The First Initial Reactions To Marvel’s Black Widow Are Here

Marvel’s Black Widow has been screened by select press, and the initial reactions are giving mixed reviews.

Marvel’s first film in Phase 4 has been screened by select press, and the initial reactions on twitter and quite mixed. While the action scenes are praised, many feel like this film puts Natasha in the supporting character role, and spends its time setting Yelena up to be the future of the MCU. Others have said it should have been released after Avengers: Endgame, instead of being pushed back time and time again. Overall, Taskmaster is thought to be a disappointment, and under used.

Black Widow First Reactions

Black Widow is full of incredible action sequences & it is so good to see Natasha again — even if she feels like a side character sometimes. @Florence_Pugh steals the show. Her chemistry with Scarlett Johansson makes the movie what it is & provides a lot of laughs! #BlackWidow pic.twitter.com/2UhXsNpWBr

— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) June 17, 2021

I wanted to enjoy #BlackWidow, but it was a disappointment. Scarlett Johansson was a treat when she’s on the screen, and Florence Pugh provides a lot of the comedy. However, the villains never felt like threats, and Taskmaster’s potential was wasted. pic.twitter.com/Hm2BSIHyVY

— John Nguyen (@JohnSpartan300) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow : Florence Pugh steals the show, as she always does, with a hilariously down-to-earth performance that might also make you cry? + Atomic Blonde-level fight scenes

— Anne Cohen (@anneesthercohen) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow is one of Marvel's best solo films.

Start to finish, the movie is great. Excellent surprises, emotional character moments, bad-ass action, and Scarlett Johansson finally gets to pour everything into the role.

Director Cate Shortland nailed it. Bravo. pic.twitter.com/sgEkUW63cT

— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) June 17, 2021

#MarvelStudios went for big Winter Soldier action beats in #BlackWidow and put together a couple of really intense scenes. They also went for some big Mission Impossible/Bond scenes that I really enjoyed. ScarJo & Pugh have great chemistry & are 🔥 together. 3rd act feels choppy

— Charles Murphy (@_CharlesMurphy) June 17, 2021

After groundbreaking MCU shows like WandaVision, TFATWS, & Loki, Black Widow feels like a bit of a step backwards & would have worked better immediately after Endgame, as intended, or even after Civil War. That being said, it is a great set up for things to come! #BlackWidow pic.twitter.com/VdTSyIileu

— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) June 17, 2021

https://twitter.com/AlishaGrauso/status/1405555848160563201

Cate Shortland had the difficult job trying to fill in Natasha Romanoff’s backstory, but she nailed it in #BlackWidow. While entire cast was great both @Florence_Pugh and @DavidKHarbour hit home-runs with their performances. No way audiences don’t want more of both characters. pic.twitter.com/CIJTV4oxR6

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) June 17, 2021

From start to finish it is an exhilarating ride (action sequences 🔥) and ultimately I think it'll become an MCU favorite, especially in terms of 'solo' films. The only con I'd say is the Taskmaster stuff isn't that fun, but a few other reveals make up for that #BlackWidow

— Trey Mangum (@treymangum) June 17, 2021

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

#BlackWidow is the film I wanted 5yrs ago for Natasha Romanoff. Smart, energetic, witty with slick fight scenes + Winter Soldier vibe action showing our ill-fated Avenger at her super-spy best. Sad we won't get more of her double act with Yelena but a decent farewell.

— Hanna Ines Flint – Free 🇵🇸 (@HannaFlint) 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

#BlackWidow : Actually bruising fighting and chase sequences, a go-for-broke Florence Pugh performance (does she turn in any other kind? nope), and a first half that's intimate and talky and kind of funny in a new way for the MCU; yes, I enjoyed this. pic.twitter.com/i48fFmjNud

— Kate Erbland (@katerbland) 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

Marvel fans are going to really enjoy #BlackWidow. Lots of questions are answered w/ plenty of cool action. The big problem is we know Nat so well by now, she gets hugely outshined by almost everyone else in her own movie. Florence Pugh especially. Still, a solid addition to MCU. pic.twitter.com/xjW6aJyQkR

— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) June 17, 2021

Liked #BlackWidow, didn't love it. Really enjoyed the action sequences & the banter between Natasha and Yelena. Florence Pugh steals the show, while David Harbour as Red Guardian was great. More Winter Soldier and Civil War than anything. Somewhat disappointed with Taskmaster. pic.twitter.com/qWF9MdHWFa

— Fico Cangiano (@FicoCangiano) June 17, 2021

BLACK WIDOW wants to be BOURNE IDENTITY but ends up more like BOURNE LEGACY. The biggest "should've been a Disney+ show" energy

— Hoai-Tran Bui (@htranbui) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow was exactly what I'd hoped for: a story about family and sisters that deepened Natasha's character development and provided some really fun fight sequences. Florence Pugh as Yelena is the star, bringing lots of charm, humor, and emotion. pic.twitter.com/RW7YoX3De8

— Nicole Ackman (@nicoleackman16) June 17, 2021

https://twitter.com/afrofuriosa/status/1405573322381869056

I wish we had more solo time with Natasha and I still can't help but think that a Black Widow movie should have happened years ago, especially considering the timeframe this movie falls in. Regardless, I was pleasantly surprised by #BlackWidow! The fight scenes were 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GR7XwgGqB0

— B.M. (@britany_murphs) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow is really going to please fans of Captain America: The Winter Solider. The film shares a lot of blood with TWS, without being an exact clone of it. Fans who enjoyed the way Black Widow was written in that film will find a lot to love here.

— Meagan Damore (@metathor) June 17, 2021

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

#BlackWidow is everything I ever wanted in a female led comic book film. #ScarlettJohansson and #FlorencePugh are fantastic! Its action packed with awesome fight choreography & great set pieces. To see a film led by women were they are strong, fierce, & kick ass warms my heart. pic.twitter.com/LpQ1CfBls0

— Sharronda Williams (@payorwait) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow was better than I thought it would be!

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

— Jacob (@JacobFisherDF) June 17, 2021

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

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 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

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

There are quieter, more intimate moments, esp when it comes to the family storyline. While important, those scenes were the weakest part of the film. The intimacy felt forced & they didn’t have enough time to make you really care about the family. 3/ #Marvel #MCU #blackwidow pic.twitter.com/fuP7BtkUHM

— POC Culture (@POCculture) June 17, 2021

Saw #BlackWidow last night, and it’s a fantastic origin story and tribute to Natasha Romanov. Intense fight scenes mixed w/ tale of family, redemption, and not-so-subtle jabs at men who control women. s/o @Florence_Pugh and @DavidKHarbour for the laughs! End credits scene? ✅ pic.twitter.com/0yYkXpaiYQ

— jordie poblete (@jordiepoblete) June 17, 2021

Want more? Check out all of our Black Widow coverage.

About Black Widow

In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller “Black Widow,” Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, David Harbour portrays Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz is Melina. Directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige, “Black Widow”—the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe— will launch simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets on July 9, 2021.