What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBlack Widow
Cate Shortland · Film · 2021
If you loved Black Widow, start with Hawkeye (Jonathan Igla, 2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Black Widow across media.
What hooked you in Black Widow was the way the weight of a hidden past forces characters to confront their deepest secrets.
Books on the same thread
The Widow: A Novel
John Grisham · Book · 2025
Shares a thread with Black Widow: Redemption.
If Black Widow hit, The Widow: A Novel shares the thread.
The Widow
John Grisham · Book
Explores: wrongfully accused, small-town corruption, amateur sleuthing.
If Black Widow hit, The Widow shares the thread.
Pieces of Her
Karin Slaughter · Book
Explores: hidden past, maternal secrets, identity crisis.
Like Black Widow, this story centers on a woman forced to reconcile her current life with the shocking, dangerous history of a parent who kept their true identity carefully hidden.
Afrofuturism
Ytasha L. Womack · Book · 2013
Explores: racial identity, social justice, cultural identity.
If Black Widow hit, Afrofuturism shares the thread.
Series on the same thread
Hawkeye
Jonathan Igla · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Black Widow: Redemption.
If the bond between Natasha and her sister resonated with you in Black Widow, you will appreciate this character-driven dynamic centered on legacy, mentorship, and overcoming past trauma together.
WandaVision
Jac Schaeffer · Series · 2021
Explores: Grief and Loss, Illusion vs. Reality, Control and Manipulation.
Much like the psychological unraveling in Black Widow, this series explores the pain of suppressed memories and the struggle to regain control when your reality is built on manipulation.
Loki
Michael Waldron · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Black Widow: Redemption.
You will find the same themes of redemption and identity crisis present in Black Widow here as a complex anti-hero navigates a bureaucratic conspiracy that challenges their entire existence.
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Joss Whedon · Series · 2013
Shares a thread with Black Widow: Government conspiracy.
Fans of the espionage elements in Black Widow will enjoy this series, which mirrors the tension of working within a global organization while dealing with shifting loyalties and moral ambiguity.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
If Black Widow hit, The Truth shares the thread.
Darknet Diaries
Podcast
Explores: hacking, data breaches, cybersecurity.
If Black Widow hit, Darknet Diaries shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Black Widow set before or after the Avengers films?
Black Widow focuses on Natasha Romanoff dealing with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. The film explores her past and the darker parts of her ledger while she is pursued by a dangerous conspiracy.
What is the primary conflict in Black Widow?
In Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff must confront the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. She is pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down while she navigates the broken relationships from her time as a spy.
Does Black Widow cover Natasha Romanoff's history as a spy?
Yes, Black Widow deals directly with her history as a spy and the consequences of the broken relationships left in her wake. The film follows Natasha Romanoff as she confronts these past elements while facing a dangerous conspiracy that threatens her current life.
Is Black Widow about Natasha Romanoff's time as an Avenger?
Black Widow is primarily about the period before she became an Avenger. The story focuses on Natasha Romanoff confronting her past as a spy and dealing with the consequences of her previous life while being hunted by a dangerous conspiracy tied to her history.