Black Widow
“She mates and she kills.”
Synopsis
Federal agent Alexandra Barnes believes that Catherine Petersen is a serial killer who marries rich men and then murders them for their money. But since Catherine is seemingly a master of disguise and has multiple identities, Alexandra can't prove anything with conventional detective work. With no other option, she goes undercover, pursuing the same man as Catherine, and hoping that Catherine will slip up and reveal her true identity.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Black Widow 1987 trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-02-26
Top Cast
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Debra Winger
Alexandra
Theresa Russell
Catharine
Sami Frey
Paul
Dennis Hopper
Ben
Nicol Williamson
William
Terry O'Quinn
Bruce
James Hong
Shin
Diane Ladd
Etta
D.W. Moffett
Michael
Lois Smith
Sara
Leo Rossi
Ricci
Danny Kamekona
Detective
Rutanya Alda
Irene
Mary Woronov
Shelley
Wayne Heffley
Etta's Husband
Raleigh Bond
Martin
Donegan Smith
Reporter
Christian Clemenson
Artie
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 6, 1987
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$10.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$25.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.4x
+$14.7M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Bob Rafelson
- Screenplay & Story
- Ronald Bass
- Original Score
- Michael Small
- Original Title
- Black Widow
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Budget
- $10.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $25.2M
- Production Studios
- American Entertainment Partners L.P., Amercent Films, 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Bob Rafelson
Ronald Bass
Michael Small
Conrad Hall, Al Giddings
John Bloom
Harold Schneider, Laurence Mark
Department Leadership Roster
Bob Rafelson
Director
Ronald Bass
Writer
Harold Schneider
Producer
John Bloom
Editor
Conrad Hall
Director of Photography
Michael Small
Original Music Composer
Gene Callahan
Production Design
Patricia Norris
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Black Widow.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Black Widow.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Black Widow
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Black Widow about?
Federal agent Alexandra Barnes believes that Catherine Petersen is a serial killer who marries rich men and then murders them for their money. But since Catherine is seemingly a master of disguise and has multiple identities, Alexandra can't prove anything with conventional detective work. With no other option, she goes undercover, pursuing the same man as Catherine, and hoping that Catherine will slip up and reveal her true identity.
Who directed Black Widow?
Black Widow was directed by Bob Rafelson.
Who stars in Black Widow?
The principal cast of Black Widow includes Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey, Dennis Hopper, Nicol Williamson.
When was Black Widow released and how long is it?
Black Widow was released in 1987 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.
What was the box office and production budget of Black Widow?
Black Widow had a reported production budget of $10.5M and grossed $25.2M at the worldwide box office (2.4 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for Black Widow?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Black Widow was composed by Michael Small.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Black Widow?
Black Widow holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).