The MCU's best film in years � a character-driven ensemble piece that proves Marvel still has something to say when it lets actual human beings breathe on screen.
Marvel Finds Its Soul Again
Thunderbolts* is a deliberately small-scale, character-first Marvel film. Director Jake Schreier brings an indie sensibility to the superhero genre, more interested in trauma and dysfunction than world-ending stakes. The plot is simple: morally compromised operatives are manipulated into a mission, only to discover they're the real target. What makes it work is deeply felt character work, particularly from Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan.
"No asterisk required: Thunderbolts* is easily the MCU's best effort in years � exhilarating and humorous as it is emotionally resonant."
� IMDB CriticsPugh Carries the Film
Pugh's Yelena has been a highlight of the MCU since Black Widow, and here she finally gets the spotlight she deserves. Her comedic timing is impeccable, her action sequences electrifying. Harrison Ford making his MCU debut as Red Hulk brings exactly the gravitas needed for this ragtag group of antiheroes.
The Verdict
A near-great superhero film held back only by a generic third act. But the character work is the best Marvel has delivered since Guardians Vol. 3. After years of disappointment, Marvel's B-team became the most interesting squad in the MCU.
The MCU's best film in years � a character-driven ensemble piece that proves Marvel still has something to say when it lets actual human beings breathe on screen.