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Black Widow

  • 19871987
  • RR
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
9.9K
YOUR RATING
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
9.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Writer
    • Ron Bass
  • Stars
    • Debra Winger
    • Theresa Russell
    • Sami Frey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Writer
    • Ron 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
    • Alexandra
    Theresa Russell
    Theresa Russell
    • Catharine
    Sami Frey
    Sami Frey
    • Paul
    Dennis Hopper
    Dennis Hopper
    • Ben
    Nicol Williamson
    Nicol Williamson
    • William
    Terry O'Quinn
    Terry O'Quinn
    • Bruce
    James Hong
    James Hong
    • Shin
    Diane Ladd
    Diane Ladd
    • Etta
    D.W. Moffett
    D.W. Moffett
    • Michael
    Lois Smith
    Lois Smith
    • Sara
    Leo Rossi
    Leo Rossi
    • Ricci
    Danny Kamekona
    Danny Kamekona
    • Detective
    Rutanya Alda
    Rutanya Alda
    • Irene
    Mary Woronov
    Mary Woronov
    • Shelley
    Wayne Heffley
    Wayne Heffley
    • Etta's Husband
    Raleigh Bond
    • Martin
    Donegan Smith
    • Reporter
    Christian Clemenson
    Christian Clemenson
    • Artie
    • Director
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Writer
      • Ron Bass
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

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

    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
    8/10
    lots underneath the surface here
    This is a terrific movie that reminds one what we lost when Debra Winger slowed down her movie-making. She gives an honest, heartfelt performance as an investigator chasing a woman who marries rich and whose husbands wind up dead every time. The widow then remakes her appearance, gets a new identity, and dupes another man. Only Winger is convinced that this trail of murders is the work of one woman.

    Eventually she catches up with this black widow (Theresa Russell) and the two hang out together in Hawaii. The Russell character likes the danger - she knows Winger is after her, and after trying to kill her during a scuba dive, saves her at the last minute.

    My favorite scene with Winger is the one in which she almost tells Nicol Williamson the truth about his bride. She stands and stares at him - she knows he's going to die, she knows he won't believe her - you can see every thought in her head until, regretfully, she leaves.

    Theresa Russell has the right detachment for this role. One suspects the character is a real man-hater and is, in fact, attracted to Winger. Winger is admiring of Russell's constant flirtation with danger. This is a complex relationship that the two play out. The finale is not up to the standard of the rest of the film, but I still highly recommend it.
    helpful•50
    8
    • blanche-2
    • Aug 10, 2005

    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

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