrorist threats, paralleling Black Widow’s focus on elite agents navigating dangerous conspiracies. Both delve into personal risk, national security, and the complexities of spy work outside traditional allegiances.

While working undercover as a bodyguard to arms dealer Harry, former-soldier-turned-secret-service-agent Ewan survives a bloody shootout with a member of an Islamic terrorist cell who steals Harry's briefcase full of Semtex explosives and escapes. Ewan's spymasters task Ewan with hunting down the cell members and retrieving the briefcase. Cleanskin is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 5.6 by 360 people.

Spy utilizes the world of secret agents and undercover missions as its backdrop, linking it thematically to Black Widow’s espionage setting and plot structure. Both explore how ordinary individuals adapt to the hazards and improvisations required in covert operations.

A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster. Spy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.8 by 6,470 people. The movie made an estimated total of $235,666,219 in the box office.

Femme Fatale follows a mysterious woman entwined in deception and criminal schemes, themes found in Black Widow’s narrative of a protagonist weighed down by a history of duplicity, secret deals, and the drive for reinvention in a hazardous underworld.

A $10-million diamond rip-off, a stolen identity, a new life married to a diplomat. Laure Ash has risked big, won big. But then a tabloid shutterbug snaps her picture in Paris, and suddenly, enemies from Laure's secret past know who and where she is. And they all want their share of the diamond heist. Or her life. Or both. Femme Fatale is a movie from France in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 6.2 by 671 people. The movie made an estimated total of $16,800,000 in the box office.

Zero Dark Thirty focuses on intelligence operations, covert missions, and the personal toll of pursuing dangerous targets, all themes reflected in Black Widow’s exploration of a spy uncovering conspiracies from her own tumultuous past.

A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May, 2011. Zero Dark Thirty is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 37m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.0 by 4,947 people. The movie made an estimated total of $132,800,000 in the box office.

Miss Bala charts the experience of a woman forced to navigate violence and corruption after becoming tangled with criminal organizations, drawing parallels to Black Widow’s battles against powerful figures and efforts to claim agency in dangerous, male-dominated spheres.

The story of a young woman clinging on to her dream to become a beauty contest queen in a Mexico dominated by organized crime. Miss Bala is a movie from Mexico in Spanish, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.7 by 208 people.