Thunderbolts*

REVIEW:

With Marvel coming out with some pretty lacklustre releases since Endgame (barring the brilliant No Way Home and the emotionally charged Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), I’ll admit it—I was suffering from full-blown MCU fatigue. The once tightly constructed and rewarding Infinity Saga gave way to a messy, overcomplicated Multiverse era that never seemed to find its footing. Thanos was the result of years of careful build-up, peppered with perfect end credit scenes and interconnected stories. In contrast, this recent era has felt more like a scattergun approach—throwing ideas at a wall and seeing what sticks. But Thunderbolts—or rather, Thunderbolts*—has miraculously reignited that long-lost spark in me.

Let’s get one thing out of the way early: yes, the mystery behind the asterisk in the title (Thunderbolts*) is finally revealed, and no—I won’t spoil it here. But what I will say is that it’s one of the most crowd-pleasing Marvel moments in recent years. The secret, which has now been released in official marketing, got a raucous reaction in my screening—actual cheers, gasps, and that rare feeling of communal excitement that I haven’t felt in a Marvel screening for a long time. It reminded me why I used to look forward to each new entry in the MCU with that same wide-eyed anticipation you get before a long-awaited reunion with old friends.

And then there’s that end credit scene. Directed by none other than the Russo Brothers (who have just started production on Avengers: Doomsday), the scene is a perfect blend of hype, tone-setting, and long-term payoff. It doesn’t just tease what’s next—it catapults us into the next chapter with confidence and style. It’s the kind of moment that made me whisper, “Marvel’s back,” under my breath as the screen faded to black.

What sets Thunderbolts* apart from its predecessors is how different it feels tonally. This is not another colourful, joke-a-minute Marvel movie. It deals with weightier themes—guilt, identity, redemption—without losing the DNA that made Marvel so universally appealing in the first place. The action is gritty, the humour is sharper and less forced, and the stakes, for once, actually feel like they matter. It’s a grounded, character-driven story that dares to get serious but still knows how to entertain.

The chemistry between the rag-tag team of anti-heroes is electric. You can tell the cast had an absolute blast working together—there’s an energy that buzzes in every group scene. Whether they’re bickering, fighting side-by-side, or sharing unexpectedly touching moments, the team dynamic is a joy to watch. It reminded me of early Avengers, but with a darker, more mature edge. Each character pulls their weight, but none more so than Florence Pugh.

This is Florence Pugh’s movie, no doubt about it. She’s the emotional anchor from start to finish. Yelena is a character burdened by grief, betrayal, and the trauma of her past—and Pugh channels that weight with remarkable authenticity. You can feel how lost she is, trying to find purpose after everything she’s endured, and this sense of emotional disorientation adds a raw, human core to her performance. This performance will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most emotionally resonant in the MCU to date.

David Harbour continues to be one of those actors who can do no wrong in my eyes. Whether he’s carrying scenes on his own or playing off the rest of the ensemble, he brings a perfect mix of gruff sincerity and laugh-out-loud comedic timing. He’s not a punchline machine—his humour lands because it feels so real to the character. Red Guardian has easily cemented himself as one of my favourite recurring MCU faces.

And let’s not forget the villain. Bob/Sentry/The Void is terrifying. There are moments where his presence is genuinely spine-chilling—an uneasy, unpredictable energy that feels like Marvel is finally embracing a level of intensity and darkness we rarely see in the MCU. He’s not just a physical threat but an emotional and philosophical one too, forcing the team—and the audience—to confront some uncomfortable truths. If you’ve lost faith in the MCU, Thunderbolts* might just be the film that wins you back. Great characters, thrilling action, a meaningful story, and a final act that leaves you buzzing for what’s to come. Marvel, you’re flying high again—please don’t crash this time.