Marvel’s Thunderbolts (stylized with a cryptic asterisk) hit theaters on May 2, 2025, but it’s already being called a forgettable pit stop in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With a hefty $280 million price tag for production and marketing, the film has struggled to break even, grossing just $371 million worldwide. As it gears up for a Disney+ streaming release, critics are labeling it a “filler episode” that fails to spark the excitement needed to revive the MCU’s fading glory.
The film, directed by Jake Schreier, follows a ragtag crew of antiheroes led by Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, a Russian assassin grappling with her violent past. Alongside her are David Harbour’s Red Guardian, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster, and newcomer Lewis Pullman as Bob, revealed to be the unstable god-like Sentry. The plot kicks off with the team being manipulated by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Valentina Allegra de Fontaine into a deadly trap, forcing them to band together for a mission that digs into their emotional scars. While the film tries to tackle heavy themes like mental health and redemption, it’s bogged down by a messy narrative and a lack of team chemistry.
Despite a strong cast, Thunderbolts feels like a placeholder, bridging the gap until bigger MCU entries like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Its big twist—that the Thunderbolts are rebranded as the “New Avengers”—lands with a thud, as these misfits don’t fit the mold of Earth’s mightiest heroes. Critics note the film’s A24-inspired indie vibe, with Pugh’s raw performance and a focus on trauma, but it’s not enough to overcome clunky plotting and uninspired action. The much-hyped skyscraper stunt, where Pugh leapt off Kuala Lumpur’s 2,722ft Merdeka 118, adds some thrill but can’t save the film from feeling like a side quest.
Box office numbers tell a grim story. With a $76 million opening weekend, Thunderbolts underperformed compared to Marvel’s past hits, and its $371 million global haul falls short of the $425 million needed to break even. Positive reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes) and an “A-” CinemaScore couldn’t offset superhero fatigue, especially for a team of lesser-known characters from films like Black Widow and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. As Disney CEO Bob Iger touted it as a “reset” for Marvel, the film’s fizzle suggests the studio’s still searching for its next big win.
As Thunderbolts slips onto Disney+, it’s a reminder of Marvel’s struggle to recapture its pre-Endgame magic. Fans on X have mixed feelings—some praise its emotional depth, others call it a “snooze-fest.” With Phase Five now closed, all eyes are on The Fantastic Four: First Steps to kick off Phase Six. For now, Thunderbolts remains a scrappy but skippable chapter in the MCU’s sprawling saga.
Source: The Guardian