12 cringeworthy moments toward Black Widow in the early Marvel movies that you probably forgot about

Kirsten AcunaJul 21, 2021, 02:53 IST

Nat has come a long way in the MCU since her first appearance in "Iron Man 2."Marvel Studios

Scarlett Johansson said Black Widow was treated like "a piece of a--" in early Marvel films.
We looked back at her 8 major MCU appearances, rounding up times Nat was treated like an object.
Before 2015, Nat's appearances largely play up her sexuality. "Iron Man 2" is the worst offender.

We went back to the early Marvel films to see exactly how Johansson was treated like "a piece of a--" and it was easy to spot in her early MCU appearances. Some of these scenes, especially in "Iron Man 2," do not hold up well.

Black Widow finally gets the respect she deserves in Marvel's standalone film. Marvel Studios

We went back to the early Marvel films to see exactly how Johansson was treated like "a piece of a--" and it was easy to spot in her early MCU appearances. Some of these scenes, especially in "Iron Man 2," do not hold up well.

The male gaze is in full effect the first time we're introduced to Black Widow, when Tony Stark refers to Natasha as an object he wants.

This is Nat's first appearance in 2010's "Iron Man 2." It sets the tone for how we're supposed to view Nat in the MCU, and it's not great. Marvel Studios

Happy underestimates Natasha, while insulting her in the process, as he's directed to "give her a lesson" in boxing.

Happy insults Nat while "teaching" her to box. Marvel Studios

Tony tells Nat she looks fantastic and then quickly acknowledges his comment is unprofessional.

It's very clear Tony only has one thing on his mind when it comes to Natasha for the majority of "Iron Man 2" until he learns she works with Nick Fury. Marvel Studios

Nat is overly flirtatious for no reason in "Iron Man 2."

Nat's entire appearance in "Iron Man 2" was meant to make her out to be this mysterious sexy lady because of the tight dresses she wears and the hyper-focus on the way she walks, moves, and holds herself. Marvel Studios

For some reason, we need to see Nat doing an outfit change in a car on her way to take down bad guys.

We're ready to send Happy to horny jail in "Iron Man 2." Marvel Studios

In "The Avengers," Nat's first appearance involves her captor telling Nat this is not how they wanted this evening to go.

This is the first impression you get of Nat in "The Avengers." The moment is overshadowed a bit by a man who just wants her for his gross desires. Marvel Studios

2014's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" has Nat say the silliest pun before taking down men on a ship.

Nat delivers a pointless, kind of flirty line at the start of "The Winter Soldier." Marvel Studios

Nat lifts up her shirt at one point to show a wound and then laments about having to bid adieu to bikini season.

"The Winter Soldier" makes us stare at Scarlett Johansson's midriff for no good reason. Marvel Studios

Nat and Bruce Banner's entire "Beauty and the Beast" romance in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is downright weird.

Nat and Bruce are paired together in "Age of Ultron." Marvel Studios

Bruce falls into Black Widow's chest when they fall behind a bar, mirroring another Joss Whedon-directed scene from "Justice League."

This is a thing that happens in "Avengers: Age of Ultron," for some reason. Marvel Studios

Nat has a go-to sexy, ridiculous fight pose in the earlier MCU movies. Yelena hilariously calls her out on it in "Black Widow."

Yelena mocks Nat's famous pose in "Black Widow." Marvel Studios

Bonus: An early script for "The Winter Soldier" tried to put Nat into a sexier tennis outfit when we saw her pick up Cap at the film's start.

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Marvel Studios

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12 cringeworthy moments toward Black Widow in the early Marvel movies that you probably forgot about

We went back to the early Marvel films to see exactly how Johansson was treated like "a piece of a--" and it was easy to spot in her early MCU appearances. Some of these scenes, especially in "Iron Man 2," do not hold up well.

The male gaze is in full effect the first time we're introduced to Black Widow, when Tony Stark refers to Natasha as an object he wants.

Happy underestimates Natasha, while insulting her in the process, as he's directed to "give her a lesson" in boxing.

Tony tells Nat she looks fantastic and then quickly acknowledges his comment is unprofessional.

Nat is overly flirtatious for no reason in "Iron Man 2."

For some reason, we need to see Nat doing an outfit change in a car on her way to take down bad guys.

In "The Avengers," Nat's first appearance involves her captor telling Nat this is not how they wanted this evening to go.

2014's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" has Nat say the silliest pun before taking down men on a ship.

Nat lifts up her shirt at one point to show a wound and then laments about having to bid adieu to bikini season.

Nat and Bruce Banner's entire "Beauty and the Beast" romance in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is downright weird.

Bruce falls into Black Widow's chest when they fall behind a bar, mirroring another Joss Whedon-directed scene from "Justice League."

Nat has a go-to sexy, ridiculous fight pose in the earlier MCU movies. Yelena hilariously calls her out on it in "Black Widow."

Bonus: An early script for "The Winter Soldier" tried to put Nat into a sexier tennis outfit when we saw her pick up Cap at the film's start.