It's almost time to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and, based on early reviews, that trip looks like it's going to be worthwhile. Thunderbolts* is the 36th installment in the MCU and it features a host of returning characters who will lead their own movie for the very first time. It always looked like a lot of fun, but now it seems that we have confirmation that it will be a lot of fun.
The film's early reactions saw it praised for its heartfelt approach, emotional storytelling, and cast performances - particularly that of Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman - and it set high hopes after a number of theatrical MCU misfires. Now, the review embargo has lifted and things are looking even more positive as the film has been met with universal praise - resulting in it debuting on Rotten Tomatoes with a whopping 95%, temporarily making it the second-highest scoring movie on that platform. It has since been Certified Fresh with 88%.
Let's round up some of the best responses to the movie and dive into why critics are calling Thunderbolts* one of the best Marvel movies in years.
Thunderbolts* earns rave reviews ahead of release
Marvel's Thunderbolts* has successfully managed to follow up on its wave of positive early reactions with an even bigger wave of positive reviews. The Hollywood Reporter calls the film "a Gratifyingly Fresh and Soulful Marvel Adventure", praising its "back-to-basics innocence... that makes the stakes feel more real". BBC goes as far as to call it "The greatest Marvel offering in years", awarding it four stars and spotlighting Florence Pugh's charismatic performance as Yelena Belova that "would win her awards if it weren't a superhero movie".
Empire awards the film with three stars, saying that there is an "admirable effort to give the film a backbone, and it finds an unusually affecting resolution". IGN also acknowledges its more mature approach to a superhero story, saying that it "truly excels with its darker, more upsetting subject matter. Rolling Stone also commends it, calling it "thrilling, funny, and simultaneously irreverent yet highly respectful of the House That Kevin Feige Built".
The film definitely looks like it's set to lean more into the deeper elements of these characters. While all of them are fun in their own right - and the film does look set to showcase that - all are flawed warriors in search of redemption, especially Florence Pugh's Yelena. The film's final two trailers have showcased that, as the ragtag group of antiheroes looks to do the impossible by stopping a threat almost too powerful for The Avengers.
That threat is known as The Void, and the all-powerful being looks to be able to force those characters to face their darkest moments in the hopes of bringing them down. Thunderbolts* will see seemingly the most unlikely of characters withstand those struggles. And it sounds like the film approaches that story full of heart.
We can't wait to see so for ourselves!
Thunderbolts* arrives in theaters on Friday, May 2.