Black Widow
A determined investigator enters the orbit of a seductive serial killer who marries wealthy men for their fortunes.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- menacing
- sleek
- seductive
- noir movie night
- crime thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the stylish neo-noir direction and performances by Debra Winger and Theresa Russell, while finding the screenplay less suspenseful and less dangerous than its premise suggests.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Catharine targets lonely millionaires through marriage, then murders them after securing their fortunes.
Alexandra follows the pattern of unexplained deaths and draws close to Catharine while trying to prove the murders.
The film explicitly echoes 1940s and 1950s film noir through femme fatale imagery, evocative scoring, and sleek menace.
Alexandra and Catharine mirror one another as investigator and killer, with the pursuit shaped by fascination as well as danger.
Films like Black Widow, and why
Body Heat
Shared neo-noir atmosphere, erotic danger, femme fatale dynamics, and murder-driven suspense.
Sea of Love
Shared erotic thriller structure, seductive criminality, and noir-inflected investigation.
Basic Instinct
Shared serial-killer mystery, investigative tension, and morally ambiguous noir tone.
The Last Seduction
Shared femme fatale tradition, psychological suspense, and polished crime storytelling.
Movie Details
- Director
- Bob Rafelson
- Release Date
- 1987-02-06
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (239)
Cast
- Debra Winger
- Theresa Russell
- Sami Frey
- Dennis Hopper
- Nicol Williamson
- Terry O'Quinn
- James Hong
- Diane Ladd
- D.W. Moffett
- Lois Smith
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Black Widow about?
- A determined investigator enters the orbit of a seductive serial killer who marries wealthy men for their fortunes.
- What is Black Widow like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Black Widow as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Black Widow violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Black Widow as moderate.
- What did critics think of Black Widow?
- Critics broadly praised the stylish neo-noir direction and performances by Debra Winger and Theresa Russell, while finding the screenplay less suspenseful and less dangerous than its premise suggests.
- Which films are like Black Widow?
- Films with a similar feel include Body Heat, Sea of Love, Basic Instinct, and The Last Seduction.
- How long is Black Widow?
- Black Widow runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Black Widow?
- In United States, Black Widow is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
