Why Black Widow's Opening Titles Will Have MCU Fans Talking
The early reviews are in, the pre-sale offers are out, and audiences are clamoring for more information. "Black Widow," which is set to launch the fourth phase of the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe in film, is ready to drop on Disney+ and in theaters on July 9. It's been just under two years since "Spider-Man: Far from Home" closed out Phase 3 of the MCU, which means that things have been very quiet indeed during the COVID-19 pandemic for one of the largest franchises in the world — at least on the big screen.
If you intend to see "Black Widow" on said big screen, then you should note that those early reviews indicate that you'll want to be in your theater seat right from the moment the lights go out. The long-delayed film's opening title sequence is a first for the MCU, and it apparently establishes high emotional stakes for both Natasha Romanoff and the rest of the characters in the film. Here's why fans will be talking about those opening credits for years to come.
Backstory, heartbreak, and sisterly love make these opening titles worth watching
Warning: The rest of this article contains spoilers for "Black Widow" (2021)
According to SlashFilm, the movie begins in suburban Ohio. It's the mid-'90s, and two Russian spies — portrayed by Rachel Weisz and David Harbour — are forced to flee from their home with their two small daughters, but they don't get far; the Romanoffs only make it to Cuba before Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) and Yelena (Florence Pugh) are ripped apart by Dreykov (Ray Winstone) and sent individually for training in the Red Room. The opening sequence proceeds to show Dreykov's soldiers mistreating and brainwashing both girls and other Red Room trainees. According to viewers, it manages to establish the connection between the sisters with impressive shorthand, and also shows how high the stakes truly are for this mission and how odious Dreykov is. The whole prologue sequence represents a new height in emotional intimacy for the MCU.
Viewers know what The Red Room did to Natasha. While it honed her into a well-trained super spy ready for dangers of all kind, it also took a great personal toll on her. What the trauma did to Yelena will be revealed to viewers when "Black Widow" hits theaters and Disney+ in July.