Marvel’s latest addition to the MCU family is certified dope. While lacking the magnitude and gravitas of Marvel’s Infinity War or the conspiracy theorist feel and connectivity of Winter Soldier and Civil War, this film is engaging nevertheless. Many have credited it with bringing longtime fans back into the fold with its heartfelt themes of mental health and found family, but does that statement ring true? Read our review of Thunderbolts to find out.*
The Damaged Are Dangerous
In an era where superhero fatigue has become a genuine concern, Thunderbolts* offers a refreshing detour by focusing on the broken individuals behind the heroics. Florence Pugh ( with her sexy ass) continues to excel as Yelena Belova, bringing both vulnerability and lethal efficiency to a character wrestling with her traumatic past. Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier, now firmly in control of his mind but not his conscience, provides the emotional anchor that grounds the film’s wilder elements.
David Harbour’s Red Guardian delivers much-needed comic relief without undermining the film’s darker themes, while Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost and Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent round out the team with palpable tension and unresolved anger issues. The chemistry between these damaged souls transforms what could have been just another team-up movie into something with genuine emotional resonance.
Finding Family in the Fallout
Director Jake Schreier deserves credit for tackling mental health themes with surprising nuance for a blockbuster. Each character’s trauma is treated with respect rather than exploited for dramatic effect. The film’s strongest moments come during quieter scenes where these killers and outcasts recognize parts of themselves in each other, forming reluctant bonds that evolve organically throughout the mission.
The asterisk in the title (cleverly explained midway through the film) serves as both a plot point and metaphor for these characters—officially sanctioned but with significant fine print, legitimate but with strings attached, heroes with permanent caveats.
Stylish Brutality
Action sequences in Thunderbolts* stand apart from typical Marvel fare with their grittier, more grounded approach. The film’s R-rating allows for combat that feels consequential, with bone-crunching choreography that showcases each character’s distinct fighting style. A standout sequence in an abandoned Soviet bunker demonstrates how these disparate fighters gradually learn to complement each other’s abilities, turning individual weaknesses into team strengths.
Where It Falls Short
Not everything lands perfectly. The villain, while conceptually interesting, lacks development beyond serving as a dark mirror to our protagonists. He’s also way to O.P. for a group of individuals who are mostly just enhanced humans and who lack any real superpowers. Several plot threads feel rushed in the final act, and certain character arcs conclude too neatly given the complexity established earlier. The film occasionally attempts to fall back on familiar Marvel humor. This doesn’t really work at times, when moments where emotional weight would have served the story better.
Verdict: A Welcome Return to Form
Is Thunderbolts* truly the film that will bring disillusioned fans back to the MCU? For many, the answer will be yes. By prioritizing character development over universe-building and emotional authenticity over spectacle, it tries to recapture what made 2008-2018 MCU entries resonate beyond their action sequences.
While it doesn’t reach the heights of Marvel’s greatest achievements, Thunderbolts* succeeds by lowering its gaze from universe-ending threats to the more relatable struggle of damaged people finding purpose and connection. In doing so, it reminds us why we cared about these characters in the first place. Oh, and hopefully the end credit scene will go down in MCU history as a game-changer. July 2025 can’t come fast enough.
★★★★ (out of 5)
