Review + Everything About Thunderbolts*, Marvel's Newest Film!

Thunderbolts is an American film that premiered in theaters on May 1, 2025, concluding Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is the thirty-sixth film in the MCU, directed by Jake Schreier, written by Joanna Calo and Lee Sung-Jin, and produced by Kevin Feige.

The film stars Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova/Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier), Wyatt Russell (John Walker/U.S. Agent), Olga Kurylenko (Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster), David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost/Ava Starr), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra de Fontaine), and Lewis Pullman (Bob/Sentry).

Yelena Belova is hired for a mission by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the CIA director who is also connected to a covert science and operations organization. Together with John Walker, Taskmaster, and Ghost, Yelena falls into a trap, which unexpectedly brings them together as a team.

This group of anti-heroes joins Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier and Red Guardian to confront an imminent threat: the Sentry. Valentina seeks to use the Thunderbolts’ unity to further her own interests and those of the government.

The film introduces the Thunderbolts, a team composed of outsiders and disillusioned individuals, who embark on a dangerous mission and are forced to confront the darkest parts of their past. The story is based on the comic series of the same name.

Official Trailer

In Marvel comics, the Thunderbolts first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 (1997), created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley. Initially, they were a team of villains posing as heroes, composed of Moonstone, MACH-IV, Songbird, Atlas, and Techno.

Before adopting the Thunderbolts name, they called themselves the Masters of Evil, led by Baron Zemo—a scheme intended to deceive the public and authorities and give the world new hope after the Avengers’ downfall. The name Thunderbolts was chosen by Zemo himself, inspired by the idea that they would “bring justice like a bolt of lightning.” In reality, it was all part of a sinister plan to commit crimes freely and take over the world.

Most team members, after their deception was revealed, chose to abandon a life of crime and pursue heroic causes. Over the years, the Thunderbolts have undergone several formations, including lineups led by Red Hulk, Luke Cage, and Winter Soldier, always mixing heroes and former villains seeking redemption.

To better understand Thunderbolts, it’s recommended to revisit certain MCU films and shows, especially those that introduce the team’s main characters. These include:

Black Widow (2021): Explores the story of Natasha Romanoff and introduces important characters such as Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, and Taskmaster. The post-credits scene features Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, hinting at the start of the Thunderbolts project.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014): Introduces Bucky Barnes’ transformation into the Winter Soldier. Although Bucky appeared in the first film, he was presumed dead before returning as a brainwashed assassin.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021): Chronicles the rise of John Walker as Captain America and later as U.S. Agent. Valentina is seen recruiting him in the series.

Captain America: Brave New World (2025): Depicts a world without the Avengers, leading the U.S. government to form a new team of heroes—the Thunderbolts. This film’s events serve as background for Thunderbolts.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018): Introduces the villain Ghost/Ava Starr, who, although defeated in this film, returns to join the team.

The film puts a strong spotlight on the characters’ mental health. These are anti-heroes carrying trauma and difficult pasts, showing how symptoms of depression, anxiety, and lack of purpose affect their lives. The story explores these emotions and how they impact everything around the characters. Thunderbolts uses depression as a central theme, connecting the characters to their struggles and how they deal with them. Abandonment, guilt, and a sense of disposability lead them to live on the fringes of society.

The movie takes a more introspective approach, focusing on the feelings and emotions of its characters rather than just showcasing battles and action scenes. The villain “Void” feeds on the characters’ apathy and depression, reinforcing the film’s main theme.

The story offers many moments to reflect on mental health and the importance of seeking help and support, connecting pop culture with social themes and prompting reflection on how human behavior is represented in different situations.

Freud’s model defines the Id as the pursuit of immediate pleasure, the Ego as the mediator between desire and reality, and the Superego as the influence of societal norms and values. The film uses these concepts to explain the dynamics between its characters and the development of their narratives.

The asterisk served as a marker to indicate that the “Thunderbolts” name was provisional and might be replaced. On Monday (05/05), Marvel launched a new marketing campaign, changing posters to feature The New Avengers. By the end of the film, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine announces that the team will officially be known by this new name, seeing great potential after the Thunderbolts save New York from the Sentry.

The film has been praised for its sensitive plot, exciting action sequences, and the way it humanizes the characters. It earned $11 million (R$63 million) on opening night in the United States, coming close to the $12 million (R$68 million) debut of Captain America: Brave New World, the previous Marvel Studios release. Over its first weekend, it grossed $76 million (R$432 million).

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% approval from 271 critics’ reviews and 94% approval from 5,000 audience ratings.

IMDB: 7.7/10 from 46,000 votes.

Letterboxd: 3.8/5 stars from 176,000 ratings.

CinemaScore: Audience rating of A- at the end of screenings.

This film is not just about the rise of the New Avengers; it’s much more than that. It also addresses mental health, humanizing villains and anti-heroes and showing their darker and more emotional sides without falling into clichés. It can be considered a film that paves the way for deeper and more dramatic narratives within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), giving a human touch to characters usually seen only as “problematic” and creating an emotional connection with the audience.

The movie introduces new characters like Sentry, who might spark the interest of Marvel fans thanks to his Superman-like powers and invulnerability. Familiar characters such as Yelena Belova and John Walker return but are explored from fresh perspectives, focusing on their inner struggles and personal journeys.

Well-executed action scenes abound, including hand-to-hand combat, clever use of weaponry, and spectacular explosions. Add to that just the right touch of humor, an honest look at mental health, impressive sets, amazing costumes, and stunning cinematography—guaranteeing an exciting experience for anyone watching.

Thunderbolts* is still showing in theaters across the country, with impressive box office numbers and strong approval from critics and audiences alike. In a time when many viewers feel saturated by superhero films, this movie arrives as a breath of fresh air.

So don’t waste any time - go see it in theaters.

See you next time!