The First Set of ‘Black Widow’ Reviews Are Finally Here. Here’s What Critics Are Saying

The first reviews of Black Widow praise Scarlett Johansson and Marvel newcomer Florence Pugh.

On July 9th, the long-awaited Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe begins with the official release of Black Widow. After numerous postponements, due to script revisions, the film wrapped production in October 2019, set for a November 6, 2020 release date. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. At long last, the film is set to hit theaters on July 9th. On Thursday, the media embargo was lifted, and the first round of reviews hit the net. Here’s what critics think of the new phase in the MCU.

Decider‘s Brett White calls the movie a “hard-hitting romp with thrilling action sequences.” White praises the film’s “fantastic car chase,” as well as “the kind of vibrant performances that make the MCU such a special place to visit.”

Variety‘s Courtney Howard calls Black Widow an “exhilarating shot of adrenaline,” featuring “big action set pieces…thrilling, propulsive and capably constructed [with] multi-layered thematic resonance.”

Though fans are already familiar with the titular character, played by Scarlett Johansson, however some critics point to Florence Pugh’s character Yelena.

“Florence Pugh crushes it,” said Erik Davis of Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes. “An instant MCU icon. This is like the MCU’s Bond movie [with] shades of Mission: Impossible & Thelma & Louise.”

“Black Widow shows exactly why Natasha Romanoff was the glue that held the Avengers together,” wrote Alisha Grauso of ScreenRant. “Yelena will be a new fan-favorite…Florence Pugh knocked it out of the park.”

“Black Widow pays a beautiful and long overdue tribute to Natasha Romanoff,” wrote Orlando Nelcine. “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.”

The action begins in theaters on Friday, July 9th. If you’d rather watch the movie at home, Disney+ subscribers can purchase the movie for $29.99.