Thunderbolts*
Marvel's team of reformed villains unite for a dangerous mission
A ragtag team of anti-heroes and reformed villains are forced together for a covert government operation that challenges their loyalties and tests whether redemption is truly possible.
Directed by Jake Schreier · Action · Adventure · Comedy · 164 min · 2025
Trailer
Director
Jake Schreier
Studio
Marvel Studios / Disney
Release
May 5, 2025
Runtime
164 min
Genres
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Budget
$200 million (estimated)
Box office
$382.4 million worldwide
Full Plot
A team of reformed supervillains is recruited for covert missions by a secret organization. They navigate internal conflict, moral dilemmas, and external threats while attempting to prove loyalty and effectiveness. The film blends superhero action, intrigue, and ensemble dynamics, exploring redemption, trust, and the blurred line between heroism and villainy in a high-stakes environment.
Cast & Characters
Bucky Barnes
Sebastian Stan
↔ Yelena Belova
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Robert Reynolds
Lewis Pullman
John Walker / U.S. Agent:An enhanced super soldier and member of the Thunderbolts. He is a former decorated Captain of the U.S. Army Rangers who was chosen by the U.S. government to become Steve Rogers's successor as Captain America before receiving an other than honorable discharge in the Disney+ miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021).
Wyatt Russell
Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster:A scarred assassin with photographic reflexes that allow her to mimic opponents' fighting styles. She was formerly controlled by her father, Dreykov, to complete missions for the Red Room before being freed by Romanoff in Black Widow.
Olga Kurylenko
Mel: Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's assistant, who Viswanathan described as de Fontaine's "little right-hand [woman]". Mel was in high school when the Avengers first assembled in the film The Avengers (2012). Viswanathan related to Mel's inner struggle with her moral compass, specifically "her optimism in entering the workforce, how your idealism can get challenged, and how it can be more difficult than you think to be a force of good in the world."
Geraldine Viswanathan
Holt: A security officer for the O.X.E. Group
Chris Bauer
Gary: A Congressman who is resolute on impeaching de Fontaine.
Wendell Pierce
Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian:A member of the Thunderbolts who is the Russian super soldier counterpart to Captain America and a father-figure to Yelena. Harbour said the film further explores the complex relationship between Shostakov and Yelena that was introduced in Black Widow. He noted that Yelena cannot stand Shostakov, but she needs someone to help her feel complete, and Shostakov fills that role.
David Harbour
Ava Starr / Ghost:A member of the Thunderbolts who can phase through objects. John-Kamen said the film shows a different side of the character following her introduction in the film Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), with Ghost no longer in a constant state of molecular disequilibrium and able to control her powers with calmness and decisiveness.
Hannah John-Kamen
Did You Know?
Thunderbolts* became the lowest-grossing MCU team-up despite strong critical reception.
Source: Screen Rant Box Office Analysis · verified 2026-07-28
The asterisk in the title (*) was revealed to have story significance during the film.
Source: Marvel Studios · verified 2026-07-28
Florence Pugh reprises her role as Yelena Belova from Black Widow.
Source: MCU Timeline · verified 2026-07-28
Here's a summary of the information about the Marvel movie "Thunderbolts*":
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
*Production and Release**
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
The film was originally scheduled for release in July 2024, but its release date was delayed multiple times due to the writers' strike and SAG-AFTRA strike.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Principal photography began on February 26, 2024, at Trilith Studios and Atlanta Metro Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
Thunderbolts* earned a 7.1/10 on IMDb, a 68/100 on Metacritic, and was Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 88% critics and 93% audience scores—a rare alignment that suggests both critics and audiences enjoyed the film's irreverent tone and character-driven humor.
“Marvel's most entertaining ensemble yet.” — Variety “Florence Pugh steals the show as the film's emotional anchor.” — The New York Times “A refreshingly fun team-up that breaks the MCU formula.” — IndieWire
Notably, the audience score (93%) significantly outpaced the critics' score (88%), with viewers particularly embracing the film's comedic and self-aware approach more than expected. Box office underperformance may reflect audience saturation with MCU releases rather than critical reception.
Ratings as of August 2, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedThunderbolts* is a mid-tier MCU hit by ratings, but an underperformer by box office—suggesting the market for ensemble team-up films may be cooling, even when quality is high.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Thunderbolts*'s Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Thunderbolts* holds a 88% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Thunderbolts*'s IMDb rating?+
Thunderbolts* has a 7.1/10 rating on IMDb from 274,694 votes.
What is Thunderbolts*'s Metacritic score?+
Thunderbolts* has a Metascore of 68/100 on Metacritic.
Is Thunderbolts* good? What are critics saying?+
Thunderbolts* earned a 7.1/10 on IMDb, a 68/100 on Metacritic, and was Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 88% critics and 93% audience scores—a rare alignment that suggests both critics and audiences enjoyed the film's irreverent tone and character-driven humor.
How long is Thunderbolts*?+
Thunderbolts* has a runtime of 164 min.
Who directed Thunderbolts*?+
Thunderbolts* was directed by Jake Schreier.
