The highly anticipated Marvel film Black Widow (2021) delivered not just intense action but also one of the funniest sisterly dynamics in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), thanks to Florence Pugh’s character, Yelena Belova, relentlessly teasing her co-star, Scarlett Johansson. Audiences erupted in laughter when Yelena boldly mocked Black Widow’s signature, “stylish” landing pose right in front of her senior colleague, and Johansson’s embarrassed and somewhat helpless on-screen reaction made the clip instantly viral.
The Joke: A Sister’s Scrutiny
The central gag—which became a running theme and a fan-favorite element of the film Black Widow—was born not in the writer’s room, but from Florence Pugh’s candid critique on the set. Pugh, who plays Natasha Romanoff’s “sister” and fellow assassin Yelena Belova, couldn’t help but critique the practicality of Black Widow’s iconic, crouched superhero landing stance, which she had performed countless times in films like Iron Man 2 and The Avengers.
Pugh famously recounted that when the stunt team asked her about her own “pose,” she immediately teased Johansson about the move: “I was like, ‘I know! Who would actually land like that? That’s ridiculous!'” The stunt team even reportedly confirmed to Pugh that if Johansson actually landed like that, “she would have broken her spine.” The film’s writer, Eric Pearson, was so amused by Pugh’s candid critique that he immediately wrote the joke into the script, turning an on-set jab into official MCU canon.
The Viral Scene: “Don’t Be Such a Poser”
The humor comes to a head in a key scene where Yelena directly calls out Natasha (Johansson) for the move, describing the dramatic hair-flip, the sprawled legs, and the general posture. Yelena mocks her sister with the famous line, “Don’t be such a poser,” and physically imitates the stance, highlighting how ridiculous it looks outside of a movie poster.
Johansson’s character, Natasha Romanoff, delivers the perfect embarrassed and slightly defensive reaction. She can’t argue with the absurdity of the pose when it’s laid out so plainly, giving only a faint, helpless smirk and a brief defense of the stance before dropping the subject. The punchline is delivered later in the film when Yelena herself, in the heat of a major fight, instinctively uses the exact same pose upon landing, which is quickly followed by her own disgusted, embarrassed scoff, confirming the sisterly bond is deeper than she wants to admit.
Passing the Torch and Crushing Egos
The successful incorporation of this self-mocking humor was crucial for the film’s success and for Yelena’s character development. Scarlett Johansson herself confirmed the on-set origins of the joke, admitting that Pugh’s comment had “crushed [their] egos in 15 seconds.” However, Johansson ultimately embraced the humor, noting that after ten years of building the pose, it was nice to have it lovingly ridiculed. Florence Pugh’s sharp, funny, and compelling portrayal of Yelena made her the breakout star, immediately securing her future in the MCU, including a prominent role in the Disney+ series Hawkeye and a lead role in the upcoming film Thunderbolts. The hilariously honest dynamic over the “poser” stance was a defining moment of the film, proving that even legendary superheroes aren’t safe from the scrutiny—and affection—of a little sister.