Black Widow (1987)

56% of critics liked it
(16 reviews)
42% of users liked it
(3,614 ratings)

Black Widow bears no relation to the 1954 film of the same name--beyond its characterization of the female as the deadlier of the species, that is. Debra Winger stars as a federal agent who has sworn to bring Theresa Russell to justice. Ms. Russell has married several millionaires who have all died… More Black Widow bears no relation to the 1954 film of the same name--beyond its characterization of the female as the deadlier of the species, that is. Debra Winger stars as a federal agent who has sworn to bring Theresa Russell to justice. Ms. Russell has married several millionaires who have all died mysterious deaths, for which she has remained undetected because she has assumed a number of different identities. Ms. Winger is the only person in her department who suspects that all of the deceased millionaires' widows are the same person. Finally tracking down Russell, Winger finds herself inexorably becoming friends with the charming murderess. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Bob Rafelson
Written By: Ronald Bass
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Feb 6, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Feb 3, 2004
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The performances by Theresa Russell and Debra Winger were superb.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Black Widow is an engaging and mesmerizing psychological thriller.
Blake Davis, KFOR Channel 4 News
A smart, twisty, stylish thriller with a good Debra Winger performance.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Weaves quite an intriguing web
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Stylish and sleek, yet also rather slow.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Mason W

"Black Widow" starring Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Diane Ladd, and Dennis Hopper is a very good mystery/thriller. Debra Winger is a very talented actress and is very good as the reporter in this film. Winger is the career driven reporter looking into a woman that… More
"Black Widow" starring Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Diane Ladd, and Dennis Hopper is a very good mystery/thriller. Debra Winger is a very talented actress and is very good as the reporter in this film. Winger is the career driven reporter looking into a woman that possibly has married several wealthy men and killed them all for the money....very well done and worth watching.
Lady D

Pretty dated in looks and it took a while to warm up, likeable, but nothing special
jay n

The leads are the whole show which thanks to them is quite an enjoyable cat and mouse game.
Deb S

She Mates, She Kills ... But does she ever Love? Alexandra (Debra Winger) plays a workaholic FBI agent who pursues a rich young widow (Theresa Russell) who seduces, marries a succession of older wealthy men and then kills them off by a mysterious means of poisoning. When the… More
She Mates, She Kills ... But does she ever Love? Alexandra (Debra Winger) plays a workaholic FBI agent who pursues a rich young widow (Theresa Russell) who seduces, marries a succession of older wealthy men and then kills them off by a mysterious means of poisoning. When the "Black Widow" sets her eyes on a handsome hotel chain owner (Sami Frey), Alexandra goes undercover to Hawaii to track her down but things get personal when she falls for the intended victim. Will Alex save him from the Black Widow's evil clutches or will he fall for the seductive femme fatale? <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=vgot50" target="_blank"><img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/vgot50.gif" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Joey N

My film class taught me that there's a bunch of psychological subtext. Fine, but it feels like a dated, mostly tame thriller with some cool momments. See: the awesome kiss-of-death scene.

Cast

            Debra Winger as Alexandra Barnes

            Theresa Russell as Catharine

            Sami Frey as Paul Nuytten

            Dennis Hopper as Ben Dumers

            Nicol Williamson as William Macauley

            Diane Ladd as Etta

            Terry O'Quinn as Bruce

            Lois Smith as Sara

            D.W. Moffett as Michael

            Leo Rossi as Ricci

            Mary Woronov as Shelley

            Rutanya Alda as Irene

            James Hong as Shin

            Raleigh Bond as Martin

            Al Cerullo as Helicopter Pilot

            Christian Clemenson as Artie

            Wayne Heffley as Etta's Husband

            Thomas Hill as Attorney

            Danny Kamekona as Detective

            Robert J. Peters as Steward

            Julie Robinson as Underwater and Diving Double

            Arsenio "Sonny" Trinidad as Tran

            Johnny S.B. Willis as James

            Gene Callahan as Mr. Foster

            David Mamet as Herb

            Richard E. Arnold as Doctor

            Tee Dennard as Sid

            Denise Dennison as Stewardess

            Chris S. Ducey as Poker Player

            Kate Hall as Young Girl

            Marcia Holley as Underwater and Diving Double

            David Kasparian as Limo Driver

            Bea Kiyohara as Clerk

            Darrah Meeley as Dawn

            Mick Muldoon as Doorman

            Juleen Murray as Attendant

            Allen Nause as Clerk

            Ed Pang as Waiter

            George Ricord as Italian Man

            Donegan Smith as Reporter
See full cast