The One Movie That Ruined Every Other Threesome Plot
Honestly, when you think about heavy hitters in Hollywood, your brain probably jumps to a list of names that never actually share a screen. We’ve got this weird habit of imagining epic collaborations that only exist in our heads. But back in 2008, something clicked. We actually got Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz movies—or, well, the one movie that basically defined the "messy European summer" aesthetic before Instagram made it a personality trait.
I’m talking about Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
It’s kinda wild that in the nearly twenty years since that film dropped, these two haven't shared a frame again. You’d think some studio executive would have looked at the box office receipts—roughly $96 million on a tiny $15 million budget—and said, "Hey, let's do that again but maybe with more spies or something."
But no.
Instead, we have this singular, chaotic, sun-drenched masterpiece. It’s the kind of film where the tension is so thick you could cut it with a palette knife, which is fitting since half the characters are painters. If you're looking for a deep list of projects where these two trade lines, I’ve got some bad news: it’s a short list.
Actually, it's a list of one.
Why Vicky Cristina Barcelona is Still the Gold Standard
Let’s be real. Most "steamy" dramas are incredibly corny. They try too hard. They use too much slow-motion. But Woody Allen—despite all the complicated baggage that comes with his name—caught lightning in a bottle with the chemistry between Johansson, Cruz, and Javier Bardem.
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Scarlett plays Cristina. She’s the classic "I don't know what I want, but I know it's not this" American. She’s rumpled, she’s beautiful, and she’s a little bit lost. Then you have Penelope Cruz as Maria Elena.
Maria Elena is a hurricane.
She doesn’t just walk into a scene; she detonates. Cruz ended up winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for this role, and if you’ve seen the movie, you know why. She’s speaking Spanish at 100 miles per hour, wielding a literal camera as a weapon of intimacy, and making Scarlett’s character feel like a confused tourist in her own life.
The dynamic works because it isn't just about a love triangle. It’s about the friction between different ways of existing. You have the "civilized" approach of Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and the "erotic" chaos of the trio.
The Scene Everyone Remembers (And Why It’s Important)
You can't talk about Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz movies without mentioning the darkroom. It’s the scene that lived on Tumblr for a decade. Cristina and Maria Elena are developing photos. The red light is low.
It’s intimate. It’s quiet.
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But what most people get wrong is thinking this was just for shock value. In the context of the film, it represents the moment Cristina finally feels like she’s part of the "art" she’s been chasing. Maria Elena isn't just a lover; she’s a mentor. She tells Cristina to stop using digital and go back to film. She pushes her to actually feel something.
It’s one of the few times in cinema where a "threesome" subplot feels like actual character development instead of just a cheap plot point to keep the audience awake.
Why Haven't They Worked Together Since?
It’s a fair question. You’d think they’d be a package deal.
The truth is mostly boring logistics. Scarlett went full Marvel shortly after this, becoming Black Widow and basically living in a green-screen studio for ten years. Penelope, meanwhile, stayed deep in the world of Pedro Almodóvar and high-concept international cinema. Their career trajectories just diverged.
There was a rumor a few years back about a project called Paris Paramount—a big-budget romantic comedy from Nancy Meyers. The internet went into a frenzy because both names were attached. People were ready for the reunion.
Then the budget exploded, Netflix backed out, and the whole thing seemingly evaporated into development hell.
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It sucks.
We’re left with just the one film, but maybe that’s for the best. Some things are better as a standalone. If they did a sequel or another rom-com now, it would probably feel forced. It would be "The Reunion Movie" rather than just a good story.
How to Watch Like an Expert
If you’re going to revisit the only entry in the Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz movies category, pay attention to the dialogue that wasn't written.
Fun fact: Woody Allen doesn't speak Spanish.
When Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem are screaming at each other in their native tongue, a lot of that was improvised. Allen just told them to "be angry" or "be passionate," and they went for it. You can see it in Scarlett’s face—she’s genuinely reacting to the chaos because she doesn't always know exactly what they’re saying. It adds this layer of authenticity to her character’s "outsider" status that you just can't script.
Actionable Next Steps for the Movie Buff
If you've already watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona until the digital file is worn out, you've got to branch out. Since there aren't more movies with both of them, you have to follow the threads they left behind.
- Watch 'Volver' (2006): If you want to see Penelope Cruz at the height of her powers without the Hollywood filter, this is the one. It’s Almodóvar at his best.
- Check out 'Match Point' (2005): This is Scarlett's best work with Allen. It’s a thriller, not a romance, and it shows a much darker side of the "muse" persona she played in Barcelona.
- Skip the 'Best Threesome Movies' Lists: Most of them are trash. Stick to films like The Dreamers or Y Tu Mamá También if you want that same "unconventional love in a beautiful setting" vibe.
- Track 'Paris Paramount' updates: Keep an eye on trade publications like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter. If that Nancy Meyers project ever gets revived, that’s your best bet for a 2026 reunion.
The reality of Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz movies is that we were lucky to get one at all. In an era of endless sequels and cinematic universes, there’s something kind of respectable about two icons coming together for 96 minutes of gorgeous, Spanish-set drama and then never looking back. It keeps the magic intact.