Top 10 Best Black Widow Moments in the MCU
#10: Black Widow vs. Hammer Security
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"Iron Man 2" (2010) This is the first time we get to see just what Agent Romanoff can do. We already knew she was a total badass from taking down Happy in the wrestling ring. But when she needs to get into Hammer Tech, she kicks off her first solo fight scene. This introduction to Black Widow’s hero persona is pretty great by itself. It’s made even better because Happy spends the entire scene fighting one singular, solitary, goon. Natasha, meanwhile, spends her time a little more efficiently, taking down the entire hallway of security. Her impressive showing easily overhadows Happy. Aw, at least he looks proud of himself.
#9: Wrestling Happy
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"Iron Man 2" (2010) Happy thinks this is going to be a fun little lesson he gets to teach. Well, there is definitely a lesson taught. Natasha is first introduced as Natalie Rushman, a notary public for Stark Industries. During their first meeting, Tony asks Happy to give her a quick lesson in boxing. Happy still talks down to her after she mentions she has experience in the combat sport, so, yeah, he had what was coming. He tells her to never take her eyes off her opponent, but even distracted, Natasha pins him to the ground within seconds. Seeing as Happy tried that same line with Stark to no avail moments before, there was no chance it could’ve worked on Black Widow.
#8: Hiding in the Mall with Steve
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"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014) Natasha's definitely one of the more sly Avengers and her methods of escaping HYDRA agents prove just that. Sure, you can use brute force, but why do that when there are sneakier ways out? Steve’s first instinct is to engage if they’re found out, but Nat makes sure it won’t even get to that. There’s nothing greater than watching the Captain America fluster as Natasha orders him to act like her boyfriend. For a moment there, it seems like Steve is that small kid from Brooklyn again. We get a good ol’ “fake-out make-out” for good measure, and our heroes manage to get out undetected. It turns out everyone, even HYDRA infiltrators, are uncomfortable with a super spy’s PDA.
#7: Heart-to-Heart With Steve
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"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014) While the budding friendship between Natasha and Steve throughout the whole movie is awesome, one scene in particular feels like an important turning point. After escaping a Hydra attack, they take a moment to talk and build a trust in each other that wasn't there before. Most of what we’d seen from Black Widow thus far was quick wit and skilled fighting. And the first time we see her be truly vulnerable, she lets Steve in. Granted, it is pretty warranted given that he just saved her life. She asks him if he would trust her to save his life, were things the other way around, and he tells her he would now. The hearts of Romanogers fans could barely take this scene!
#6: Tricking Loki
"The Avengers" (2012) Did we mention Natasha’s sneaky? Oh, several times? Cool, just making sure. If we haven’t made it clear enough, though, this scene sure does. Natasha manages to out-mischief the God of Mischief. While Loki’s trapped, she takes the opportunity to play the character villains think she is when they first meet her: a fragile, defenceless damsel in distress. She has a knack for letting others believe they have the upper hand, while knowing full-well she’s in total control. When Natasha uses this tactic on Loki, he drops a big hint about his evil plot. Even the God of Mischief seemed stunned that Black Widow could get the best of him.
#5: Going Undercover to Expose HYDRA
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"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014) There can be no act more stealthy than going undercover, which Natasha has perfected into an artform. Using a Photostatic Veil, Romanoff disguises herself as Councilwoman Hawley to infiltrate the World Security Council. The moment she reveals herself with an awesome fight scene is made better with a cool one liner. She exposes all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s, and therefore HYDRA's, secrets on the internet, including her own dark past as an assassin. Pierce thinks he gets the upper hand by taking Romanoff as his hostage. But she strips him of his leverage by shorting out her security tag, knocking herself out in the process. Ugh, what an icon!
#4: Saving Hawkeye
"The Avengers" (2012) In the first “Avengers”, it was clear that Hawkeye and Natasha came as a packaged deal. They were closer than any two of the other heroes. On top of that, it was revealed that Hawkeye was responsible for Natasha’s recruitment into S.H.I.E.L.D. This backstory is what adds the additional layer of tension to their fight. Clint is completely under Loki’s mind control, but Natasha is entirely aware of what’s going on. So she fights the armed agent barehanded. Natasha eventually manages to “cognitively recalibrate” him and helps him through his rehabilitation. Thankfully, all ends well, but we’re still left with one final question: What happened in Budapest?!
#3: The Chair Fight
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"The Avengers" (2012) We'll never get tired of seeing Natasha use her guise as the underdog. Her stealthy talent helped make this “Avengers” scene into one of her coolest fights ever. We see her being interrogated by shady villains while tied to a chair. She gets hit, undermined, and nearly thrown down several floors. While Natasha puts on a good show of being scared, she flushes all that work down the drain when Coulson calls. She makes a funny quip to insult her intimidating captor first. However, the second Nat hears that Barton’s been compromised, she knocks out all three of her captors, while mostly tied to a chair, in a dress… in the middle of a phone call. Coulson just knew to be patient while she worked.
#2: Black Widow vs. The Winter Soldier
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"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014) Black Widow’s fight against a brainwashed Winter Soldier is easily one of her most intense clashes. This is yet another battle that shows off her intelligence and strength. And she’s doing it in heels! The last time she fought the Winter Soldier, he shot through her to get to a target, so you would think she’d be a little more apprehensive. But Natasha is nothing if not brave, and she charges in with all the courage of a lion. And like a Black Widow spider, she lures the Winter soldier into several traps to get the upper hand. She manages to hold the super soldier off long enough for backup to arrive. What Black Widow accomplished against the Winter Soldier was no easy feat. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Hulk's Lullaby, "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015) Natasha, the Hulk Whisperer Keeping the Avengers Together, "Avengers: Endgame" (2019) She Kept the Team Strong in a Post-Snap World Meeting Tony Stark as Black Widow, "Iron Man 2" (2010) So... She’s Not Natalie Rushman Then?
#1: Sacrifice for the Soul Stone
"Avengers: Endgame" (2019) Although Clint was willing to give up his life to get the soul stone, Natasha offered to make the sacrifice in one of the most emotional scenes in the MCU’s history. Traditionally, the founding Avengers have managed to escape death time and again. This made it completely unexpected to see two of them forced to choose who would live. The tension in the scene is insurmountable as Clint and Nat fight each other to sacrifice themselves. In the end, just like that fight between them in the first Avengers movie, Natasha comes out on top. Her sacrifice was a perfect completion of her character arc. However, it’s still bittersweet to see her claim this final victory.
