Scarlett Johansson's 10 Best Movie Roles That Aren't Black Widow
By Published May 15, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
There's no denying that is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Everyone knows who she is, she has appeared in some of the biggest blockbusters in the history of cinema, and she has been nominated for some of the top awards in her industry. Of course, the most famous role of Johansson's career is as Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
in seven movies, including a standalone project where she was the lead, as well as appearing in a cameo in a few others. The likes of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Infinity War are among the best films she has ever starred in. With so many appearances as Natasha, it's interesting to see the best roles of her career outside of the MCU. Those are the indie films, the voice acting, and the early performances that let the world know about her talent.
The versatility of Scarlett Johansson is actually her greatest trait, which is evidenced by these roles. She can steal a scene without ever appearing and only lending her voice to a film, she can be nominated for Oscars in the same year for a comedy and a tragic drama, and she can stand out next to legendary actors.
10 Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) - Cristina
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a movie that relies heavily on the performances of its three main actors. Johansson joins Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, a real-life married couple, and shares electric chemistry with both of them, which isn't easy to pull off.
The story sees Johansson play Cristina, a woman who, with her friend Vicky (Rebecca Hall), joins a charismatic artist (Bardem) for a romantic time, only for his ex-wife (Cruz) to show up. The film received widespread acclaim for the acting and writing, while also being a modest box office success
9 Ghost World (2001) - Rebecca Doppelmeyer
The earliest role on this came a few years before Johansson truly broke out, yet it let the world know that she was a rising star. Ghost World is based on the comic book from the '90s of the same name, which focuses on two teen best friends who face a rift when one becomes interested in an older man.
Johansson portrays Rebecca, while Thora Birch is Enid, and they're great together. While the film struggled commercially, it has become a cult classic and was well-received. Johansson's turn as Rebecca is a mature one that earned her appreciation from various critics' associations.
8 Girl With A Pearl Earring (2003) - Griet
Based on the 1999 novel of the same name, Girl with a Pearl Earring is an early role for Scarlett Johansson, where she plays Griet, a servant in the home of Johannes Vermeer during the time that he painted the famous titular piece of art.
While Girl with a Pearl Earring isn't one of Johansson's most well-known parts, it showcases her talent. She works incredibly well alongside her co-stars, including Colin Firth, and landed nominations at the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs for her performance. It was a big part of her major breakout in 2003.
7 Isle Of Dogs (2018) - Nutmeg
One of the most underrated aspects of Scarlett Johansson's talents is her voice acting. She has lent her voice to some great animated roles, from a fun hero in Transformers One to a chilling python in The Jungle Book. It's hard to pick out the best but Isle of Dogs is up there.
This tells the story of a group of dogs who help a young boy search for his pup after they're banished to an island because of a canine flu. Johansson shows up as Nutmeg, a former show dog who keeps up her appearance despite living on trash island. She makes sure the character is charming and feels like a proud dog.
6 The Prestige (2006) - Olivia Wenscombe
The Prestige is one of and it remains one of his best. The premise centers on two magicians who turn from friends into bitter rivals with dangerous results. Johansson portrays Olivia Wenscombe, a woman who gets caught between them.
Olivia starts by helping one magician, only to fall in love with the other, adding a ton of drama to the story. Johansson was still only a few years into her stardom and held her own alongside veteran actors like Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, nearly stealing the show from them.
5 Jojo Rabbit (2019) - Rosie Betzler
2019 was an incredible year for Scarlett Johansson as she pulled off the rare feat of being a double Academy Award nominee. In the Best Supporting Actress category, Johansson was nominated for Jojo Rabbit, which is one of her wackiest films.
The movie centers on a Hitler Youth who learns that his mother, Johansson's Rosie, is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Johansson is tremendous as a loving mother and the relationship she shows with the protagonist is sweet. She's also part of the film's most emotional moment.
4 Lost In Translation (2003) - Charlotte
The movie that put Scarlett Johansson on the map is Lost in Translation and for good reason. The film follows a fading movie star during a midlife crisis when he goes on a trip to Tokyo. While there, he befriends a recent college graduate who was recently married.
Bill Murray is a legend in the business, yet Johansson went toe-to-toe with him in every remarkable scene of this critically acclaimed drama. The quiet intimacy between the two actors is what helps make this film a modern masterpiece and holds up as Johansson at her best.
3 Her (2013) - Samantha
As noted, the voice acting career of Johansson is underrated and she has never done better in that realm than in Her. Unlike a lot of voice work, this isn't an animated film. Instead, it follows a lonely man who downloads an artificially intelligent operating system and falls in love with it.
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That voice, which he names Samanta, is performed by Johansson. She is perfect in this film, hitting each vocal cue perfectly, coming off as a soothing and loving presence. It's the kind of spectacular performance that manages to carry the film despite not seeing the actor in a single frame.
2 Under The Skin (2013) - The Female
The impressive thing about . In this Swiss sci-fi movie, she plays a character simply known as The Female, who is actually an alien that preys on men at night.
Gone are Johansson's signature facial expressions and they're replaced by an often blank stare. It's hypnotizing, completely pulls you in, and never lets you go. You're captivated as you watch each scene unfold because Johansson commands the screen despite a lack of dialogue. It's her most challenging role.
1 Marriage Story (2019) - Nicole Barber
The other Academy Award nominated performance of Johansson's 2019 was the opposite role of Jojo Rabbit. While that was a funny movie with some emotional moments, Marriage Story is pure emotion and drama.
The heavy film sees Johansson play Nicole, a woman going through a divorce that keeps getting messier. We see every dirty and vicious moment as she and Adam Driver go at each other. There's an intensity to this performance that we don't often see from Scarlett Johansson, which helped it stand out and landed her that Oscar nomination.
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