Thunderbolts* (2025)

​“Thunderbolts*” stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.  Released on May 2, 2025, the film has a group of antiheroes tackling a dangerous mission.

The film is directed by Jake Schreier, who also directed “Robot & Frank” and “Paper Towns”.  It is based on the Marvel antihero team created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.  It is also the 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Heroes can come from the most unusual and often unexpected places.  Some were made through their uncommon abilities and heroic natures, while others are formed through their acts of redemption due to their villainous pasts.  Those individuals may not be the heroes people want, but they may be the only hope people have, whether they like it or not.  The Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced audiences to teams that fall under their radar, including the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Eternals.  The former became one of the best trilogies of the franchise, while the Eternals…well, at least they have their fans.  This year, the ever-expanding superhero franchise is once again kicking off the summer movie season by introducing a new superhero team that’s neither super nor heroic.  The Avengers are usually responsible for starting the summer season with a massive bang, and I don’t just mean that figuratively.  This year, that responsibility now falls in the hands of the self-proclaimed “Thunderbolts”, who had undergone several member changes throughout its history before settling with the ones we’re familiar with from previous installments.  Was this lesser-known group able to accomplish this daunting mission?  Let’s find out.

The story follows Yelena Belova (Pugh), a Black Widow assassin tackling specific jobs following the events of “Black Widow” and “Avengers: Endgame”.  She’s then tasked with a special mission by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Louis-Dreyfus), only to discover that it was actually a deadly trap organized by her.  As a result, Yelena encountered several people who were also tricked by Valentina, including disgraced Army Ranger John Walker (Russell), Taskmaster (Kurylenko), Ava Starr (John-Kamen), and amnesic Bob (Pullman).  Accompanied by Bucky Barnes (Stan) and the Red Guardian (Harbour), the group reluctantly joins forces to confront Valentina.  However, little did the dysfunctional team know that a larger threat arises from one of their own, forcing them to confront their sins on their paths toward redemption.

I appreciate the Marvel Cinematic Universe's opportunity to introduce certain characters or teams most people weren’t familiar with, whether in film or television.  It may not always work, but it does make audiences, including me, aware of the lesser-known characters in the Marvel universe besides Iron Man and Captain America.  The Thunderbolts may seem no different, but its members are a different story, as they consist of characters from other installments that haven’t gotten as much love as the Avengers or have yet to.  That includes Ava Starr, the forgettable “antagonist” from “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” and the infamous gender-reverse Taskmaster from “Black Widow”.  This is one of the reasons for my interest in “Thunderbolts*” besides the fact it’s from Marvel: to see if this concept has enough material to flesh out these secondary characters compared to their first appearances.  Of course, this is also another MCU installment that connects with “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” due to John Walker, so it has plenty to work with to win over those uninterested in watching the streaming show beforehand.  

In a way, this film was seen as a chance to redeem the franchise following its unfortunate misstep with “Brave New World,” especially with its upcoming multiverse events on our doorsteps.  Thankfully, the movie has the benefit of straying from the franchise’s multiverse subplot in favor of a more grounded and surprisingly mature storyline in the superhero realm.  Yes, it offers the usual antihero shenanigans we’re accustomed to.  But, instead of providing us with endless amounts of CGI-filled spectacles, “Thunderbolts*” injects itself with a down-to-earth, medium-scaled action thriller that happens to have a super-powered being in it.  The result was a much-needed boost for the MCU that, believe it or not, has something important to reflect underneath its cape.  With its mixture of laughs, action, and heart, “Thunderbolts*” suitably reflects the traditional “fun time at the movies” the franchise is known for.

One reason for this was the story, which can be best described as Marvel’s “Suicide Squad”.  However, I would describe it as the movie that both “Suicide Squad” films wished it was.  You have the usual side characters who don’t see themselves as heroes due to their past actions but must come together when a greater threat arises.  Sounds pretty similar to the “Suicide Squad” movies, right?  Well, it is, along with the dysfunctional and dynamic chemistry we’ve come to expect, but “Thunderbolts*” also had the one thing that DC’s antihero team lacked: an emotional core.  Sure, the members were complete jerks, notably John Walker, but they’re also surrounded by the complex nature of their internal pain that’s been haunting them, making them more human than marketable “heroes”.  This originated from the movie’s maturity in its metaphorical representation of mental illness, including depression, especially for Yelena and her regretful past.  While it does incorporate some of the light-hearted and comical elements the MCU is known for, they don’t detract from the deep complexity of the film’s characters and grounded themes.  Of course, given the mature and unsettling themes present, this is also another movie that requires parents to discuss these topics with their kids before and after viewing.  There can be specific scenes that may be too intense for anyone under at least six or seven, but the conversations about them can prove beneficial if parents are smart enough to address them thoughtfully. 

