Still in the first week of the Thunderbolts* theatrical release, and it seems that viewers across the board are receiving the Marvel Cinematic Universe film favorably. I myself went in with middling expectations and emerged pleasantly fulfilled and entertained. It felt fresh, the characters were compelling, they didn't stuff in any contrived attempt at character redemption, they didn't play at speed-running found family, and it left us with not only an ending that felt satisfying but also a villain that feels like she can really go the distance. It's been said before, but it really does hold true: Thunderbolts* is the best movie that the MCU has put out in a while.
Word of mouth alone is doing wonders for this movie's optics. I certainly wouldn't have gone to see it on opening weekend if not for some of my more beloved comic content creators giving it a recommendation. And I was excited to give my own recommendations—to tell people that we might be marginally back with the MCU hype train. But now I feel rushed. I feel like we haven't given the movie enough time to come into its own organically.
*** SPOILER warning for the remainder of this article, but seeing as the spoiler comes from the marketing of the movie itself, I don't know how effective that warning is.
The day after Thunderbolts* opening weekend, The Powers That Be at Marvel Studios are already editing the film's entire marketing campaign to "retitle" the movie The New Avengers.
Needless to say that the marketing has divided people. At that point, it had been three days - four at most if you managed a Thursday showing - since the film's release and many people simply haven't gotten to see it yet. The New Avengers reveal was one of the better executed in recent MCU history, and to think that viewers seeing the film even a week after its original release won't get that moment of the reveal breaks my heart. This very well could impact the enjoyment of the movie for those who now know the big reveal heading into it. How do I know if the movie is as good if you go into it knowing they'll be the New Avengers? I don't! And neither do the movie execs who are promoting this massive spoiler!
Also, the Thunderbolts* title was so fun. Naming a movie after an inside joke from one of our main characters is a killer move, and I wish we could have committed to it. Of course, we know that Thunderbolts* will remain the final title as the Marvel film will be released on home media and streaming with that title, but to change it up so suddenly into its theatrical release is jarring. A fun idea for sure, but it's too soon and too sudden.
Perhaps the marketing team wanted to capitalize on a recognizable IP. Audiences know the Avengers. They'd definitely see a movie about the Avengers, right? But then again, I wouldn't have. I would not have gone to see a movie called The New Avengers because of some of the questionable creative decisions, particularly regarding some of my favorite characters, over the course of the past few MCU films. I went into Thunderbolts* with a fresh mind and fresh heart and no expectations. The same would not have been said for The New Avengers.
I hope that the people who were most excited about this movie got to see it before this reveal was spoiled, and I hope that as many people as possible manage to avoid the spoiler and see the film with the same free spirit that I did. I wish the Disney Corporation had felt the same.
Thunderbolts* or The New Avengers is currently playing in theaters.