Thunderbolts: The Wildest and Strangest Superhero Film

Thunderbolts – Marvel’s latest blockbuster is a blend of entertainment, action, and emotional healing.

Since Avengers: Endgame (2019), many viewers believe the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been in decline. Several recent films seem more focused on introducing new characters or multiverse concepts than delivering quality storytelling

The story of Thunderbolts* picks up right after the events of Captain America: Brave New World. CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) launches Project Sentry—a covert operation aimed at creating a new superhero powerful enough to replace the Avengers. But when her dark schemes are exposed, she attempts to erase all evidence by manipulating a team of assassins—Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Taskmaster/Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko), U.S. Agent/John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Ghost/Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen)—into turning on each other. In the process, they accidentally free Bob (Lewis Pullman), a mentally unstable young man with the explosive power of “a thousand suns,” who becomes a global threat. The team is forced to join forces with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Red Guardian/Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) to stop him.

A Darkly Funny, Emotionally Healing Story

Directed by Jake Schreier, known for the hit miniseries Beef (2023), Thunderbolts* carries over the emotional depth and signature style of that show. This isn’t your typical superhero squad. These are killers, mercenaries, and former villains—more akin to an Earth-based version of Guardians of the Galaxy, but with characters already introduced in previous MCU films.

The movie leans heavily into humor through the chaotic dynamics of this ragtag team. None of them trust each other, all have checkered pasts, and their interactions are filled with sarcasm and constant jabs. The arguments, often stemming from their individual traumas, are surprisingly funny without feeling forced or over-the-top. Their lack of discipline, massive egos, and overall dysfunction add a wild energy that sets them apart from traditional heroes. Their uncoordinated combat style—everyone doing their own thing—further adds to the fun.

Still, Thunderbolts is not all jokes. It’s also a redemption journey. Each character carries emotional scars and unresolved trauma. Yelena was forced into becoming an assassin as a child and blames herself for her best friend’s death. Ava endured physical agony and grew up in a military lab. Bucky is haunted by his past as the Winter Soldier. John Walker struggles with the psychological toll of being rejected as a failed Captain America. Even Bob was abused by his father and emotionally neglected by his mother.

The film digs deep into these wounds, revealing the reasons they took a dark path. Each one feels hollow, unsure of their purpose, yet deep down, they long to fight for something good—to protect the innocent. Their brokenness becomes the glue that binds them, allowing them to connect, heal, and grow together. Because these characters are already familiar to audiences, their emotional arcs feel more relatable and earned. In the end, they don’t just fight villains—they confront the darkness within themselves. And through that journey, these lonely misfits begin to form a promising new kind of superhero team.

Unfortunately, because much of the runtime is devoted to this healing process, the film struggles to build a complex plot. The pace is fast and intense, making the two-hour runtime fly by, but the story beats are predictable. MCU fans who’ve seen the trailers can likely guess how it all ends.

Visually Thrilling Action

Even though it lacks powerhouses like Thor or Hulk, Thunderbolts* still delivers impressive action. The fight choreography is sharp, showcasing each character’s combat style—Yelena’s assassin finesse, John Walker and Bucky’s brute strength, and Ghost’s phasing tricks. From one-on-one showdowns to large-scale brawls, every fight is captured with cinematic flair and backed by top-notch sound design. The action evokes the gritty excellence of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). Whether it’s Bucky’s knife work, Yelena’s acrobatics, or Ghost’s eerie abilities, action fans will be satisfied. While the visual effects and explosions aren’t excessive, they’re impactful and well executed.

Sentry’s powers are absurdly overpowered compared to the rest of the team. He’s super strong, invulnerable, can fly, and manipulate matter. The final showdown highlights the overwhelming gap in strength between the sides. The Thunderbolts’ desperate, gritty effort contrasts with Sentry’s effortless dominance in an entertaining way. Each attack is slick, coordinated, and thrilling to watch.

Strong Performances

Aside from newcomer Lewis Pullman as Sentry, the cast is made up of returning MCU actors, who slip back into their roles with ease. What’s new is how deeply the film pushes them into emotional territory.

Florence Pugh is the clear standout. Yelena is haunted by her past and the loss of her sister, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). She lives like a hollow shell, devoid of joy or purpose. Yet she’s the one who eventually faces her pain and becomes a rock for the team. Pugh brings depth and vulnerability to every scene. Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, and Hannah John-Kamen also shine in their own moments. Together, the cast delivers a redemption arc that’s heartfelt, funny, and full of weird charm.

Rating: 3.5/5

Thunderbolts* proves that Marvel Studios can still produce meaningful and entertaining superhero films. Instead of chasing trendy concepts, the movie returns to the core of what makes a hero—pain, purpose, and the drive to protect the powerless. It’s a fun, accessible, emotionally satisfying watch that sets up Avengers: Doomsday with real promise.

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