Read this review to find out if Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* is worth watching
About Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*
- Directed by Jake Schreier
- Written by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo
- Synopsis: After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
- Release date: May 2, 2025
- Starring: Florence Pugh, Harrison Ford, Ayo Edebiri, Olga Kurylenko, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman
If you want to avoid spoilers for this movie skip to the overall section at the end.
Warning: Spoilers for Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*
Marvel films have become “Marvel Movies” during the last two decades due to the company’s extraordinary ability to combine many tales and characters in important, exciting, and emotionally charged ways. The movies rewarded you for watching them by expanding on characters you already knew, introducing new ones you didn’t, and continuously teasing the future. However, in recent years, the firm has strayed from this with several films and television shows that never quite hit the appropriate note. Never quite nailed the legendary Marvel alchemy. This changes with Thunderbolts.
The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Thunderbolts, is a satisfying story about comic book superheroes, rather than being a brand extension. The film offers an experience with humor and introspection but falls short of building the franchise it teases and promises. The strong cast and fresher-than-usual story make it an enjoyable experience. However, the movie feels like an asterisk, with characters like Yelena Belova / Black Widow (Florence Pugh) and her cohorts feeling ennui. Villains matter more than heroes in a comic book movie, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus is one of the all-time great villains.
Unlike many Marvel films, the marketing doesn’t ruin the movie (looking at you Brave New World). One prominent scene with the team meeting Bucky is more exciting in context than the trailer. That’s thanks to the story setting up the characters and stakes.
Thunderbolts, directed by Jake Schreier (Robot & Frank), tells the story of underdogs through characters from Black Widow, Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Falcon and Winter Soldier, and others. A story of redemption. A story about choosing to be your best self, even when the odds are stacked against you. All of this begins with Yelena, who, since her last appearance on Hawkeye, has been conducting covert operations for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Yelena isn’t happy about it, though. The missions are monotonous. She is bored, sad, and lonely, and she feels unfulfilled and aimless. She yearns for more, and she’s about to receive it, but not in the way she anticipates.
Valentina, a traditional villainous villain, plans to kill everyone at once, bringing together the characters Yelena, John Walker / U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr / Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko). Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian (David Harbour) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) join the fight against Valentina, forming the “Thunderbolts.” In the comics, the team name comes from “Thunderbolt” Ross. The movie makes a hilarious subversion to explain the name.
The film’s focus on characters and relationships gives it an understated tone, making it feel more like an indie film than a big Marvel blockbuster. The actors create undeniable chemistry in relationships, making the film’s understated tone its biggest strength. The film’s action scenes are straightforward and take place over just a few days, with the humor shared between everyone contributing to the film’s overall appeal.
Thunderbolts is a film that focuses on the interaction between characters, allowing them to discuss their pasts and feelings. The film’s dark and uncomfortable moments are a part of its charm, especially in the powerful final act. Pugh delivers a raw and vulnerable Yelena, while Harbour delivers high-energy humor and parental emotion. Russell, John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss are all excellent. However, Stan’s Bucky, a beloved legacy Marvel character, struggles to find his place in the team, adding to his mystique.
Overall: Watch Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* (2025)
Thunderbolts is the best MCU film in a while because it often plays like an anti-MCU film. The performances and dialogue around trauma are sincere, but the film’s flow and fun are sometimes lacking. It’s not perfect but it’s well worth watching. The action sequences are viscerally crunchy and impactful, but the film must draw the rest of the universe towards it to fully recover.
About Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* (2025)
Official synopsis: “After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.”
Directed by Jake Schreier
Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* (2025), Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, Olga Kurylenko
“Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*” was released on May 02, 2025 (United States)
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