Where can I watch Thunderbolts*?+
Thunderbolts* is available to stream, rent, or buy on Disney Plus, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, JioHotstar.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The movie "Thunderbolts*" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fresh story and characters, while others were unimpressed by the film's plot and action. Some critics noted that the movie focuses on human fragility, providing a unique perspective on superheroes, which is unusual for many Marvel films. Others found themselves invested in watching the movie due to their personal connections or date nights, suggesting that the appeal of "Thunderbolts*" lies in its character-driven storytelling rather than just its action or superhero elements.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Directed by Jake Schreier (Netflix’s Beef, Showtime’s Kidding) and written by Eric Pearson (Transformers One, Black Widow) and Joanna Calo (The Bear, Bojack Horseman), Thunderbolts* documents the emptiness surrounding Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) as she goes through the motions…
Chris Sawin · 7/10Thunderbolts genuinely surprised me. I went in expecting a fun Marvel team up but got something even better: a fresh story, fantastic humor, and well-rounded characters that made it stand out in the MCU. The Vault escape sequence was funny and memorable, capturing the chaotic spi…
jarry90 · 8/10FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/thunderbolts-movie-review-a-refreshing-character-driven-detour-from-multiversal-chaos/ "Thunderbolts* is an exceptional superhero movie precisely because it focuses on a deep exploration of human fragility. Prioritizing i…
Manuel São Bento · 9/10I wasn't really interested in seeing it, but I was interested in taking my wife to a movie for date night, so we did it and... ... nothing in the movie made us really interested in the movie we were watching. A lot happens that the plot demands happen. There's a lot of convenienc…
GenerationofSwine · 1/10Superheroes are supposed to be special, gifted individuals, so it logically follows that movies about them should be equally special. However, as has become all too apparent in recent years, that quality has been steadily eroding in these films due to oversaturation in the cinema…
Brent Marchant · 6/10Just watched Thunderbolts and honestly... I did not expect this at all. Went in with pretty low expectations—thought it’d be just another filler Marvel movie—but it actually exceeded them by a lot. The characters had solid chemistry, the action was tight, and there were a few emo…
Pratik Ghare · 9/10Amazing Movie
pghare · 9/10_**"Thunderbolt" truly impressed me with its powerful character development and stunning cinematography. Each character was thoughtfully introduced and built up with depth, making their journeys feel engaging and meaningful. The storyline kept a steady pace, allowing viewers to c…
soumick727 · 8/10Hats off to Florence Pugh for injecting some charisma into this film, but otherwise I found it to be little different from the latest slew of “save the planet” Marvel adventures that follows a predictable pattern of escaping from the frying pan into the fire a few times before it…
CinemaSerf · 6/10Just another average movie. They tried to make it about mental health, but there was no emotional depth or congruity. It seemed like 1 day story, completed with an awful ending. A lot of plot holes, like how the villain somehow brainwashed in a few hours time? Pugh had a few good…
dumasori · 6/10If you're unsure about whether or not this is another Marvel flop, I can tell you that it isn't. Everything is fantastic, from the action, to the message of mental health. I'll break it down... Action: 10/10 - The choreography is realistic and different for each character. There…
DanProwess · 10/10<em>'Thunderbolts*'</em> - a good 36th entry for the MCU. I was expecting this to pack a bit more of a punch in terms of humour, but it is certainly still a movie I'd count as enjoyable. The main reason for that is the cast, all of whom manage to deliver a satisfactory performanc…
r96sk · 7/10Homelander is black, baby. Just kidding. He makes people depressed and gives them eternal life in their safe space instead of laser eye slaughter. His black face represents negative emotion! Honestly, I'd be fine to sit in the basement watching TV and playing video games as my da…
Chandler Danier · 7/10Had a fantastic time with this movie. Its witty, entertaining and yet so touching at the same time and serious with human things that really matter. Must watch!
gourabix · 10/10It was alright I guess. I laughed a few times, but no crying. Surprisingly did not notice the long running time, so couldn't have been that bad. You can put this ham on your face if you need to kill 3 hours and want to stay up to date with the Marvel universe.
hamfaceman · 6/10good + Some scenes are memorable and well executed + Vilain/superpower looks cool + acting is ok/good bad - overall treatment of characters is flat as they don't look far enough from already existing characters - ending is very usual - no real tension as the treatment of Bob char…
Valours · 6/10This could have been a good movie. There are some fun moments in it and the special effects and the action is pretty good. The biggest problem I have with this movie is that the realization of the story is the typical Pedowood crap where everyone is dysfunctional. None of the cha…
Dark Jedi · 2/10
From the trailer's comments
one year ago today, this banger of a movie dropped
@harpe-41 · 112 likesThis team has the energy of that group project where nobody wants to do the work but still wants an A
@goldfilms995 · 21276 likesGenuinely happy we arent in space fighting a multiversal threat again
@seanrollins2383 · 22288 likes1:47 best new character
@BWWiDOwzZz · 100 likes“Is that Bucky?” 😂 Famous words
@IanBoggs · 78386 likesThis ain't no teaser. This a straight up trailer
@jamesstevens1967 · 62303 likesAll I want is for the winter soldier music to hit when Bucky starts blowing things up
@DanielJones-r2v · 23534 likes0:30 where is my mind sent me😂
@COGSoldier-3570 · 177 likes
