Entertainment
A Decade in the Making: Superhero Blockbuster “Black Widow” Barely Turns a Profit, Settles Offscreen Issues on Streaming
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Scarlett Johansson's Long-Awaited Solo Adventure
It didn't take long for Scarlett Johansson's character, Natasha Romanoff, to make her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in "Iron Man 2" before fans began clamoring for a standalone adventure. Finally, after 11 years, "Black Widow" was released, but it wasn't exactly worth the wait.
Backlash and Unexpected Setbacks
Fans were disappointed to learn that "Black Widow" was happening after her character was killed off in "Avengers: Endgame." But that's not all – the film faced two major challenges before it even hit theaters.
Pandemic Delay and Legal Battle
The pandemic pushed back the release of "Black Widow" by a year, and then things got even messier. The film was released simultaneously on Disney Plus and in theaters, leading to a breach of contract lawsuit by Scarlett Johansson against Disney. The legal battle dragged on for months and ended in a multi-million dollar settlement.
Profit Margin That Falls Short
Despite earning a total of $380 million at the box office and an estimated $67 million from streaming on its opening weekend, "Black Widow" only managed to turn a profit of $67 million. Forbes pointed out that Disney had invested a whopping $288.5 million into the production, making the financial success questionable at best.
Not the Best Reviews, But Florence Pugh Shines
Critics didn't rave about "Black Widow," but it did introduce Florence Pugh's character, Yelena Belova, who was well-received. And now, the film is making waves on streaming platforms once again, as it recently returned to the charts on Disney Plus and iTunes.
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