F9‘s domination of the box office ends this week with the release of Black Widow, the first new Marvel Cinematic Universe film to release since the pandemic forced the re-arrangement of Disney’s big screen release schedule. It’s strange that of all the films they released directly on their streaming platform, the MCU wasn’t among them. Perhaps because these films are destined to be box office behemoths, but films like Mulan, Soul, and others certainly would have performed well enough all things considered. Anyway, Black Widow will handily top the box office. The big question is if it can top F9 huge opening weekend and truly signal the end of the pandemic doldrums that have plagued the box office even after mask mandates were largely lifted nationwide.

Our Highest Rated Films: Black Widow
Our Best Awards Ratings: Black Widow (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

Dachra (Limited)
The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 (Limited)
Summertime (Limited)
The Woman Who Ran (Limited)

Jul. 9-11, 2021
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Black Widow (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.7 Wesley Lovell: (8) Peter J. Patrick: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	2.3 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (2,Oscars)	Categories: Sound (PP,TL) Visual Effects (PP,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Far after she should have had her own film, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow character finally gets her own and I’m hopeful that it will be a cut above the rest. Peter J. Patrick (PP): This missing link superhero movie should be a popular summertime hit. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The early reviews are all over the place and the trailers really have not done a great job of selling the film, but I will probably try to see it in a theater, though it is not a top priority.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Meander (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	2.0 Wesley Lovell: (2) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Thomas LaTourrette: (2)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): A gimmicky premise that looks like it’s been done better in myriad ways. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks like another horror film losing the battle between dread and dreadful. Thomas LaTourette (TL): An odd trailer neither ratchets up the tension nor supplies any logic to the concept. I am not feeling any need to see it.