With a screenplay that balances heart with thematic depth and provides a finale worthy of my tears, the film fits alongside others like “Captain America: Civil War” and “Black Panther” that properly inject real-world commentary into the franchise’s superhero antics.  However, if you’re going into this film expecting a lot of game-changing twists and turns, you might wind up feeling disappointed with the result.  Except for the post-credit scene, the film was a straightforward and predictable thriller showcasing the team exacting revenge against Valentina without any distractions slowing them down.  If that’s what you desire, then there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy it as much as I did, even if it doesn’t provide much else in its narrative surprises.  Eric Pearson has been working on the MCU since 2011, and it’s evident that the film showed his love for the franchise’s lore and characters through his script, which he co-wrote with Joanna Calo.  More importantly, they ensured that the characters were easily approachable for people unwilling to watch the previous installments for further contexts, including John Walker and Ava Starr.  Of course, there’s also the humor, which was suitably written enough to be genuinely amusing, with most of the comedy coming from Red Guardian.

Jake Schreier is another director who makes a giant leap to blockbuster filmmaking after directing smaller, more humane dramas.  Most of the installments helmed by indie directors successfully provide something fresh to the franchise, including Ryan Coogler, the Russo Brothers, Taika Waititi, and even Chloé Zhao.  With “Thunderbolts*”, I would gladly put Schreier alongside these directors worthy of expressing their visions in the blockbuster franchise.  Jake Schreier achieved a near-perfect balance that combines the elements of a superhero action thriller with the mind of a sentimental therapeutic drama without relying heavily on only one side, all while invoking a perspective that makes its small scale feel grander.  This was largely attributed to Andrew Droz Palermo’s cinematography, which featured stunning wide-angle shots and slick panning effects complementing the film’s gripping action sequences and production designs.  I would also credit the filmmaking team, including Schreier, for utilizing practical effects to envision some of its jaw-dropping sequences, including the film’s beginning.  But, of course, it also has to include CGI for specific moments because not all stunts can be performed practically.  Some of the CGI effects looked a bit wonky in the stunt work, but they didn’t hinder the experience of witnessing the practical effects in action.

A team that’s as dysfunctional as the Thunderbolts deserves a talented, dynamic cast, and lo and behold, that’s what they offered.  Florence Pugh had consistently won me over through her roles before she joined the Marvel Universe in 2021’s “Black Widow”.  While her smaller roles have already made her a star in my eyes, I’m still happy that her involvement in a blockbuster franchise got her the attention she deserves.  Despite my mixed feelings about “Black Widow”, I did appreciate Pugh’s efforts in combining Yelena’s snarky attitude with humor and humanity.  This resulted in “Thunderbolts*” giving Pugh’s character the leading spotlight for the first time, and I have to tell you, it was worth the wait.  Not only did the film enhance Yelena's likable appeal through her thought-provoking arc, but it also further highlighted Pugh’s remarkable talent as an actress, particularly evident in her command of her Russian accent.  Wyatt Russell reprised his role as John from “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, delivering another impressive performance that makes the character’s ignorant and short-tempered nature tolerable and amusing.  It was no easy task for Russell, but he managed to nail that balance down in the Disney+ show and now “Thunderbolts*”.  David Harbour was the film's main highlight regarding his enthusiastic and enthralling performance as Red Guardian, and it wasn’t just due to his comical timing.  Red Guardian is basically the heart, humor, and soul of the dysfunctional team, and Harbour managed to accomplish all of them in one fell swoop.  It also happens to be another reason Red Guardian is one of my favorite performances from Harbour, who first grabbed my attention in “Stranger Things”.  Julia Louis-Dreyfus also had some fun moments playing the manipulative, self-centered Valentina.

Overall, “Thunderbolts*” roars proudly like actual thunder with a highly entertaining antihero team-up adventure that’s also thoughtfully therapeutic.  Its straightforward narrative and rough CGI effects prevent this underdog team from rising beyond its genre standards.  However, its eagerness to balance superhero chaos with mature and metaphorical themes delivers enough worthy moments to reign supreme during the Avengers’ absence.  The cast was a delight to watch regarding their performances and chemistry, and Jake Schreier’s direction provided plenty of pop and skill through its action, heart, and practical effects.  The screenplay also overcame most of its predictability with its well-written characters and earnest, medium-sized stakes.  This is a much-needed change of pace in the MCU’s longevity and a worthy conclusion to the franchise’s fifth phase that teases plenty of exciting stuff for the Multiverse Saga’s climax.  If you plan on starting the summer movie season on the right foot, make sure you do so with this unlikely band of thunderous underdogs.

B+