Mumbai, Feb. 12 -- In a bold move that shook the foundations of Hollywood's traditional film distribution model, Scarlett Johansson took legal action against the Walt Disney Co. The heart of the dispute lay in the decision to release the highly anticipated Black Widow on Disney+ streaming service concurrently with its theatrical debut. This strategy, a departure from the norm, sparked a significant conversation about the future of cinema in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

At its launch, Black Widow hit the ground running, securing the title of the biggest box office opener during the pandemic with an impressive $80 million haul in its first weekend. However, the triumph was short-lived. The film's revenues plummeted, a trend attrib...