Los Angeles — Thunderbolts, the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, arrives with more than just high expectations—it carries the weight of a franchise desperate for revival. Directed by Jake Schreier and headlined by a talented ensemble including Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, and Olga Kurylenko, the film does deliver moments that harken back to Marvel’s glory days. But unfortunately, it stops just shy of being the game-changer the MCU so urgently needs.
A Promising Premise with Familiar Faces
In the comics, the Thunderbolts are a group of villains and anti-heroes brought together for covert missions. The film adaptation stays largely faithful to that spirit. Here, the unlikely team is assembled by the calculating CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who seems to be carving her own legacy as a more morally ambiguous Nick Fury. But as the mission unfolds, it becomes evident that the Thunderbolts have been set up for failure.
The team—led by Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Red Guardian (David Harbour)—soon realizes that survival will take more than brute force. With the mysterious and unstable Bob (Lewis Pullman) entering the mix, and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) trying to steer the chaos as a now-Congressman, the group must confront not just their enemies, but their own inner demons.
The Old Marvel Magic — Almost
At its best, Thunderbolts feels like a tribute to peak MCU—sharp dialogue, well-balanced humor, and stylish action sequences. The wisecracks land, the visuals are polished, and the tone is refreshingly grounded compared to the recent VFX-overloaded disappointments. The Red Guardian, now in full comic-relief mode, still manages to win hearts thanks to David Harbour’s charming and earnest performance.
The VFX, often criticized in Marvel’s recent outings, are notably refined here. The introduction of Sentry—portrayed with quiet depth and alarming power by Lewis Pullman—delivers a high-impact sequence that manages to blend spectacle with suspense.
Heart Over Hype
What truly elevates Thunderbolts, at least in parts, is its emotional core. Schreier brings a sensitivity rarely seen in superhero flicks lately, exploring mental health themes such as impostor syndrome and emotional trauma. Much like Iron Man 3 delved into PTSD and Endgame into survivor’s guilt, Thunderbolts grapples with the psychological scars of its characters.
Florence Pugh leads the charge here with a performance that goes beyond the physical. Her portrayal of Yelena as a woman grappling with her past and her place in the world adds much-needed depth to the ensemble. Lewis Pullman, too, is a standout as Bob/Sentry, navigating between vulnerability and near-omnipotence with subtle finesse.
Good, But Not Great
Despite its merits, Thunderbolts never truly reaches the heights it aims for. Critics calling it the “best Marvel film in years” may be technically correct—but only because the bar has sunk alarmingly low. The film’s callbacks to classic Marvel moments feel forced and obvious, lacking the seamless integration that once defined the MCU’s storytelling genius.
Worse still, Thunderbolts cannot escape the weight of the franchise’s convoluted continuity. To fully appreciate certain moments, audiences are still expected to have seen multiple prior films and Disney+ series—turning what should be a fresh entry point into another link in an increasingly bloated chain.
Even as it nods to greatness, Thunderbolts doesn’t quite achieve it. It tries to reignite interest in a fatigued fanbase but lacks the cultural impact or narrative innovation to truly reset the MCU’s downward trajectory.
Final Verdict
With sincere performances and a refreshing thematic undercurrent, Thunderbolts is a much-needed step in the right direction for Marvel. But it’s only a step—not a leap. Nostalgic, entertaining, and emotionally aware, it is far better than recent efforts, yet far from the cinematic event Marvel once promised with every release.
For now, the thunder rolls—but the lightning hasn’t struck yet.
Star Rating: ★★★ (3/5)
