Scarlett Johansson Reveals Her All-Time Favorites Movies
Rising to prominence in the final years of the 1990s, Scarlett Johansson truly hit her stride at the turn of the millennium. Her early breakthroughs included a supporting role for Joel Coen in The Man Who Wasn’t There and a leading turn in the cult indie favorite Ghost World in 2001.
However, it was her 2003 performance in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation that fundamentally altered her career trajectory when she was just 17 years old. Acting alongside the seasoned Bill Murray, Johansson delivered a remarkably mature performance as a young woman adrift in Tokyo.
While the film was a major Academy Award contender and won Coppola a statue for its screenplay, Johansson was famously overlooked for a nomination herself. Despite the snub, the film’s critical acclaim paved the way for her to work with industry titans like Christopher Nolan, Spike Jonze, and Wes Anderson.
Four Favorites with the cast of #AsteroidCity: Maya Hawke, Sam Marra, Stephen Park, Tony Revolori, Ethan Josh Lee, Rupert Friend and Scarlett Johansson ✨
— Letterboxd (@letterboxd) June 22, 2023
🎤@miavicino
📷@flynnslick pic.twitter.com/VMHlmgQySJ
Given her storied career and her high-profile role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans have long been curious about her personal cinematic influences. In a deep dive with the film platform Letterboxd, the actress revealed an eclectic mix of four movies that she considers her all-time favorites.
Her first selection was the 1958 classic Auntie Mame, a story about an eccentric socialite raising her orphaned nephew that originally garnered six Oscar nominations. For her second pick, she chose the 1993 comedy Groundhog Day, which stars her former co-star Bill Murray as a cynical weatherman trapped in a time loop.
The film is widely regarded as one of the most perfect comedies ever written, balancing existential themes with Murray’s signature wit. It is a choice that reflects Johansson’s own appreciation for storytelling that blends humor with a deeper moral core.
Moving into the world of musicals and road movies, Johansson highlighted the 1994 Australian hit The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Starring Terence Stamp and Hugo Weaving, the film follows three performers traveling across the outback.
It is celebrated for its vibrant energy and its early, compassionate portrayal of the drag and transgender communities. To close out her list, she selected James Cameron’s 1991 blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
This sequel famously reimagined Arnold Schwarzenegger’s relentless killing machine as a protector sent back in time to save a young John Connor. It remains a high-water mark for the action genre and serves as a testament to Johansson’s love for large-scale, high-stakes cinematic storytelling.
As of early this year, Johansson has successfully transitioned into a major force behind the camera, recently making her feature directorial debut with Eleanor the Great. The poignant drama, which premiered to a standing ovation at Cannes, stars June Squibb as a 90-year-old woman reclaiming her life in New York.
The film recently made its streaming debut on Netflix in January, following a successful theatrical run late last year. The actress also remains a dominant figure at the box office, with her leading role in Jurassic World Rebirth helping the film gross over $869 million globally by the end of 2025.
Looking ahead, she is set to lead Mike Flanagan’s highly anticipated horror project, The Exorcist: Martyrs, which is scheduled for a March 2027 release. She is also actively developing a Tower of Terror movie for Disney, a project she describes as a complex but exciting “blue sky” challenge that is finally taking shape.
Have something to add? Share your thoughts in the comments.