Marvel’s Thunderbolts* has officially landed in theaters with an entirely new take on the MCU with its gritty character drama, but does it stick the landing?
Since Avengers: Endgame (2019), the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been at a crossroads of rediscovery. While some fans are calling for quality over quantity, others feel the MCU still struggles to return to its storytelling roots.
With Thunderbolts*, Marvel takes preconceived notions from its film and television franchise and throws them in the blender.
The result? A character-driven summer flick that’s gritty and grounded in Marvel terms (by Marvel standards), but lacks the runtime to dive deep into the emotional core of its ensemble.
Read: The First Reactions To Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts*’ Are Here!
Who are the Thunderbolts*?
Florence Pugh returns as the lovable Yelena Belova to lead a band of anti-heroes comprised of Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko).
Throughout the two-hour Marvel movie, fans are brought on a somewhat globe-trotting adventure sparked by newcomer Bob/Sentry/The Void (Lewis Pullman), after a falling out with the manipulative Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
The Best Since Endgame?
Thunderbolts* will surely entertain the regular movie-goer, but every Marvel fan looking for an in-depth and emotionally deep take on the superhero franchise may have to wait a little longer.
The film’s first act relies on convenient plot devices to kickstart the plot, and the initial bickering between the future Thunderbolts makes the characters appear less competent than expected.
Florence Pugh carries the film with poise and power as we stumble into her very dark past. As skeletons fall from her assassin’s closet, we realize there’s more to the character than previously explored.
Though the film delivers some shocking and dark imagery, these moments are often undercut by the now-standard Marvel quip meant to lighten the mood — often too soon.
Wyatt Russell’s John Walker is the group’s jerk. Quickly falling into the stereotype of a one-dimensional bully, the U.S. Agent lacks the character development and sympathy he found in The Falcon and Winter Soldier Disney+ series from 2021.
Some fans — though not all — are left yearning for more substance from the characters.
Instead, we’re met with lackluster story unfoldings that prevent our Thunderbolts* from breaking away from preconceived superhero stereotypes and truly present themselves as relatable characters.
What we have here is a prime example of a shortened runtime prohibiting character development.
A Cast That Clicks
Nonetheless, the chemisty between each of the Bolts is undeniably strong. Each actor plays their part to the tee and the unlikely team quickly comes together in a family bond despite hilarious clashing egos.
Thunderbolts* Brings Flawed Heroes – and Flawed Pacing
One might find the pacing and unfolding of the overarcing story prevents the audience to latch onto the characters emotionally enough to truly feel for them.
The rushed plot forces our villain, Sentry/The Void, to quickly appear abruptly, share his impactful mental health struggles with the team, turn to the enemy side without much hesitation, and somehow master his newfond powers in a matter of an assumed day — all while the Thunderbolts* barely have enough time to learn each others’ names.
While Lewis Pullman delivers a powerful performance as Robert Reynolds, his character’s development feels forced — mirroring Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s inexplicably swift globe-trotting as Valentina. These narrative shortcuts ultimately make Thunderbolts feel like more of the same: another formulaic comic book story dressed in grit but lacking depth.
David Harbous Steals the Show
One of Thunderbolts’ brightest spots is the Red Guardian.
David Harbour steals every scene he’s in, clearly loving the role of Russia’s Captain America. He strikes a perfect balance between comedic timing and emotional depth, knowing when to lean into the humor or pull back for more heartfelt moments.
Watch in Theaters?
The Thunderbolts* is undoubtedly designed for the big screen, but fans may find it just as enjoyable when it lands on Disney+.
While its pacing and lack of character development leaves less than hoped for, the latest Marvel installment is undoubtely fun and is a solid kickoff to the 2025 summer season.
On top of that, the troup of anti-heroes are setting up the new era of the Avengers and MCU with its post-credit scene.
With natural chemisty bewteen the Thunderbolt members to a promising future for the MCU, Thunderbolts* is still worth a watch before The Fantastic Four: First Steps releases this July.
Marvel’s Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters worldwide.Â
