What a year 2025 has been for Marvel fans. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man kicked the year off with the right foot thanks to a brilliant reimagining of everybody's favorite wall-crawler. Daredevil: Born Again marked Matt Murdock's triumphant return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and left us eager to see more. The cast reveal of Avengers: Doomsday broke viewership records while making us all excited about the next big superhero crossover. And even if Captain America: Brave New World didn't quite hit the mark critically or commercially, it shone the spotlight on the hero who's set to become the new leader of the Avengers. Now, all eyes are set on the adventures set to come.
Thunderbolts* is Marvel's next big release. Few had high expectations when the movie was originally announced back in 2022, but that narrative has slowly changed the closer we've gotten to its premiere. Test screenings positioned it as one of the best MCU projects in recent memory, while TV spots and trailers highlight a unique adventure with all the makings of an indie film starring a group of super-powered misfits. Fortunately, the movie's European premiere finally took place, which means people have finally witnessed what Marvel has in store.
The best part? It appears we're in for something truly spectacular, as highlighted by early social media reactions:
Media outlet The Hollywood Handle claims Thunderbolts* is one of Marvel's best projects in recent memory. You'll also note that a common pattern in all reactions (including this one) is the praise for Florence Pugh's performance (which isn't surprising in the slightest, considering her work in movies such as We Live in Time). Furthermore, it seems audiences are in for a post-credits scene that shouldn't be missed. Could we see a potential tease of Avengers: Doomsday?
The owner of Discussing Film, Jacob Fisher, highlights the cast's chemistry, with a special mention to Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman's performances. The best part? Action sequences are described to be a stand-out of the movie, which was to be expected considering that many stunts were practical. Other than that, it's great to know that the Thunderbolts' abilities will be displayed to the fullest in fight scenes, given that they are comprised of three super soldiers, two master assassins, and someone who can quite literally become intangible.
Some reactions, such as that of Geek Vibes Nation, put special emphasis on the movie's emotional resonance. It seems the upcoming MCU project will bring mental health to the forefront of the narrative, which seems like the perfect move for a group of skilled individuals who've done terrible things in the past and don't consider themselves to be heroes. Besides, such a theme will allow the cast to deliver heavy-hitting performances.
Since the premiere of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel fans have seen no shortage of epic team-ups on the big screen. Three different iterations of Spider-Man came together in an epic crossover to cure many iconic multiversal villains. Deadpool, Wolverine, Gambit, Elektra, Blade, and X-23 joined forces to fight against a rogue group of Mutants. Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, and Monica Rambeau worked together to find a new home for the Skrulls (even if they mistakenly broke the multiverse in the process). So learning that the Thunderbolts* has the potential to be the best team up of them all truly raises the bar and makes us all the more excited for what's to come.
Overall, there is nothing but praise for Thunderbolts*. Audiences are in for a movie with memorable action sequences, stellar performances (especially that of Florence Pugh), and an emotional story about mental health and redemption. The simple fact that Marvel felt so confident about the movie that they allowed early reactions to be published over a week before its release should be an indication of how good it is.
The complete Thunderbolts* review embargo will be lifted on April 29, and hopefully, it will echo the same sentiment of the early social media reactions. But while we wait for the movie's premiere, it's worth noting that some spoilers have already made their way online. So if you don't want any surprises ruined ahead of time, it's best to stay away from social media for a bit or mute any words related to the Thunderbolts. After all, it seems like the wait will be worth it.
Thunderbolts* will be released on May 2, 2025.