Movie Review: Thunderbolts* Is Surprising and Enjoyable MCU Film
Marvel’s Thunderbolts* isn’t just another team-up movie. It’s actually a pretty raw look at loneliness, shame, and what happens when you’ve spent your life doing things you can’t take back. Yes, there’s action, and yes, it moves the MCU forward better than Captain America: Brave New World ever did—but what really stuck with me were the quieter moments, especially with Yelena Belova and John Walker. Read on for a spoiler-free review of Thunderbolts*, the newest MCU film.
In Thunderbolts*, a team of misfit operatives—including Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker—are brought together for a covert government mission that quickly spirals into a psychological and physical death trap. As the movie progresses, each member is forced to confront the emotional wreckage of their pasts and the roles they’ve played in broken systems.
At the heart of the film is Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), still reeling from the death of her sister Natasha Romanoff. Her grief is compounded by isolation—she hasn’t heard from her adoptive father Red Guardian (David Harbour) or Melina in over a year—and by guilt over her own past actions. There’s a pivotal moment where Yelena admits that she can’t even look at herself sometimes, a rare bit of unfiltered honesty that echoes the trauma many characters in the MCU tend to suppress.
John Walker (Wyatt Russell) also emerges as a quietly compelling figure. Branded as a failure and forced into exile, he wrestles with both personal shame and the desire to be something better. His journey is not one of redemption in the traditional sense, but rather an honest reckoning with who he is and who he can still become.
Marvel deftly balances these emotional beats with sharp dialogue and dynamic action sequences, allowing the weightier themes to land without derailing the pace. It’s this balance that elevates Thunderbolts* above more recent entries like Captain America: Brave New World, which struggled to find emotional grounding in its plot.
Visually, Thunderbolts* also delivers some of the best visuals in the MCU. The CGI is definitely improved over recent MCU efforts, with smoother design of digital environments and fight scenes. Even with all the emotional stuff, this is still a Marvel movie—so yeah, the action is solid. The CGI looks better than some recent projects (looking at you, Quantumania), and everything feels more grounded. The team dynamics are messy in a good way, and the fights feel earned, not just thrown in for spectacle.
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There are two post-credit scenes, both worth staying for. And even the first round of credits is weirdly entertaining—they are newpaper headlines of the team which are funny, stylized, and a nice breather after some pretty intense final scenes.
Thunderbolts* pulled off something we didn’t expect. It balanced superhero action with some real, emotional storytelling—and it did it better than a lot of recent Marvel releases. It’s one of those movies we could actually rewatch, not just for the plot, but to catch all the little character moments we might’ve missed. Plus, let’s be honest—the MCU bar hasn’t been super high lately, and this clears it with room to spare. It also sets Florence Pugh up as someone who can carry a Marvel movie on her own. She’s funny and vulnerable and one of my favorite Marvel characters!
DIGITAL AND DVD RELEASE DETAILS
Thunderbolts* is now available on Digital, and will be released on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD July 29.
Bonus Features*
- Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut.
o Door is Unliftable
o Gary Announcement - Assembling a Team – Spend a bit of quality time with the cast and crew of Thunderbolts* as
they divulge how the film’s fictional team of superpowered mavericks, misfits and antiheroes
was assembled. - Around the World and Back Again – Discover the eclectic locations and astounding production
design that helped make Thunderbolts* a rousing reality, including a visit to the sprawling sets
in Kuala Lumpur where we join Florence Pugh performing stunts atop one of planet Earth’s
tallest buildings and blowing up buildings on the streets. - All About Bob, Sentry & The Void – Deep dive into the making of three different characters:
Bob, Sentry, and The Void – all performed by Lewis Pullman. - Gag Reel – Enjoy some of the fun outtakes on set with the cast of crew of Thunderbolts*.
- Director’s Audio Commentary – Watch the film with audio commentary by director Jake
Schreier.
If you want Thunderbolts* to hit the way it’s supposed to, there are a few Marvel movies and shows worth checking out first. These help you understand who these characters are, what they’ve been through, and why they’re all so emotionally messy. Here’s a quick watchlist:
Definitely Watch:
- Black Widow – This is where you meet Yelena and Red Guardian. It sets up a lot of their emotional baggage.
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – Huge for understanding John Walker and where Bucky’s head is at.
- Ant-Man and the Wasp – Introduces Ghost and her whole deal.
- Avengers: Endgame – Gives some context for Yelena’s grief and where the MCU is in general.
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier – If you want to really understand Bucky’s backstory.
Nice to Have:
- Hawkeye – Yelena pops up again, and it connects to what she’s dealing with in Thunderbolts.
- Captain America: Civil War – More Bucky drama, plus the Sokovia Accords stuff that still matters.
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Gives you more on Valentina, who’s pulling some strings behind the scenes.
