Scarlett Johansson, through her legal team, sued Disney over a contract breach in Black Widow movie release. Johanson claimed that the contract regulates that her salary would be based on the film’s box office performance. Johansson’s legal team in 2019 had reached out to Disney over the concerns of multi-platform release of the movie. They then tried to renegotiate Johansson’s contract in response to the change in the movie's release strategy.

The film garnered $80 million (Rp1,148 billion) revenue in its first week and dropped significantly by 67% in its second week. Disney also generated $60 million (Rp861 billion) income from Disney+ Premier Access. This decline marked the steepest second week in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As of last week (29 July), the movie has generated $319 million globally, which makes Black Widow the most underperforming Marvel film to date.

In response to the lawsuit, Disney fired back at Johansson by calling the lawsuit “...especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Johansonn’s bold move at least inspired other Disney actors, namely Emma Stone and Emily Blunt. According to a newsletter by former Hollywood reporter Matthew Belloni, Emma Stone, the star of Disney’s Cruella, appeared to be “weighing” her options while Emily Blunt is watching closely on the numbers of her latest Disney Movie, Jungle Cruise. Blunt has also raised objection about her movie, A Quiet Place Part II, to be released on streaming platform, only 45 days after its theatrical debut.