Black Widow 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Black Widow 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see Marvel spectacle: a standalone Black Widow adventure has arrived.

Black Widow at last receives her big-screen motion-picture due in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). A breathtaking action- packed adventure, the comic-book superhero feature-film has an abundance of exciting action scenes. Scarlett Johansson returns as Natasha Romanoff (aka Black Widow) and no fan of the Marvel franchise will want to miss this entertaining entry: one of the best in the saga to date.

Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) must learn to face her past as a Russian agent and take down the villainous Red Room (while putting an end to the super-soldier training). Along the epic journey, Black Widow becomes re-acquainted with her “poser” family of undercover Russian agents (with bonds as tight as family): feisty Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), fierce Melina (Rachel Weisz), and tough-yet-bulging Red Guardian (David Harbour). The team suits up for a thrilling adventure (with Black Widow in command).

Scarlett Johansson is at the top of her game: one of the MVP's of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gorgeous and multi-talented, Johansson delivers an exceptional performance as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow. The role was a perfect fit for Johansson (and she cemented herself as one of the most important characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when Black Widow debuted in 2012's The Avengers). The standalone Black Widow feature provides Johansson with even more opportunities to flex her impressive acting chops and the results are outstanding: the role is brought to life in both subtle and dynamic ways (while she strikes a memorable “pose.”)

Natasha Romanoff gets her due.

The production design by Charles Wood (Avengers: Endgame, Guardians of the Galaxy ) is epic in both scale and scope. The costumes by Lisa Lovaas (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back) and Jany Temime (Skyfall, Judy) are stunning and well-suited to each character in the film (with Black Widow having a variety of exceptional costumes). The music composed by Lorne Balfe (The Lego Batman Movie, The Florida Project) is engaging and exciting as well.

The cinematography by Gabriel Beristain (Blade II, The Ring Two) is visually stunning and showcases the large scale of the production. The photography is well-polished, slick, and rewarding throughout. Black Widow is one of the most beautifully lensed of all the Marvel films.

The screenplay by Eric Pearson (Thor: Ragnarok, Godzilla vs. Kong) is enormously entertaining: providing Marvel fans with plenty of action-packed adventure and comedic one-liners alongside storytelling that hits every note: excelling at character development and breathtaking fun. Exploring Natasha Romanoff with more dimensions than previous Marvel entries, Black Widow manages to imbue the character with added depth.

Cate Shortland (Lore, Berlin Syndrome) brings Black Widow to life in the director's chair. Shortland is an enormously gifted filmmaker and her efforts on the production provide the film with a remarkable sense of style. The pace and rhythm of the filmmaking is consistently entertaining. The scope of the production is massive – and Shortland never fails to showcase every nuance. The action scenes are badass fun. Shortland made Black Widow an epic that was well worth the wait.

Black Widow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on 4K UHD from Disney & Marvel Studios, Black Widow is presented in native 2160p in the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen. For additional information regarding the picture-quality, please refer to the review by my colleague Martin Liebman.

Black Widow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Dolby Atmos. The presentation is in lossless, high-resolution 24 bit depth. For additional information regarding the audio-quality, please refer to the review by my colleague Martin Liebman.

Black Widow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The exclusive DigiPack edition comes with collectible packaging. The release features a unique cover art with one of the most impressive images from the release of the film: showcasing Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) in a kick-ass pose. As the DigiPack release is opened-up, key character art showcases the supporting cast: Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Melina (Rachel Weisz), and Red Guardian (David Harbour).

The release also includes a 22 page booklet featuring a forward to Black Widow, character profiles, concept art, behind-the-scenes photos, and an afterword from co-producer Brian Chapek and star Scarlett Johansson. The release comes with both 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs. On-disc supplemental extras remain the same as the standard edition. For additional information on these extras, please refer to the review by my colleague Martin Liebman.

Black Widow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Black Widow is one of the most entertaining films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to date. Scarlett Johansson is the ultimate hero: beautiful, bold, and courageous. Natasha Romanoff and her backstory is at the heart of the film. Director Cate Shortland (Lore) delivers action-packed fun and an enormous sense of scale to the superhero epic. After anxiously waiting almost a decade for the standalone film to become a reality, Black Widow proves to be well worth the wait. Highly recommended.