Elektra (2005)
MovieOptionalLegacy
Resurrected assassin Elektra Natchios takes a contract guarding a father and daughter marked for death, forcing her to defy the Hand's orders. Released in 2005, it’s a Marvel film that isn’t part of the MCU timeline, so it’s optional and stands on its own. It runs 1h 37m and streams on Disney+ in the US.
| Directed by | Rob Bowman |
|---|---|
| Starring | Jennifer Garner, Goran Višnjić, Terence Stamp |
| Release date | January 14, 2005 |
| Runtime | 1h 37m |
| Age rating | PG-13, some material may be inappropriate for under 13 |
| IMDb rating | 4.7/10 |
| Box office | $57M worldwide |
| Series | Legacy Marvel films |
| Post-credit scene | No |
Why it matters now
The Daredevil spin-off flopped so hard it stalled female-led superhero films for a decade.
About Elektra
Elektra picks up the character after her death in Daredevil (2003). She was revived by Stick, a blind martial arts master who trained her, then thrown out of his compound. She now works as a contract killer. Her latest job is to kill Mark Miller and his teenage daughter, Abby, but she can't go through with it, which puts her up against the Hand, a ninja crime syndicate who want the pair for their own reasons.
Rob Bowman directed for 20th Century Fox and Regency, from a script by Zak Penn, Stuart Zicherman and M. Raven Metzner. Jennifer Garner leads, with Goran Višnjić as Mark, Kirsten Prout as Abby, Terence Stamp as Stick, Will Yun Lee as Kirigi, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Roshi and Natassia Malthe as Typhoid. Released on January 14, 2005, it runs 97 minutes and made only about $57 million worldwide. Critics gave it 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, though many said Garner put real effort into the role. An unrated director's cut followed on DVD in October 2005.
Good to know
- Ben Affleck filmed a dream-sequence cameo as Matt Murdock, but it was cut and only appears as a DVD deleted scene.
- Terence Stamp's Stick predates Scott Glenn's version in Netflix's Daredevil by more than a decade.
- The US Blu-ray, released in 2010, includes only the director's cut.
Spoiler Spoilers for Elektra: tap to reveal
- Garner returned as Elektra in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).
How to watch it
Watch Daredevil (2003) first, ideally the director's cut, since this film starts from Elektra's fate there. It's a standalone story after that and doesn't require the rest of the 2000s Marvel films. For a different take on Elektra and the Hand, compare it with Daredevil season 2.
Where it fits in your watch
- All legacy Marvel films
Elektra FAQ
Is Elektra a sequel to Daredevil?
It's a spin-off of Daredevil (2003). Jennifer Garner reprises her role, and the story picks up after Elektra's death in that film.
Is Ben Affleck in Elektra?
Not in the theatrical cut. He filmed a short dream-sequence cameo as Matt Murdock, which was cut and released as a deleted scene on DVD.
Does Jennifer Garner play Elektra again?
Yes, she came back to the role years later. Where she turns up is a cameo surprise, so it's in the reveal box above.
Can you skip Elektra?
Yes. It isn’t part of the MCU timeline.
When was Elektra released?
Elektra was released on January 14, 2005.
Is Elektra part of the MCU?
No. Elektra is a Marvel film made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it isn’t on Marvel Studios’ official timeline.
Does Elektra have a post-credit scene?
No, Elektra has no post-credit scene.
Where to watch Elektra in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Disney+ |
|---|---|
| Rent or buy | Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
Where to watch Elektra outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not included | Free: Rakuten TV · Rent: Apple TV, Rakuten TV, Sky Store |
| Australia | Disney+ | None needed |
| India | Vi Movies & TV | None needed |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
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