It’s been a couple of weeks since I saw Thunderbolts, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect. To be completely honest, I didn’t expect much going in. My initial reaction to the trailer was lukewarm, and outside of one teaser reaction (which you can find on the YouTube channel), I stayed in the dark about this film.
But here’s the truth: Thunderbolts surprised me. It was good—really good.
First Impressions & Theater Experience
Mr. J and I went to see it in theaters, and I walked away impressed. This is a non-spoiler review, so if you're on the fence, I do recommend you go out and see it—assuming it’s still playing. I’ve heard some screenings are being pulled, which is unfortunate because this is one of the stronger MCU entries in years. The film brought me back to the tone and structure of the MCU’s earlier days—Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and The Winter Soldier. That era had a clarity of direction and a focus on characters that’s often missing today.The Flaws of the Post-Endgame MCU
Let’s not pretend Thunderbolts is without flaws. Like most post-Endgame MCU films, it suffers from overcrowding—too many characters, subplots, and threads that don’t always connect to the central story. Marvel is calling this the “Multiverse Saga,” but if you examine the recent slate, that label feels increasingly misplaced. Yes, we’ve had legacy actors return—Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, Wesley Snipes’ Blade, Chris Evans as the Human Torch—but that’s surface-level multiverse content. The actual story threads remain scattered.What You Need to Watch First
To fully understand Thunderbolts, you’ll need to do a bit of homework:- Black Widow – Essential, as Yelena is central to the film.
- Hawkeye – Continues Yelena’s story.
- Captain America: Brave New World
- Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Despite That, It Works
What shines here is how Thunderbolts manages to feel like a Marvel film from its golden era, 2010 to 2015. It leans on the “friendship and love conquer all” trope, but it’s handled with sincerity and emotional weight. The costume design, music, and especially the action are spot on. If I had to compare it to anything, it would be The Suicide Squad—except Thunderbolts manages to be more focused and grounded.Why Isn’t It Performing?
This is where it gets frustrating. Thunderbolts isn’t doing well at the box office—and it should be. This movie is good. So what’s going on? Marvel has overplayed its hand. There are too many characters, too many stories, and not enough focus. Everything is supposedly connected, but that connection doesn’t translate into a clear or compelling narrative for audiences.Maybe It’s Time to Rethink the MCU
If Marvel came out and said that after Secret Wars, they’re done with big crossovers and going back to standalone stories, I’d support it. Let’s get strong individual franchises again—X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers, and so on. We don’t need everything connected just for the sake of it. It’s okay if Iron Man and Spider-Man exist in the same world without needing to share the screen every few years.Final Thoughts
Thunderbolts is arguably one of the best MCU films since Shang-Chi. It’s well-written, emotionally grounded, and entertaining. It deserves more love than it’s getting. If it’s still in theaters, go see it. If not, pick it up when it hits Disney+ or grab a physical copy. Support the good stuff, so we get more of it.Thunderbolts was amazing.We might do an in-depth breakdown with Mr. J on the podcast or YouTube soon—stay tuned.
