Why Did Scarlett Johansson Sue Disney?

Disney is certainly no stranger to lawsuits, and one of the most high-profile suits against the House of Mouse in recent history was filed by popular actress Scarlett Johansson back in July 2021. Johansson plays Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is featured in numerous Avengers movies, as well as the heroine’s standalone film, Black Widow.

The movie’s release took a similar approach to that of previous Disney films released during the COVID-19 pandemic, debuting both in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on the same date. It was widely successful on both platforms. So, why did Johansson end up suing Disney?

Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney in late 2021, alleging breach of contract due to the film’s release on Disney+ on the same date that it was released in theaters. Her legal team argued that Disney had guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release for the film and built box office performance into her salary.

Black Widow at AMC Theaters in Disney Springs

Someone familiar with the contract said that the release of the movie on Disney+ may have cost Johansson over $50 million.

Disney responded to the lawsuit with a statement that said, “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing,” and that they had “fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to hear additional compensation.”

The decision to release the movie in theaters and with Premier Access was Disney’s attempt to approach movie releases with “flexibility,” assessing audiences’ comfort level with returning to the theaters and approaching things on a “case-by-case basis.” It was back in March 2021 that they decided on a dual release for Black Widow.

The film grossed $80 million at the domestic box office, $78 million overseas in theaters, and an additional $60 million through Disney+ on its opening weekend. The following days and weeks saw a dramatic loss in performance, however, compared to previous Marvel films released exclusively in theaters.

In September 2021, news broke that Scarlett Johansson and Disney had settled the lawsuit after it was forced into private arbitration following a long period of back-and-forth. The details of the settlement were ultimately not disclosed.

About the settlement, Johansson said, “I am happy to have resolved our differences with Disney… I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years and have greatly enjoyed my creative relationship with the team. I look forward to continuing our collaboration in years to come,” per The Hollywood Reporter.

Disney Studios chairman Alan Bergman added, “I’m very pleased that we have been able to come to a mutual agreement with Scarlett Johansson regarding Black Widow. We appreciate her contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and look forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s Tower of Terror.”

The Tower of Terror movie was still in development as of July 2025, according to Johansson.