The highly anticipated Black Widow doesn’t debut for three more weeks, but early social-media reactions have begun to trickle in, and it looks like Marvel's female-centric future is off to an explosive start.
The prequel film follows Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff — elite KGB assassin turned Avengers MVP — as she reconnects with her “family” in the wake of the events of Captain America: Civil War. The Cold War-influenced plot sees Natasha join forces with Florence Pugh’s younger assassin Yelena, Stranger Things’ David Harbour as Red Guardian (consider him an out-of-shape Russian Captain America) and Rachel Weisz as Natasha’s mother figure/the first Black Widow. They’re faced with fighting off a horde of highly trained baddies led by Taskmaster, a masked super-spy who can mimic others’ movements and style.
The movie has a lot on its plate: It serves as a long-overdue solo adventure for Johansson and a eulogy for a character who met her demise in Avengers: Infinity War. It’s a passing of the baton between Johansson and Pugh that’s also rumored to set up other Marvel properties. And were that not enough pressure, it’s also the first Marvel film to premiere in more than two years thanks to the pandemic.
According to early reactions, though, it was worth the wait.
Most critics found the film’s central relationships between the slapdash “family” of Russian assassins surprisingly tender, especially the scenes between star Johansson and newcomer Pugh.
I saw #BlackWidow last night & I'm happy to say that it's incredibly fun & deeply emotional. Action feels WINTER SOLDIER level. Pugh, Johansson, Weisz & Harbour are outstanding together. Balances a tone that is dark, grounded, raw & real. Even after ENDGAME, you feel the stakes. pic.twitter.com/BKuvCPROrU
— Kevin McCarthy (@KevinMcCarthyTV) June 17, 2021
#BlackWidow was better than I thought it would be!
— Jacob (@JacobDFilm) June 17, 2021
Although there’s some excellent action, what pulled me in was the really powerful themes & character moments the film presented.
Easily Scarlett’s best performance as Nat, and Florence Pugh is brilliant as Yelena. pic.twitter.com/CDjKJm4nVq
Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh are brilliant as Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova (especially when they are together!) in #BlackWidow. Epic spy thriller.
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) June 17, 2021
The relationship is so fun to watch develop and fits into the MCU history really well. You're gonna feel things. pic.twitter.com/GQiRcjvTeX
Although #BlackWidow feels very much like MCU films of the past with its Marvel-patented tone and lackluster villain, it’s bolstered by well-directed action and great leading performances from Johansson and Pugh, whose chemistry is the highlight. Review coming to @DiscussingFilm pic.twitter.com/yWAp8W7e4d
— jeremiah (@thespeedforces) June 17, 2021
Many praised the film’s action, which seems to ditch Marvel's standard "heroes vs. a big beam of light" template for something more akin to an old-school espionage thriller and the balletic choreography of the John Wick films.
Honestly blown away by #BlackWidow. It’s low-key one of Marvel’s finest - an emotional story with great performance and a high-stakes chase through a “Russian JCPenney” that might be one of the zaniest and most badass action scenes in MCU history. Fans are gonna love it
— ben mekler (@benmekler) June 17, 2021
#BlackWidow is excellent. An exhilarating shot of adrenaline. Scarlett Johansson & Florence Pugh nail the banter & ballet-like stunts. David Harbour is absolutely terrific. Big action set pieces are thrilling, propulsive & capably constructed. Multi-layered thematic resonance. pic.twitter.com/ew9r1NXvfL
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) June 17, 2021
According to critics, the film does justice to the beloved character — and Johansson — by filling in her backstory and rounding out a character who became the beating heart of the Avengers franchise.
#BlackWidow might be one of my favorite solo origin movies in the MCU. There's something about seeing Natasha finally get her story that made me emotional in all the best ways. Also, Florence Pugh was born for the MCU, and her dynamic with Scarlett is a triumph
— Nora Dominick (@noradominick) June 17, 2021
I got to see #BlackWidow last night, and as someone who has been waiting since 2010 to see Natasha Romanoff get her own movie, it was well worth the wait.
— Hector Navarro (@Hectorisfunny) June 17, 2021
The actions rips, the emotion hits and the new characters joining the MCU are standouts. MORE BLACK WIDOW MOVIES PLEASE! pic.twitter.com/R0JUHThSiF
Marvel movies are back and Phase 4 kicks off with the very entertaining and action-packed #BlackWidow. Giving us a long-overdue look at Natasha's backstory, with solid performances throughout and thrilling set pieces that demand you see this movie on the biggest screen possible. pic.twitter.com/Pr6qeBlSGQ
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) June 17, 2021
Dug #BlackWidow a good deal! Was kinda worried about watching this story unfold knowing what’s to come in Endgame, that it might diminish the stakes, but that wasn’t the case. In fact, this is the kind of prequel story that feels bound to enhance other installments of the MCU. pic.twitter.com/sFcwHzW30Y
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) June 17, 2021
But it's Pugh who seems to be getting the most attention. The Oscar-nominated star of Little Women and Midsommar is said to steal the movie, emerging as welcome heir-apparent to Johansson.
I’ve seen #BlackWidow !
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) June 17, 2021
A #Marvel star is born with #FlorencePugh’s #YelenaBelova
🔥💅🔪💥
A LOT of talking but the action scenes are excellent.
Very raw movie, especially first 2/3
There are 2 reveals 👀 take proper precautions to avoid spoilers.
Review embargo lifts 6/29 pic.twitter.com/afS8ifHqWt
Marvel movies are back! #BlackWidow is a tense, action-packed spy thriller that truly completes Natasha’s story in a visceral & emotional way. Florence Pugh CRUSHES it & is an instant MCU icon. This is like the MCU's Bond movie w/ shades of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE & THELMA & LOUISE. pic.twitter.com/bauc2XVQlF
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) June 17, 2021
#BlackWidow pays a beautiful and long overdue tribute to Natasha Romanoff. It’s also the spy thriller fans of the character have been asking for all these years. It’s funny, thrilling and very emotional. Florence Pugh is fantastic as Yelena Belova, who is definitely here to stay. pic.twitter.com/i0jimxIJG0
— Lando (@orlandoenelcine) June 17, 2021
It’s not all vodka and azaleas, though. LA critic Scott Menzel laid into the movie, calling it generic and saying that the film does the very thing its predecessors were criticized for: Sidelines Johansson’s Black Widow in favor of world-building… in her own movie.
Black Widow is so disappointing. Scarlett Johansson tries, but the script, pacing, & poor character development sink the film. Starts off promising but by the second act becomes a disjointed & uneven mess. Generic, uninspired, & ultimately lacking the Marvel Magic. #BlackWidow pic.twitter.com/rGJu51aJxS
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) June 17, 2021
My last comment on #BlackWidow. People always complained about how Black Widow got sidelined in the MCU, and in her own movie, she gets sidelined to set up another character for an upcoming tv show. This is my number one complaint about the film. #BlackWidow
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) June 17, 2021
Black Widow hits theaters July 7.
See Time Out's ranking of Marvel's 22-film Infinity Saga