Black Widow's Rotten Tomatoes Score Has People Talking
Eleanor Gray
Published Mar 08, 2026
Thus far, "Black Widow" has impressed viewers of all backgrounds. It currently stands at an 80% Certified Fresh critical score, with a consensus that reads, "Black Widow's deeper themes are drowned out in all the action, but it remains a solidly entertaining standalone adventure that's rounded out by a stellar supporting cast." On the other hand, general audiences were a bit more forgiving, amounting to a solid 92% audience score. Over time, these percentages will likely shift and change, but right out of the gate, they're nothing to be ashamed of.
As far as critical reviews go, the vast majority were positive. Karen M. Peterson of Citizen Dame lamented that Nat's time in the spotlight was long overdue, but "what director Cate Shortland has given us in Black Widow is better late than never." Matthew Jackson of The Huntsville Item also gave "Black Widow" high marks, praising its intense action and the delightful cast of heroes, in particular, and regarded it as an "emotionally satisfying, forward-looking Marvel story."
When it comes to the fans, they weren't shy about sharing their thoughts on the movie either. One user cited Florence Pugh and David Harbour's performances as Yelena Belova and Alexei Shostakov as highlights, adding that they "Can't wait to see where they go from here!" Fellow Rotten Tomatoes user Melvin Crews wrote that while "Black Widow" isn't necessarily one of Marvel Studios' best solo movies, "it definitely has a heart and soul to it that must be viewed."
Meanwhile, not everyone who gave "Black Widow" a try wasn't as enthused as the majority. Maya Phillips of The New York Times felt that Natasha "never feels more than just a footnote in the story," and the flick as a whole was a needless detour in the grand scheme of the MCU. This disinterest extends to non-critics, too, as evidenced by Vicki S.'s comment that "Black Widow" falls into the same, explosive Marvel formula in its third act. They cap off their review with the note that "I feel bad for all of the fans who wanted a Black Widow movie for so long. They deserved better."
All things considered, "Black Widow" is shaping up to be another hit for Marvel Studios — one you won't want to miss on the big screen.