After several missteps and financial bombs, Richard Tobin argues that Thunderbolts* is a refreshing step toward revitalising the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the franchise heads into its sixth phase.
Thunderbolts* (2025) arrives at a complicated time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (2023) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) aside, the last few films have largely disappointed filmgoers and comic book fans alike while also underperforming financially. As stories and as films, Marvel’s recent output has felt a bit hollow - none of these films have cared about their characters, which is what used to be the foundation of the MCU. The casual fans of these movies have lost interest while comic book fanatics are becoming increasingly frustrated, shown in the middling box office results.
Thunderbolts* closes out this troublesome 5th phase of the MCU and thankfully, it’s a huge change in direction. First and foremost - it’s a great film and a story with a very powerful message. Regardless of how familiar or not people are with the Marvel Universe, this is the type of blockbuster anyone can go into and have a blast.
Thunderbolts* follows a team of volatile antiheroes - Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), U.S. Agent John Walker (Wyatt Russell) and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) - brought together by the CIA’s Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) for a mission cloaked in secrecy. Sent to a remote facility, they soon realise the operation was a setup, meant to eliminate them and cover up Valentina’s dark operations. Their escape, aided by the mysterious and powerful Bob (Lewis Pullman), sets off a chain of events that unleashes the Sentry and his destructive alter ego, the Void. With Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Red Guardian (David Harbour) joining the fray, the fractured team must overcome their inner voices and unite to stop a threat capable of destroying New York.
Directed by Jake Schreier, best known for his work on the 2023 Netflix show Beef, this film is a breath of fresh air visually and stylistically. Gone are the constant green screens and muted grey that Marvel movies have lived off the past few years. Schreier filmed on location and actually uses intriguing lighting setups and compelling framing. Valentina’s secret lair is shadowy and dark, her secret training facility has an unnerving orange tint, a lush snowy forest is crisp and real - these things are relatively small fixes but work to make the scenes more captivating. As the team tries to fight Sentry, there’s a phenomenal one take scene that demonstrates the Sentry's sheer power so effectively. Schreier steps away from what we’ve come to expect from how superhero movies look and instead creates something bold and unique.
As well as directing, Schreier enlisted the writing team behind Beef to take a crack at the Thunderbolts* script and the collaborative effort shows. The characters are well developed and for the first time since GOTG Vol.3, they feel like real people. The way they interact with each other and joke about things as innocuous as their underage football team feels authentic and equally funny. The film wears its heart on its sleeve, it doesn’t interrupt heartfelt moments with self-deprecating jokes or digs like we’ve come to expect from Marvel. The film dedicates a lot of time to the team just hanging out and getting to grips with each other, reminiscent of the best of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and The Avengers (2012). The film’s two hour run time zips by and never feels bloated or rushed.
The cast are another massive element of the film’s success. Pugh shines as the leader of the ragtag team and is the heartbeat of the film. She shows Yelena’s regret and shame powerfully, through a quiet yet strong dissatisfaction and unhappiness within herself. Seeing her grow into her character is a particularly rewarding aspect of the film’s ending that can be put down to Pugh’s performance. Harbour shines as Red Guardian - my screening missed some dialogue after he was speaking because we were still in hysterics at some of his jokes and simple behaviour. Pullman is phenomenal in his different roles and really shows the various sides to Bob’s identity and the pain he feels. The rest of the cast have such believable chemistry with each other, even somewhat unlikeable characters like John Walker to the straight-up cruel Valentina are played with expertise.
Thunderbolts* has everything we’ve come to expect from a blockbuster with some flashy action sequences and fun twists, but the core of the film is its message. The film explores our inner voices, mental health and the way we deal with the pains in our lives. Without giving away too many spoilers, it’s a powerful exploration of the way we treat ourselves and not letting the past take control of our present. The film implores us to acknowledge our mistakes and the things that have shaped us - not to shove them down and try to forget about them. Shame can’t live in the dark and the film teaches us to acknowledge all the good we do and the people we care about. It’s best experienced on the big screen - words won’t do it justice.
Everything about Thunderbolts* is refreshing and authentic. The creativity and care of everyone involved in making this film practically oozes off the screen. The asterisk in the film’s title is a fun, tongue in cheek hint at what is to come for the team and the larger Marvel universe. For those who have become jaded with recent studio blockbusters and superhero fare, this is the film to test the waters and see where you stand. Thunderbolts* arrives hot on the heels of Sinners (2025), being timely reminders of what our blockbusters can and should be.