MCU: All 7 Marvel Phase 4 movies ranked from worst to best

6. Black Widow (2021)

Film synopsis: “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.” – IMDb

Cast: Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff, Ray Winstone as Dreykov, O-T Fagbenle as Rick Mason.

While Black Widow was generally well-received by audiences, we found ourselves ranking it relatively low, a decision we debated but ultimately settled on as sixth position.

One of our key considerations was the timing of the movie’s release within the MCU’s phases. We felt that Black Widow would have made a more significant impact if it had been introduced in an earlier phase, giving Natasha Romanoff her long-overdue solo film earlier in the MCU’s timeline.

Moreover, the movie’s formulaic approach and adherence to a predictable superhero origin story were aspects that left us yearning for more. We felt that the film presented a missed opportunity for Natasha to make profound choices that could have contributed to her character’s journey in a more meaningful way.

However, Black Widow did have redeeming qualities that we must acknowledge. The dynamic between Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh was a standout, injecting the film with compelling chemistry and emotional depth. Additionally, the blend of spy thriller elements with family comedy offered a refreshing twist to the superhero genre.