With Thunderbolts*, Marvel catches lightning in a bottle with a laugh-out-loud, action-packed, and deeply moving MCU movie that almost made me cry

An electrifying and emotionally impactful movie that defied my expectations of what a Marvel film can be

Ghost, Bob, Yelena, and US Agent peering from behind a wall in Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie
Red Guardian was right – Marvel's Tunderbolts* movie will save you from a boring evening
(Image: © Marvel Studios)

TechRadar Verdict

Thunderbolts* doesn't reinvent the classic Marvel movie formula, but its incredibly touching tale, relatable characters, and likeable cast – all of whom are firing on all cylinders – set it apart from its MCU brethren. When the comic-book giant takes big swings from storytelling and thematic perspectives, that bravery pays off in spades with expectation-defying films like this that I'll want to watch over and again.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Light spoilers follow for Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie.


Thunderbolts* was always going to be viewed as the Marvel movie underdog of 2025.

In a year that saw the arrival of a new Captain America film and The Fantastic Four's highly anticipated addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a movie starring a ragtag team of lesser-known anti-heroes and reformed villains might not have been high on many people's theatrical agenda.

Like the titular team, though, Thunderbolts* has battled against the odds to cement its place as one of the best Marvel movies since 2019's Avengers: Endgame. Armed with a supremely talented cast on top form, and the MCU's most affecting story to date when it comes to exploring themes of vulnerability – a story that struck a huge chord with me – it's also an emotionally resonant movie that encouraged me to reflect on my past, and not let it define me.

Shadow selves

Ghost, Bob, US Agent, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, and Bucky Barnes standing in a doorway in Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie

Thunderbolts* is the latest MCU movie to feature a group of outsiders coming together for the greater good (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Like The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy (GotG), Thunderbolts* tells the tale of a maladjusted group of individuals thrust together to battle a common enemy.

Boil the movie down to its simplest form, and comparisons to those two films are easy to make, in terms of both its storytelling structure and the archetypal characters who inhabit all three movies, such as John Walker/US Agent (Wyatt Russell) and Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) being the serious soldier stand-ins for The Avengers' Captain America and GotG's Drax.

Thunderbolts*' humor-laden moments... are belly-achingly effective in their delivery and plot placement

The same can be said of Thunderbolts*' whip-smart humor. Like many of its MCU counterparts, Thunderbolts* is full of snarky retorts, quippy one-liners, and other wisecracks. However, rather than being throwaway jokes that do little else but raise a smile, its humor-laden moments are belly-achingly effective in their delivery and plot placement.

Ghost, Yelena, Red Guardian, and John Walker looking shocked at something happening off-camera in Marvel's Thunderbolts movie

Yelena and Alexei's strained relationship is a core part of what makes Thunderbolts*' story so engaging (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The on-screen rapport between the Thunderbolts – unlike in the comics, the unpopular team name isn't derived from Thaddus 'Thunderbolt' Ross – is equally electrifying. In fact, I'd wager the chemistry between Thunderbolts*' eclectic cast of characters is the most natural in an MCU film for a while.

That might be a bold statement to make, particularly in light of the absorbing dynamic between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Deadpool and Wolverine. As an ensemble, though, the playful and melodramatic manner with which this film's cast bounce off each other is a far cry from the camaraderie (or, rather, lack thereof) of other films' casts.

The on-screen rapport between the Thunderbolts is utterly electrifying

The team's 'found family' dynamic fizzes and pops with a pleasing poise that captivated me from the moment that many of them meet, too.

Indeed, a western stand-off-style showdown between Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), US Agent, Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) in the first act, which occurs after each agent is sent to take down one of the others by shady CIA director Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), is as frenetic and wonderfully farcical as you might expect.

Yelena holding a gun and flashlight while Bob stands next to her in Marvel's Thunderbolts* film

Yelena and Bob's relationship is one of Thunderbolts*' most moving elements (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Of the dynamics on display, I was most emotionally invested in Yelena's relationships with Alexei and Bob.

The estranged familial dynamic between Yelena and Alexei is full of histrionics, hilarity, and heartfelt moments that underline, if further evidence was needed, Pugh's and Harbour's standing as two of the greatest actors of their generation. Emotionally engaging tour de forces, they most certainly are.

That said, the relationship between Yelena and Bob is the one that really captured my attention, because theirs is the earnest fulcrum that really drives the Marvel Phase 5 movie's emotionally-charged narrative. I'm not afraid to admit that their bond drew visceral reactions for me on two occasions – as I write this review, just thinking about one specific moment in the film's final act leaves me teary-eyed and with a lump in my throat.

Fight off your demons

Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova standing on top of the world's second-tallest building in Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie

Thunderbolts*' opening scene features Yelena figuratively standing on the edge of the emotional abyss (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The emotional intensity Thunderbolts* delivers narratively won't be lost on anyone who watches one of 2025's most anticipated new movies, either.

Indeed, where the Avengers assembled to protect New York City – and the wider world – from Loki and his Chitauri army, and the Guardians united to defeat Ronan the Accuser, this film's unruly cast of characters have a far tougher foe to overcome: themselves.

Thunderbolts* is following Moon Knight's lead with its sensitive approach to mental health issues

You see, while Thunderbolts* includes conventional antagonists in de Fontaine and someone you probably expected to be a good guy, it's the ensemble's darkest, most secret inner selves who are their greatest nemeses.

