Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Black Widow

  • 19871987
  • RR
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
9.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Theresa Russell and Debra Winger in Black Widow (1987)
Trailer for this mystery thriller
Play trailer1:58
1 Video
51 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
A federal investigator tracks down a gold-digging woman who moves from husband to husband to kill them and collect the inheritance.A federal investigator tracks down a gold-digging woman who moves from husband to husband to kill them and collect the inheritance.A federal investigator tracks down a gold-digging woman who moves from husband to husband to kill them and collect the inheritance.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
9.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Writer
    • Ronald Bass
  • Stars
    • Debra Winger
    • Theresa Russell
    • Sami Frey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Writer
    • Ronald Bass
  • Stars
    • Debra Winger
    • Theresa Russell
    • Sami Frey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 78User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Black Widow
    Trailer 1:58
    Black Widow

    Photos51

    Theresa Russell and Debra Winger in Black Widow (1987)
    Black Widow (1987)
    Theresa Russell and Debra Winger in Black Widow (1987)
    Theresa Russell and Debra Winger in Black Widow (1987)
    Theresa Russell and Debra Winger in Black Widow (1987)
    Theresa Russell in Black Widow (1987)
    Sandra Bullock, Jeff Bridges, and Kiefer Sutherland in Black Widow (1987)
    Theresa Russell and Debra Winger in Black Widow (1987)
    Theresa Russell and Debra Winger in Black Widow (1987)
    Theresa Russell in Black Widow (1987)
    Theresa Russell in Black Widow (1987)
    Nicol Williamson in Black Widow (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Debra Winger
    Debra Winger
    • Alexandraas Alexandra
    Theresa Russell
    Theresa Russell
    • Catharineas Catharine
    Sami Frey
    Sami Frey
    • Paulas Paul
    Dennis Hopper
    Dennis Hopper
    • Benas Ben
    Nicol Williamson
    Nicol Williamson
    • Williamas William
    Terry O'Quinn
    Terry O'Quinn
    • Bruceas Bruce
    James Hong
    James Hong
    • Shinas Shin
    Diane Ladd
    Diane Ladd
    • Ettaas Etta
    D.W. Moffett
    D.W. Moffett
    • Michaelas Michael
    Lois Smith
    Lois Smith
    • Saraas Sara
    Leo Rossi
    Leo Rossi
    • Riccias Ricci
    Danny Kamekona
    Danny Kamekona
    • Detectiveas Detective
    Rutanya Alda
    Rutanya Alda
    • Ireneas Irene
    Mary Woronov
    Mary Woronov
    • Shelleyas Shelley
    Wayne Heffley
    Wayne Heffley
    • Etta's Husbandas Etta's Husband
    Raleigh Bond
    • Martinas Martin
    Donegan Smith
    • Reporteras Reporter
    Christian Clemenson
    Christian Clemenson
    • Artieas Artie
    • Director
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Writer
      • Ronald Bass
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Betrayed
    6.3
    Betrayed
    Suspect
    6.6
    Suspect
    D.O.A.
    6.1
    D.O.A.
    Shattered
    6.5
    Shattered
    Jagged Edge
    6.5
    Jagged Edge
    Pacific Heights
    6.4
    Pacific Heights
    Black Widow
    4.8
    Black Widow
    Legal Eagles
    6.0
    Legal Eagles
    The Big Easy
    6.5
    The Big Easy
    Deceived
    6.1
    Deceived
    Internal Affairs
    6.5
    Internal Affairs
    Class Action
    6.4
    Class Action

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Debra Winger was given the choice of the two roles in Black Widow (1987); she chose the role of the FBI agent, because she didn't understand the motivation as to why the Black Widow kills, so the title role went to Theresa Russell.
    • Goofs
      Investigator in the last fifteen minutes of the movie refers to Jessica Bates as Jessica Barnes.
    • Quotes

      Catherine Peterson: Mr. Shin, I'll tell you two things about me: I'm very rich. And I'm very wealthy.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Radio Days/Critical Condition/Outrageous Fortune/Restless Natives (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Magic Island
      Written and performed by Peter Rafelson

    User reviews78

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
    Black Widow is directed by Bob Rafelson and written by Ronald Bass. It stars Debra Winger and Theresa Russell. Music is by Michael Small and cinematography by Conrad L. Hall.

    Two women. Catherine marries men for their money, then murders them. The other, Alexandra Barnes is on her tail, getting in close to hopefully expose her crimes...

    Rafelson's neo-noir homages the film noir femme fatales of the 40s and 50s with a high degree of success. There's much potency in the screenplay that puts it firmly in the noir universe. Flip flopping the misogyny angles of yesteryear, picture pitches the ultimate femme fatale destroyer of men into a cat and mouse scenario with a sexually repressed opponent - or is she a jealous but secret admirer? The transformation of Winger's dowdy Justice Department Agent into a blossoming lady at Catherine Black Widow's (Russell super sexy and sensuous) side brings in the doppelgänger effect, a good old noir staple. The sexual tension is a constant, particularly when Paul Nuytten (Sami Frey) is brought into proceedings, something which shifts the piece still further into noirville.

    There's also other characters straight out of film noir. Be it Alexandra's boss (the always reliable Terry O'Quinn), who's harbouring carnal desires for Alex, or sleazy Private Investigator H. Shin (James Hong) who has a needle habit, it's clear that Rafelson and Bass know their noir. Unfortunately most of the play is in daylight, meaning missed opportunities for some psychological shadow play is passed up. Though it should be noted that Hall's photography is slick and tonally in tune, especially when lighting scenes involving Russell as prime focus. It all builds to a splendid finale, the makers pulling us both ways as to where it will lead. Sure, some of the plot devices are weak, but in the main this is sexy, intriguing and tricky in narrative, whilst tech credits stay at the higher end of the scale. 7/10
    helpful•7
    3
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Jan 8, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 6, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Borgia
    • Filming locations
      • Royal Kona Resort, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Laurence Mark Productions
      • Amercent Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $25,205,460
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,426,831
      • Feb 8, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $25,205,460
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Theresa Russell and Debra Winger in Black Widow (1987)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Black Widow (1987) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.