Scarlett Johansson Criticizes Oscars for Ignoring Avengers: Endgame: 'An Impossible Film'

Actress Scarlett Johansson, known for her compelling performances, has earned two Academy Award nominations in her career. However, she remains puzzled about the lack of recognition for Avengers: Endgame, where she portrayed the iconic Black Widow. Despite the film's monumental success and its status as one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, it only secured a single nomination for visual effects at the Oscars.

In a candid interview with Vanity Fair, Johansson expressed her bewilderment, stating, "How did this film not get nominated for an Oscar? It was an impossible movie that should not have worked, that really works as a film — and also, it's one of the most successful films of all time." Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019, is widely regarded as one of the finest entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), yet the Academy has historically been reluctant to award superhero films in major categories like acting and directing. The only Marvel film to break this trend to date is 2018's Black Panther, which received multiple nominations.

Johansson's portrayal of Natasha Romanoff, from her debut in 2010's Iron Man 2 to her poignant sacrifice in Endgame, was certainly noteworthy and deserving of recognition. Despite this, the actress shared with Vanity Fair that she is unlikely to return to the MCU. She elaborated, "It would be very hard for me to understand in what capacity [returning] would make sense for me, for the character that I play. I miss my buddies and really would love to be with them forever, but what works about the character is that her story is complete. I don't want to mess with that. For fans, too — it's important for them."

Following Natasha Romanoff's death in Endgame, Johansson reprised her role one last time in the 2021 prequel film Black Widow, which she also executive produced. This film allowed fans to explore more of Romanoff's backstory and provided a fitting conclusion to her journey within the MCU.