BLACK WIDOW (2021)
An action-packed rescue mission with Christian redemption—for adults only.
Should You Watch It?
BLACK WIDOW is an action-packed superhero movie with lots of spectacle and jeopardy. Its strongest material comes from its moral center: the story opposes human trafficking, government mind control, and the destruction of free will. Christian elements include prayer, forgiveness, and redemption.
The film also has intense action violence, some bloody moments leading to death, and significant foul language. Its plot is basic for a movie filled with nearly nonstop fighting, car chases, and spectacle. The movie has real merit, but its content is too strong for children and young teens.
If you are a discerning adult who can handle those concerns, this is worth watching; for a family movie night with younger viewers, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESNatasha, an Avenger who escaped a Soviet brainwashing program, receives a message from her sister, Yelena. The sisters reunite and decide to find the man who ran the Red Room, where young girls were trained to kill.
They hope to rescue the other women trapped in the program and restore their free will. To find their enemy, they first seek help from the people they once believed were their parents.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means BLACK WIDOW delivers an entertaining, visually exciting superhero adventure. The movie opens with a strong introduction showing children being brainwashed and controlled. From there, it offers many exciting scenes, sustained jeopardy, fighting, car chases, and spectacle.
The weakness is the basic plot. With so much action, the characters and story do not receive as much development or depth as they could have. Still, the film’s excitement and moral purpose make it a strong entertainment experience for adults who can accept its content.
The Worldview
BLACK WIDOW presents a strong moral, anti-communist and anti-totalitarian worldview. It opposes trafficking of women and tyrannical governmental control, showing the harm caused when people are stripped of free will and treated as tools.
The film also contains Christian, redemptive elements. A character believes she must do evil to stop evil, but that idea is rebuked. She asks for forgiveness, and characters become more moral as they seek to become a family. Prayer and forgiveness point toward redemption rather than leaving people trapped by their past.
The movie’s central longing is freedom: the freedom to choose, to love, and to belong to a family. Scripture says, “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral, anti-communist and anti-totalitarian worldview with strong Christian, redemptive elements opposes trafficking of women and tyrannical governmental control, a prayer is said, a character asks for forgiveness, characters are redeemed and become more moral because they want to be a family, character mentions she would have liked to have had children, and motherhood is seen as a good thing
Foul Language
13 obscenities and eight light profanities
Violence
Lots of intense action violence, with some blood, but not really gory, includes woman stabbed and dies, woman stabs her leg and rips something out, lots of fighting and shooting, mother is wounded by a bullet, fist fighting, martial arts fighting, a bomb explodes, and a child is assumed to have died, an avalanche occurs, mentions of a hysterectomy and bad guys ripping out someone’s reproductive organs, woman is beaten by a man, woman hits her head into desk
Sex
No sexual content
Nudity
Upper male nudity
Alcohol Use
Some alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs, but children are drugged;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Lying and deceit, and stealing, which is refuted but then done again.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The Red Room takes away people’s freedom and trains them to do evil. What does Scripture say about the freedom Christ gives, and how should that shape the way we treat other people?
Galatians 5:1 · 1 Corinthians 6:19–20A character believes evil must be done to stop evil, but that idea is rebuked. Why is that tempting, and what does God call us to do instead?
Romans 12:21 · Micah 6:8The sisters seek forgiveness and redemption while trying to become a family. How can confession and forgiveness change a family’s future?
Ephesians 4:31–32 · Colossians 3:12–14The film presents motherhood as good and meaningful. How does Scripture describe the value of family relationships?
Psalm 127:3 · Ephesians 6:1–4The Final Word
BLACK WIDOW is exciting, morally serious, and filled with Christian redemptive elements. Its intense violence and foul language make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For younger viewers, consider these.
