Marvel has restarted its blockbuster machine on television already, of course. WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and now Loki have all been creative and commercial hits for Disney+. But will the studio be able to recapture that blockbuster energy on the big screen with Black Widow? Well, according to the first social media reactions, the answer to that is a resounding “yes.” A handful of critics and Marvel fans have already seen the latest film starring Scarlett Johansson as the titular Black Widow. The embargo for their social media impressions lifted today at 12 p.m. Here are what some Black Widow viewers had to say. Comparisons to John Wick and James Bond films abound in these posts, which is certainly a positive sign for any vaccinated individual prepared to head back to the movies. These reviews also single out Florence Pugh’s performance as Yelena Belova. Director Cate Shortland has previously said that Natasha will “hand the baton” to Yelena as Black Widow in this film, and many viewers are excited at the prospect for more of the character in the MCU. Pugh is also on the verge of major movie stardom, if she’s not there already. Marvel was lucky to nab her when they did. Of course, no list of first reactions to a film is complete without the presence of Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts writer and irrepressible troll Ben Mekler. Every time an embargo for a major movie is up, Mekler contributes a fake social media review and then delights upon seeing it included in these review round-up articles. Well, here you go, Ben. Just to be clear, there is no chase through a Russian JCPenney in Black Widow. But perhaps there should be. Black Widow premieres in theaters and via Disney+ Premier Access on July 9
