Thunderbolts* Movie Review: Marvel’s Darkest Experiment Delivers Shockingly Good Results

Florence Pugh Leads MCU’s First R-Rated Team-Up to Box Office Glory

By Rinkoo Garg | Published: 5-5-2025

The Bottom Line

✅ 4.5/5 Stars | ⏳ 2h 15m | 🎬 Director: Jake Schreier
Budget: 300M∣🎟®∗∗Week1BoxOffice:∗∗300M∣🎟R◯∗∗Week1BoxOffice:∗∗412M | IMDb: 7.7/10

For Fans Of: The Suicide Squad (2021), Captain America: The Winter Soldier, morally complex storytelling

Meet the Team: Who Are the Thunderbolts?

Marvel’s answer to DC’s Suicide Squad assembles MCU’s most flawed characters:

Character	Actor	Role	Standout Moment
Yelena Belova	Florence Pugh	Black Widow’s successor	Therapy session breakdown (Min 47
Bucky Barnes	Sebastian Stan	Reformed assassin	“I’m done being your weapon” line
Sentry	Steven Yeun	Mentally unstable Superman	Reality-shattering climax fight
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine	Julia Louis-Dreyfus	Shady CIA director	Post-credit scene reveal

🎬 Plot Summary (No Spoilers)

Thunderbolts follows a covert mission that brings together misfits, anti heroes, and morally grey characters. When the world needs a job done off the books, this team becomes the only option. Their inner conflicts, clashing loyalties, and raw personalities drive the tension — and the entertainment.

Why You Should Watch

• Unpredictable Character Dynamics: Unlike your usual polished hero teams, the Thunderbolts are a chaotic blend of trauma, sarcasm, and barely-contained violence.
• Florence Pugh Shines: Yelena Belova steals nearly every scene, adding depth and humor.
• Balanced Tone: The film balances action, dark humor, and emotional moments with finesse.
• MCU Connections: For die-hard Marvel fans, Thunderbolts adds layers to ongoing multiverse narratives.

Box Office Breakdown: By the Numbers

Global Performance (Week 1)

• Domestic (NA): $158M
• Overseas: $254M
  • Top Markets: China (41M),UK(41M),UK(28M), India (₹118Cr/$14M)
• IMAX Share: 22% ($90.6M)

Vs. Expectations:

• Surpassed The Marvels’ total in 5 days
• 3rd highest 2025 debut after Avatar 3 and Secret Wars

Why Thunderbolts Works

1. Gritty, Character-Driven Action

• Real stunts: 70% practical effects (MCU record)
• That prison break scene: 12-minute single take (Bucky vs. 30 guards)
• Sentry’s powers: Mind-bending visuals rival Doctor Strange

2. Florence Pugh’s Star-Making Turn

Yelena evolves from Hawkeye’s comic relief to:
. Emotional anchor of the film
. Best MCU fight choreography since Black Widow
. Delivers the franchise’s most raw PTSD portrayal

3. Bold Narrative Risks

• No traditional hero arc – the team fails repeatedly
• Graphic violence (Marvel’s first R-rated team-up)
• Ambiguous ending setting up Dark Avengers

What Doesn’t Click

Overstuffed roster: Ghost & Taskmaster feel underdeveloped
 Tonal whiplash: Jokes undercut serious moments
 Predictable twist: Comic fans saw Sentry’s turn coming

Audience & Critical Reception

Social Media Buzz

📈 Twitter: #Thunderbolts trends for 72 hours
🔥 TikTok: Bucky’s knife fight clip hits 18M views
🎭 Reddit Debate: “Is Sentry MCU’s best villain since Thanos?” (82K upvotes)

Expert Reviews

• The Hindu: “Marvel finally grows up” ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Final Verdict

Thunderbolts is not your typical MCU spectacle — and that’s exactly what makes it stand out. It’s gritty, grounded, and refreshingly character-driven. If you’re tired of the formulaic Marvel feel, this film might just pull you back in.

Update Alert!
Thunderbolts just announced an extended cut with 18 new minutes (coming to IMAX July 18). Will update this review after screening!

What’s Your Take?
Did it deserve more box office love? comment below

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