Thunderbolts* (2025) [Movie Review]: A Mission of Misfits and Redemption

Director: Jake Schreier

Writers: Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo, and Kurt Busiek

Stars: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Reynolds, Ava Starr, and more.

In Thunderbolts*, Marvel abandons the tidy superhero formula and plunges into the dark depths of redemption, trauma, and trust. This time, it’s not about saving the world—it’s about saving themselves. The film features a mismatched cast of antiheroes, including Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Ghost, Taskmaster, Red Guardian, and U.S. Agent John Walker. Each one is scarred, bitter, and far from heroic.

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A Mission Built on Lies

The squad is thrown into action by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, whose motives are as shady as her methods. What begins as a sanctioned mission spirals into a dangerous trap, forcing the group to rely on each other despite their fractured pasts and shaky alliances.

Emotion Over Explosions

Thunderbolts* is distinguished by its emotional weight, even if it doesn't shy away from high-octane action. Leading the charge as Yelena is Florence Pugh, who is witty and heartbroken. Bucky, played by Sebastian Stan, gives a portrayal that is rife with fatigue and hesitant leadership. There’s depth, conflict, and enough character development to give the ensemble substance beyond the surface.

Real Combat, Real Stakes

Visually, the film feels more grounded than recent MCU entries. The action leans toward brutal hand-to-hand combat, tactical missions, and raw tension rather than cosmic chaos. Gritty camera work and tight fight scenes amplify the realism, while the muted color palette reinforces the team’s emotional darkness.

Dysfunctional but Human

What truly elevates Thunderbolts* is the group dynamic. They’re not friends, not yet a family—just broken people with a common enemy. Their interactions are awkward, fiery, and unpredictable. The lines between adversary and ally become increasingly blurred as the mission intensifies, resulting in a sense of peril in every decision.

Final Verdict

Thunderbolts* isn’t about world-ending threats—it’s about personal reckoning. It may not have the glossy optimism of earlier Marvel films, but it’s a bold, emotionally charged detour into darker MCU territory. For fans of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier or Black Widow, this grounded ensemble thriller delivers tension, impact, and something Marvel’s rarely tackled—guilt and growth.

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⭐Rating: 4/5 – Thunderbolts* is Marvel’s most emotionally mature and morally complex team-up yet. Raw, rough, and refreshingly real.