Movie theaters have been in limbo since the beginning of the pandemic, with the coronavirus keeping people from flocking to them and bringing in significant box office results. Marvel's Black Widow was supposed to be released in May 2020 but was delayed until 2021. The film has been released and has become a success at the box office— by pandemic standard, anyway.
With Disney+ shows and a long absence since the last Marvel movie, moviegoers have been hoping for a movie to get them back into theaters, and there are a few key reasons Black Widow was the perfect movie for their return.
10 It's The First Marvel Movie In Two Years
The COVID-19 pandemic brought not only the entire world to a standstill but also the film industry, resulting in there being no Marvel movie releases for two years.
Spider-Man: Far From Home was the last Marvel movie to be released before Black Widow and was the official end to Phase Three of the MCU (Phase One ended with The Avengers and Phase Two ended with Ant-Man) which means that Marvel fans were not only anticipating the newest phase but the delay only heightened the anticipation.
9 Impressive Action Scenes
Natasha Romanoff's fighting skills have always been one of the best aspects of her characters in previous Avenger movies and films where she's a supporting character. What makes her fight scenes in Black Widow even better is the fact that she goes up against her fellow Widows and associates of the Red Room.
She not only goes up against Taskmaster who perfectly mimics not only her fighting style but also the styles of Captain America, Black Panther, and even Spider-Man, but also Yelena, her sister.
8 Ties In Well With The Disney+ Shows
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Black Widow was delayed by a year when it was meant to be what kicked off Phase Four of the MCU. Because of this, Wandavision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier came first, and the latter is where Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine was introduced.
Her appearance in the movie's end credits not only connects Black Widow to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier but also setups a conflict for the upcoming Hawkeye series which will premiere sometime in late 2021 on Disney+.
7 Allows Viewers To See Natasha On Her Own
In every other movie where Natasha made an appearance, she was either a supporting character or part of an ensemble cast as an Avenger. Due to Black Widow being her first (and only) solo movie, fans finally got to see Natasha when she's alone.
It turns out that one of the world's greatest spies enjoys watching spy movies, as proven by the fact that she knows every line when watching the James Bond movie Moonraker. Black Widow also showcases Natasha's sharp, quippy sense of humor.
6 Wraps Up The Infinity Saga
With the release of Black Widow, which takes place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, the Infinity Saga of the MCU is complete.
Phase One, Two, and Three of the MCU, spanning from 2008's Iron Man to 2012's The Avengers to 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 all become complete Black Widow, as it is one of 24 films connected to Thanos and the Avengers. Now that the story of one of the original Avengers is complete, Phase Four can finally be the primary focus.
5 Actual Insight Into Natasha's Past
Throughout the Marvel movies, small pieces of Natasha's past were revealed, like Loki talking about how red her ledger is in The Avengers or the Red Room in Age of Ultron.
With Black Widow, there are finally answers in regards to all of these, and even more. We learn that Natasha yearned to know who her mother was, that she thought that she had put an end to the Red Room, and that she had lived in Ohio with Melina, Alexei, and Yelena as a family.
4 Carried Over Natasha's Importance Of Family From Endgame
Natasha had always considered the Avengers her family and her tireless work after the Blip showed this well, breaking down her cool demeanor to reveal a woman grieving the friends and family she'd lost in the aftermath.
Throughout Black Widow, Natasha scoffs at the idea of her life in Ohio with Yelena being real. By the film's end, Natasha had reconnected with her family, bringing more context to why she was so fanatical in Endgame to reverse Thanos' snap and save everyone that had perished.
3 Gives Her Sacrifice In Endgame More Weight
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, as they say. Getting to know more about Natasha's past and her origins in Black Widow makes for a great action movie with a hint of family reunion, but it's also one last journey with Natasha.
Knowing what's in her future makes everything in the film carry more weight. Natasha sacrificing herself to get the Soul Stone was one of the most devastating parts of Endgame and getting to see her story after that is a nice parting gift.
2 A Black Widow Movie Had Been Long Overdue
A year before the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron, development plans for a potential Black Widow movie were made. Before this, talks of a solo Black Widow movie had been a major point of discussion, especially among Marvel fans who wanted a female-led superhero movie to finally happen.
Black Widow is only Marvel's second female-led solo movie (excluding Ant-Man and the Wasp as Wasp shares top billing with Ant-Man) and this shows that Marvel movies have a long way to go in terms of equality.
1 Introduced Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova Into The MCU
One of the highlights of Black Widow is the introduction of Yelena Belova, Natasha's younger sister-turned-Black Widow, masterfully played by Florence Pugh of Midsommar and Little Women fame.
When Yelena isn't making cracks about Natasha being a "poser" or taking pride in her super cool vest, she's bringing real relation to Natasha's past and present as Yelena is a part of the new generation of Avengers. Yelena will be a major character in the upcoming Hawkeye series and she will essentially carry the Black Widow torch in the MCU going forward.