Last Night, I went to see Thunderbolts at my local theater. Bowl of popcorn in hand, a little skeptical—the MCU has been through some rough patches lately, so I sat there wondering what this antihero gang was up to. But, trust me, this movie had me completely hooked! Directed by Jake Schreier and led by Florence Pugh, the film is packed with goosebump-inducing action, heart-wrenching emotions, and deep conversations about mental health. Yes, it can be a little confusing in places, but this movie made me love the MCU all over again. I’m writing this review based on my experiences, because this movie made me think, cry, and laugh.
Story: A heart-wrenching adventure
The story of this film revolves around this group who are caught up in Valentina’s conspiracy. They don’t trust each other at first, but are forced to work together. The “Shame Rooms” sequence is the highlight of this story—where each character confronts their own feelings of guilt and past mistakes. It reminded me of a night when I cried while writing about my mistakes in my diary—painful, but then a relief. While the action with The Void in the climax felt a little over-the-top, the emotional journey of these characters kept me glued to my seat. It has the gritty feel of Suicide Squad, but the heart of Guardians.
Cast: Florence Pugh Show-Stealer
Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova): This film is a Yelena Belova show. Florence Pugh captivated me as a tough action hero, with deadpan humor and inner pain. The scene at the beginning of the film, where she sits on top of the Merdeka 118 tower in Malaysia and talks about her “emptiness,” brought me to tears. She showed off her Black Widow-like agility in the action scenes, her humor in the scenes with the Red Guardian, and her heart-wrenching emotion in the Shame Rooms. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was nominated for an Oscar!
Lewis Pullman (Bob/The Sentry): Lewis surprised me in this film. As Bob, he captures the hero-villain duality brilliantly. His scenes with Yelena, especially a dialogue scene where they both share their pain, touched my heart. His performance is natural, deep.
David Harbour (Red Guardian): Harbour is the laugh bomb of this movie. His goofy humor, action scenes as a chubby super-soldier, and his father-daughter bond with Yelena reminded me of the time I spent with my dad. His emotional scenes were also heart-wrenching.
Wyatt Russell (John Walker): Russell surprised me as John Walker. Starting off as an angry, humiliated hero, he transformed into a sympathetic character. His performance was filled with anger, sadness, but optimism.
Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes): Stan was as impressive as ever as Bucky, but his character had little screen time. His action scenes and some of the dialogue were great, but I wanted more Bucky.
Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost): John-Kamen brought a tragic energy to the role as Ghost. Her phasing action scenes were great, but her limited screen time was disappointing.
Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster): Kurylenko looked lethal as Taskmaster, but her character lacked depth, which hurt.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina): Louis-Dreyfus shined as Valentina, both witty and devious. Her scenes were enjoyable, but her character could have been better with a little more backstory.
My Experience: Like a Touch to My Friends
This group reminded me of my college friends. Once we fought on a road trip—who should drive, what song should play. But at night, we sat around the campfire and talked about our fears and dreams. The Thunderbolts* team is like that—at first a bunch of scumbags, but eventually they become like family. The scene where Yelena talks about her emptiness reminds me of a night when I was sitting in the car after a stressful day at work, feeling like something was missing in my life. The scene where Yelena laughs with the Red Guardian reminds me of the days when I used to joke around with my dad while watching a movie. I couldn’t hold back my tears in the theater.
Analysis: A breath of fresh air for the MCU
Thunderbolts* shows a new direction for the MCU—without multiverses or alien wars, and instead focusing on the characters’ inner conflicts. The script by Eric Pearson and Joanna Callow goes deep into mental health, redemption, and community. The “Shame Rooms” sequence mixes psychological drama with the superhero format brilliantly—it felt like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to me. I like the MCU taking risks like this, even if it feels overdramatic in places.
The tone of the film is gritty, like an indie film. Andrew Droz Palermo’s cinematography, especially in a hallway fight scene, reminded me of the day I saw John Wick. The action is bloody and intimate, but the CGI gets too much in the third act with The Void, which goes back to the old MCU formula. Still, the emotional stakes keep the story grounded. Florence Pugh called it “an A24-like assassin movie,” and I agree 100%—it’s more of a human drama than a superhero film.
Plus Points:
Acting: Florence Pugh, Louis Pullman, David Harbour are amazing. The team chemistry is amazing.
Emotion: The discussion about mental health made sense to me.
Team vibe: Their bond made me feel like I was chatting with my friends all night.
Action: The fight scenes had me on the edge of my seat, I almost jumped!
Ease: Almost a standalone story, not like watching the MCU series (but it does tease Avengers: Doomsday).
Minus Points:
Pacing: The first part was a bit slow, the climax felt rushed.
Characters: Bucky, Ghost, Taskmaster had little screen time, which was disappointing.
Villains: Valentina, The Void are interesting, but they lack depth.
MCU References: Some of the references to old movies confused my sister.
Why should you watch it?
After a few flops like The Marvels, Thunderbolts* feels like a breath of fresh air for the MCU. This movie takes lesser-known characters and turns them into your favorites—like the day I discovered a new band at my local cafe. It proves that you can tell a great story without Spider-Man or the multiverse. It sets up the team for Avengers: Doomsday (May 2026), and makes you think about an MCU without Iron Man and Cap. This movie gave me hope for the future, for the underdogs.
Final Thoughts
Thunderbolts* is an emotional rollercoaster—it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me cheer on the edge of my seat. The performances by Florence Pugh, Louis Pullman, and David Harbour hooked me, the action was action-packed, and the story touched my heart. It’s not perfect—there are pacing issues, some characters are sidelined—but this is the MCU movie I’ve felt this way since Endgame. Whether you’re a Marvel fan or just want a heartwarming story, this is a must-see. I’m already planning to see it again with my friends!
Rating: 4/5
Thunderbolts* is rated PG-13—intense violence, some language, strong themes, and some suggestive content. Runtime 2 hours 6 minutes, in theaters now. Don’t miss the post-credits scene—there’s an interesting tease of what’s to come!