This isn't new territory for Marvel. As a medium, comic books are widely regarded for telling stories that reflect the world around them, so there's no reason why comic book/superhero films wouldn't do likewise.

That's reflected in the fact that the MCU has tackled such difficult subject matter before, too. However, where Iron Man 3 made light of and danced around Tony Stark's grapples with PTSD following The Avengers, Thunderbolts* is following Moon Knight's lead with its sensitive approach to mental health issues.

Bucky Barnes sitting on a motorbike in the Utah desert in Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie

Despite his past, Bucky Barnes is the most well-rounded character in Thunderbolts* (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Whether it's Yelena's disillusionment with life itself, Bob's split-personality disorder, US Agent's deep shame, or the team's collective feelings of regret, Thunderbolts* is cognizant of the mental health issues that many of us battle everyday or at some point in our lives. These are characters who lack the individual ability to deal with their past mistakes and/or who feel trapped in an endless loop of despair, and Thunderbolts* does a terrific job of not only humanizing them through the traumatic experiences they've endured, but also making them incredibly relatable.

Pugh and Pullman's raw, multi-layered performances are as impactful as any MCU acting display you're likely to see

Again, Pugh and Pullman are particularly worth highlighting. The rest of the cast are superb, but the pair's raw, multi-layered performances, which build on the emotionally rich script penned by MCU stalwart Eric Pearson, and The Bear, Hacks, and BoJack Horseman scribe Joanna Calo, are as impactful as any MCU acting display you're likely to see.

We've no idea how original Bob Reynolds / Sentry pick Steven Yeun would have played the character before he was replaced by Top Gun: Maverick's Pullman due to scheduling conflicts, but it's a credit to Pullman's nuanced combination of goofball energy and disquieting intensity that an actor of Yeun's caliber isn't necessary missed in a film like this.

Mel standing in the background with Valentina in the foreground in Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie

A brief flashback showcasing De Fontaine's (right) tragic backstory helps to humanize even the CIA's duplicitous overlord (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Thunderbolts* isn't without its niggles, mind you. For one, its ending feels a bit abrupt. Despite the emotional impact on display in the movie's final action set-piece, the manner with which the Marvel movie's Thanos-level-esque 'main villain' is dealt with is contrived – and, likely in the eyes of some viewers, eye-roll inducing – as well. The lack of screen time afforded to Louis-Dreyfus' megalomaniac and master manipulator is a bit of a sore point, too.

The logic used to 'depower' Sentry is also a bit too convenient. I'm sure Captain Marvel will have something to say about this, as will Gi'ah from Secret Invasion – we don't talk about that terrible Disney+ show here, though – but he's arguably the most powerful superhuman in the MCU now. With Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Victor von Doom due to upend things from a multiverse perspective in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, a supremely powerful individual like Sentry would be handy to have around.

My biggest bugbear with Thunderbolts*, though, is the unceremonious and unnecessary demise of a character who deserved better in this movie, and in the MCU as a whole. I don't like how it played out, or how the immediate and long-term impact of what happened is handled. For a film that does so much right from a character introspection viewpoint, Thunderbolts* frustratingly drops the ball over this incident.

My verdict

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* | Big Game Trailer | In Theaters May 2 - YouTube Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* | Big Game Trailer | In Theaters May 2 - YouTube
Watch On

Thunderbolts* is an expectation-defying, incredibly moving MCU entry that unashamedly wears its heart on its sleeve. It balances its melodrama, cathartic story, and deconstruction of heroism with the MCU's classic, fun-filled elements so well that it's a Marvel film I can see myself watching in a theater and/or at home many times over. Considering there are many other MCU movies I haven't seen since I initially watched them on the big screen, that's high praise indeed.

It would be easy to say Thunderbolts* is the best MCU film since, say, Avengers: Endgame. I've certainly been guilty of doing that with Shang-Chi, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Deadpool & Wolverine.

Thunderbolts* deserves to be part of the 'best Marvel movies' conversation

Compared to some of Marvel's less impressive movie offerings in the years since Endgame, though, Thunderbolts* deserves to be part of that conversation. It doesn't reinvent the team-up movie formula, nor will it win any awards for its action sequences (for what it's worth, though, the stunts are mostly real rather than relying on CGI, and most of those sequences are great).

What it does do is tell a deeply emotional story about a group of alienated individuals who could purposefully walk away from problems that don't concern them, but who nonetheless do the right thing when the world needs them. If that doesn't make them deserving of "being the heroes on the Wheaties box with the little kiddie toy" – Red Guardian's words, not mine – I don't know what would.


Thunderbolts* arrives in theaters on May 1 (UK) and May (internationally).

Marvel Unlimited monthly subscription: $9.99$4.99 at Marve

Marvel Unlimited monthly subscription: was $9.99 per month now $4.99 at Marvel
The ultimate digital comics subscription for Marvel fans is offering new and returning customers 50% off their first month, which is much cheaper than a streaming subscription to watch all the best superhero movies. To gain access to a library of more than 30,000 comics, use the code 'SPIDEY50' at checkout. You're able to use the Marvel Unlimited app on all iOS and Android devices, including the web, too. But, be quick – the deal expires on May 5!

TOPICS
Senior Entertainment Reporter

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across. Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.