“Thunderbolts” review: Marvel's misfit team delivers a surprising ensemble hit

“Thunderbolts” is a worthy outing for some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) unsung heroes with both dark and light elements, according to IGN's detailed review of the latest Marvel film. The movie follows a collection of antiheroes who have appeared as side characters in previous Marvel projects, now thrust into the spotlight in their own adventure. IGN notes that the film truly excels when exploring darker, more upsetting subject matter, balancing comedy with serious themes about mental health and isolation.

The movie centers on a group of characters assembled by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Bob/The Sentry (Lewis Pullman). As IGN points out, one of the film's strengths is the interactions between characters who have never met before but create interesting dynamics when paired together.

BBC's review celebrates “Thunderbolts” as "the greatest Marvel offering in years," praising its departure from the typical MCU formula. Unlike the grandiose scale of the Infinity Saga films, this movie offers something refreshingly different—a scrappy, down-to-earth adventure focused on characters who aren't indestructible titans saving the universe. The BBC reviewer appreciates that these characters are more relatable because they can be "killed by bullets and trapped in rooms with locked doors," making them more accessible than gods like Thor.

Florence Pugh's performance as Yelena stands out particularly in BBC's assessment, delivering both comedic timing in her bickering with Red Guardian and raw emotion throughout the film, all while maintaining a credible Russian accent. The BBC critic suggests that Pugh's performance would win awards if it weren't in a superhero movie, highlighting how her charismatic presence elevates the entire project above most recent Marvel offerings.

Variety's review describes “Thunderbolts” as a reluctant-allies comedy grafted onto an earnest allegory about facing personal trauma and working through mental illness as a team. The review explains that director Jake Schreier presents these "D-list characters" as a group of hotheaded rejects and randos who can't agree on what to call themselves but have no illusions about being the losers of the MCU. Variety's assessment suggests the film might confuse those without deep knowledge of Marvel lore, especially regarding characters like Yelena, whose backstory isn't fully explained within this movie.