Scarlett Johansson started acting at a young age, and she’s since gone on to have an illustrious career filled with many amazing projects. In recent years, though, she’s become mostly known for playing Black Widow in the highly successful MCU.
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Her career being tied to the superhero franchise is understandable. After all, Marvel has releaseda litany of fantastic moviesin the past decade. Yet, any Black Widow fans owe it to themselves to check out some of Johansson’s other work. She’s an extremely talented actress who has delivered brilliant performances in many different movies. Here is what IMDb reviewers consider her best non-Marvel films.
10Chef (2014) - 7.3
Johansson joins fellow MCU actor Jon Favreau in this comedy-drama titledChef. Favreau directs and stars in the piece as Carl Casper, a talented chef whose creativity is being stifled by his boss.
After an incident with a critic leads to his dismissal, Carl rediscovers his love for cooking as he operates a food truck. His new job also gives him a chance to grow closer to his son. Johansson plays a hostess named Molly, who is good friends with Carl. While not the most memorable role of her career, the actress delivers a solid performance.
9The Jungle Book (2016) - 7.4
In recent years, Disney has made a habit out of remaking their classic animation movies using a mix of live-action and CGI.The Jungle Bookremake sees Johansson voice the hypnotic python known as Kaa.
Her casting raised a few eyebrows as the original version of the character was played by a man. However, her soothing voice is well-suited to the role. Kaa’s swapped gender isn’t the only change to the animated classic. Yet, it’s still a movie about a young boy named Mowgli, who lives in the jungle, amongst the animals.
8The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) - 7.5
From the minds of the Coen brothers,The Man Who Wasn’t Thereis a crime drama set in the 1940s about a barber in need of money to invest in dry cleaning. His idea he has to generate the funds is to blackmail his boss’s wife.
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While it’s not the work the Coens will be most remembered for, it’s still amongtheir best movies. In it, Johansson portrays a teenage piano player who gets the protagonist’s attention. The actress is convincing as the naive yet optimistic young girl.
7Match Point (2005) - 7.6
In Woody Allen’sMatch Point, a recently retired tennis player named Chris Wilton marries into a wealthy family. While it’s a fortuitous situation for Chris, he still has eyes for his brother-in-law’s girlfriend. Chris attempts to keep his affair secret, but it’s not easy.
The temptress is portrayed by Scarlett Johansson. As she’s played multiple similar roles in her career, it should come as no surprise that Johansson excels as the character. In fact, she’s among the best parts of the movie.
6Lost In Translation (2003) - 7.7
A collection of movies contributed to Scarlett Johansson’s rise in Hollywood, and Sofia Coppola’sLost In Translationis certainly one of them. The comedy-drama follows a fading movie star and a lonely young woman as they form an unlikely bond in Tokyo.
There are romantic elements during the piece, but it doesn’t play out like a traditional cinematic love story. Instead, much of the movie’s focus is put on feeling alienated and lost. Both leads deliver brilliant performances.
5Isle Of Dogs (2018) - 7.9
This Wes Anderson animated comedy boasts a star-studded cast, including the likes of Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, and of course, Scarlett Johansson.
Isle of Dogstells the tale of a young boy who sets off on an adventure to retrieve his dog. The pup is away because Megasaki’s mayor has sent all canines to a trash island to stop the spread of a virus caused by the animals. One of the dogs on the island is named Nutmeg and shares a voice with Johansson.
4Marriage Story (2019) - 7.9
Despite being titledMarriage Story, Noah Baumbach’s comedy-drama focuses more on the divorce between two parents. The movie follows the ex-couple as they navigate the complicated process of ending their legal union.
The greatness of the film comes from the wonderful performances of its cast. Scarlett Johansson amazes in the leading role alongside Adam Driver, while Laura Dern steals the show as a supporting player. The three of them all earned Oscar nominations for their work.
3Jojo Rabbit (2019) - 7.9
Comedies don’t get much darker than Taika Waititi’sJojo Rabbit. It’s a story about a young Hitler-fanatic living during World War II. Despite his love of Nazis, he forms a bond with a young Jewish girl that his mother is hiding in his house.
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Scarlett Johansson plays the generous and courageous single mother. Whether she’s serious or funny, Johansson steals virtually every scene. And she’s certainly one of the most likable characters in the movie.
2Her (2013) - 8.0
Heris about a writer who purchases an operating system that includes an advanced Artificial intelligence. The lonely, introverted man quickly forms a strong bond with the feminine AI assistant.
Spike Jonze’s narrative is a compelling one, and it’s enhanced by the excellent cast. Johansson has the role of the AI. Using only her voice, she’s able to captivate audiences for the entire movie. Plus, she manages to sound like an AI while still feeling human enough for the drama’s romantic plot to be believable.
1The Prestige (2006) - 8.5
Christopher Nolan is one of the most famous directors working today, and he’s madesome excellent films;The Prestigeis among his best. In the movie, two 19th century stage magicians are locked in a perpetual rivalry.
They both aim to put on the best show and create the ultimate illusions. Unfortunately, the magic men head down dark paths as they become obsessed with being the best. Throughout the movie, Scarlett Johansson’s Oliva finds herself in the middle of the magicians' conflict. Every member of the cast excels in their respective roles, including Johansson.
