Thanks to her outstanding performance in these outstanding films, Scarlett Johansson is one of the most accomplished and well-known actors of her generation.
Scarlett Johansson is without a doubt one of the most skilled and well-known actors of her generation. Before becoming a massive success in the 2010s, when she joined a large franchise and received some Academy Award nominations, she was outstanding as a rising star in the 2000s.
Given her impressive filmography, it can be challenging to choose the best movies from her successful career. Superhero blockbusters, hilarious comedies, intensely moving dramas, excellent voice acting, and more are available. Fortunately, you can turn to Letterboxd’s community of movie buffs to identify Johansson’s top performances.
10. The Man Who Wasn’t There
Scarlett Johansson was already collaborating with renowned directors in 2001, although she hadn’t exactly made a name for herself. The Coen Brothers’ The Man Who Wasn’t There featured Johansson among actors like Frances McDormand and Billy Bob Thornton.
The movie, which is set in 1949, is about a barber who blackmails the lover/boss of his wife to get money to invest in dry cleaning, but things go wrong. Because of the Coen Brothers’ flair, it is a classic and succeeds. Johansson portrays Rachel “Birdy” Abundas, a young woman that the main character frequently visits.
9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Scarlett Johansson has played several memorable parts, but it is obvious that Natasha Romanoff from the Marvel Cinematic Universe is her most well-known persona. She played the part for the first time in Iron Man 2 in 2010 and returned to it in The Avengers in 2012, although many of her best performances were in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Even though it’s a Cap movie, Natasha plays Steve’s sidekick and supports him throughout the entire movie. The two characters’ friendship would remain strong for the rest of their tenure in the franchise as a result of this. The spy thriller earned positive reviews and is important to the larger MCU.
8. Lost In Translation
In many ways, Scarlett Johansson’s abilities were made more well known by the film Lost in Translation. She plays Charlotte in the Sofia Coppola movie, a fresh college grad who bonds with an ailing movie star (Bill Murray) through a midlife crisis in Tokyo.
Nearly every aspect of the movie received positive reviews, particularly Murray and Johansson’s performances. Johansson won a BAFTA, and Lost in Translation was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay, as well as other awards at other ceremonies.
7. Avengers: Endgame
The narrative of Natasha Romanoff finally came to an end in Avengers: Endgame after over ten years. As it assembled more heroes than ever to defeat Thanos, the blockbuster exceeded $2 billion at the box office and briefly overtook all other films in terms of revenue.
Here, Johansson gives perhaps her strongest performance as Black Widow, conveying the impact of the character’s death in the previous movie. For her companion to be reunited with his family and for billions to escape the Blip, she also makes a significant sacrifice by sacrificing her own life.
6. Isle Of Dogs
Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson have collaborated on a few films, including Isle of Dogs. This stop-motion animated picture from Wes Anderson depicts the tale of a youngster looking for his dog after the animal was moved to live on a rubbish island due to sickness.
The movie received rave reviews and an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. The love interest of Chief (Bryan Cranston), the main dog in the plot, and a show dog named Nutmeg are both voiced by Johansson. Johansson excels at voice acting, which is an underappreciated facet of her career.
5. Avengers: Infinity War
Although Johansson’s performance in the sequel is probably stronger, Avengers: Infinity War has a marginally higher overall rating. In this one, the Guardians of the Galaxy and new heroes like Spider-Man and Doctor Strange joined forces with members of the Avengers.
As they all battled to prevent Thanos from obtaining the Infinity Stones and eradicating half of mankind, it was the largest crossover event to date. The movie lived up to the hype, was widely praised, and features one of the most startling conclusions in movie history.
4. Jojo Rabbit
Scarlett Johansson’s performance in Jojo Rabbit added to the star’s amazing 2019. This Taika Waititi film centers on a Hitler Youth member (Roman Griffin Davis) who discovers that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is concealing a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their home.
Even though everyone in the cast gives fantastic performances, Johansson stands out and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. As a result, she was nominated for two Academy Awards in the same year, which is an exceptional accomplishment. Her endearing performance serves as the movie’s emotional center.
3. Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson’s 2019 was a standout and probably the best of her career. Later in the year, she starred in the critically praised Netflix original movie Marriage Story. It all began with Avengers: Endgame.
The focus of the narrative is a couple going through a coast-to-coast divorce named Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) and Charlie (Adam Driver). The critically acclaimed Noah Baumbach film received six Oscar nominations, including one for Scarlett Johansson as Best Actress, and was hailed upon its debut. Additionally, she was nominated for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.
2. Her
Scarlett Johansson’s voice acting skills, as mentioned, are sadly underappreciated, but Her is probably where she shined the most. The narrative centers on an aloof man (Joaquin Phoenix) who develops feelings for Samantha, his operating system (voiced by Johansson).
Critics loved this Best Original Screenplay winner, and viewers are still able to watch it on streaming providers. Johansson received a lot of accolades for giving Samantha life and displaying different emotions despite Samantha not being a human figure.
1. The Prestige
The Prestige continues Christopher Nolan’s tradition of imaginative, high-concept films. In this one, two magicians in the 1800s engage in a fierce rivalry that escalates well beyond what it ever ought to. The subject matter is magic.
Johansson joins a stellar cast that includes Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Hall, and Piper Perabo. She plays Olivia, Jackman’s secretary who is sent to spy on Bale’s character but ends up falling in love with him instead. It’s only one of many twists in this suspenseful narrative.