Thunderbolts review: The comeback movie Marvel desperately needed

While we’re keeping this review spoiler-free, here’s the gist: Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Val is in deep political trouble. And so, she assembles a ragtag squad – John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) – to clean up the mess she’s made. 

Of course, in true MCU fashion, things don’t go to plan. Without going into further detail, just know that the newly appointed congressman Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and the down-and-out Red Guardian (David Harbour) end up joining their team. 

And a formidable hero and foe The Sentry (aka Bob Reynolds) shows up and causes mayhem in New York City. For the uninitiated, The Sentry (Lewis Pullman) is Marvel’s answer to Superman – only far less stable. 

When he spirals, his alter ego known as The Void takes over, transporting victims into their darkest memories. It’s here the film takes its boldest turn, forcing each Thunderbolt to confront not just the villain but their own inner demons.

A messy Marvel team that works

One of the movie’s biggest strengths is its ensemble. Much like Guardians of the Galaxy, the Thunderbolts are misfits – they’re not the polished, muscle-bound Avengers, and that’s exactly the point. Their appeal lies in their dysfunction, and the way they find connection in the chaos.

While it doesn’t always give everyone equal screen time, each major player gets a moment to shine. This rings especially true for Florence Pugh, who continues her winning streak with a performance that’s fierce, funny, and full of vulnerability. 

Whether she’s pondering life fulfillment with Red Guardian (“I’m very full… very filled,” he insists) or guiding Bob through his mental abyss, she’s the emotional anchor of the film and has the range to carry it. 

Harbour’s Red Guardian is the comedic MVP, now running a struggling limo service and binging reruns of his past exploits. His oddball humour cuts through the tension, but he also brings depth as a washed-up hero who still wants to matter.

Meanwhile, Stan feels more settled than ever as Bucky – older, wiser, and (finally) allowed to be more than just the brooding Winter Soldier. His charisma shines through, even during his quieter moments. 

Sentry/Void is the MCU’s best hero/villain

Disney

Now, let’s talk about Bob, aka The Sentry, aka The Void. In a comic book franchise whose villains carry as much weight as its cape-wearers, Bob is an exciting entry to the line-up, serving as a character who fits into all categories: a big bad, a troubled dude, and one of Marvel’s strongest superheroes of all time. 

Pullman pulls it off with ease, showcasing his vulnerability and complementing the rest of the team. Let it be known that this is just the beginning for one of Marvel’s most complex, powerful characters – and Thunderbolts sets that foundation beautifully without turning the film into a two-hour origin dump.

He’s also the vessel for the movie to explore its themes. Loneliness, mental health, PTSD – none of it feels tacked on. Rather, they’re naturally woven into Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo’s nimble script and expressed by our traumatized antiheros, who are well placed to tackle these darker topics without veering into melodrama territory. 

From the weight of their pasts to their often complicated relationships with one another, the new movie is as much about inner turmoil as it is about saving the world. It’s a refreshing take in a genre often criticized for its superficial approach to real-life issues. 

But that’s not to say Thunderbolts is without spectacle. Blown up buildings, massive shootouts, and kicking butt is par for the course in the MCU, and there’s plenty of that here, assisted by Jake Schreier’s deft direction. 

A minor stumble

Disney

For all its strengths, Thunderbolts isn’t without flaws. An early shock is brushed past so quickly it almost feels like an editing error. It’s not that the moment doesn’t make sense, but the lack of emotional follow-up feels jarring, a rare stumble in a movie otherwise so invested in its characters’ pain.

Some arcs feel slightly undercooked (Ghost, in particular, is given little to do), and the final scene with Val might leave some viewers wanting more. But, as said, that’s kinda the point. 

Unlike Captain America, Thunderbolts is the start of a brave new world for the MCU. With Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday, and Avengers: Secret Wars on the horizon, the future of the franchise is starting to look bright again. Who knew it’d take some of the darkest characters to make that happen.

Thunderbolts review score: 4/5 – Great

Thunderbolts doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t have to. It’s a character-driven, thematically rich, often hilarious team-up movie that proves Marvel can still deliver when it focuses on the fundamentals: heart, humor, and heroes worth rooting for – even if they’re more villain than Avenger.

Thunderbolts hits UK cinemas on May 1 and US cinemas on May 2. Until then, check out every upcoming MCU movie and show, our ranking of the MCU’s movies, and everything we know about Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

For more information on how we score TV shows and movies, check out our scoring guidelines here.