Movie Review: Thunderbolts Brings Marvel Back to Form, With Florence Pugh Stealing the Spotlight

In the ever-evolving Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), worlds are constantly colliding — but Thunderbolts stands out by offering something fresh. While the movie is far from a radical departure, it’s the most compelling Marvel film in years, bringing together superhero antics with emotional depth, and featuring Florence Pugh in a career-defining role.

Thunderbolts isn’t a co-production between Marvel and A24, but the creative influences are undeniable. Directed by Jake Schreier, who helmed A24’s Beef, and written by Joanna Calo (another Beef alum) and Marvel’s own Eric Pearson, the film brings an indie sensibility to the typical Marvel formula. The film also boasts an impressive team, including cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo (A Ghost Story, The Green Knight), editor Harry Yoon (Minari), and a score by Son Lux (Everything Everywhere All At Once).

While Thunderbolts doesn’t dive into the full indie realm of A24’s quirky, deep storytelling, it offers a more grounded approach to the superhero genre, showing Marvel’s attempt to course-correct after a series of less-than-stellar releases. The result? Thunderbolts is the breath of fresh air Marvel needed.

At its core, Thunderbolts is about a group of MCU rejects — misfit heroes and anti-heroes who must join forces when CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) targets them for elimination. What begins as a series of isolated incidents soon unites these characters, including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and the unexpectedly human Bob (Lewis Pullman), into an unlikely team.

It’s a dark, often gritty take on the MCU. The movie doesn’t lean on action set pieces to drive its narrative; instead, it explores themes of self-worth, guilt, and the search for meaning. These characters, unlike the typical Marvel heroes, struggle with their pasts and uncertainties, and Thunderbolts takes the time to let their emotional battles play out.

Pugh’s Yelena Belova, a former Soviet assassin, is the heart of the film. From her opening scene, standing on a skyscraper contemplating her emptiness, to her raw vulnerability throughout the film, Pugh’s performance is nothing short of captivating. She’s a character searching for purpose, her emotional weight only intensified by her turbulent past.

One of the most striking sequences features Yelena brutalizing a hallway full of guards, filmed in an overhead shot that evokes the iconic scene from Oldboy. It’s a perfect example of how the film combines stunning visuals with emotional depth.

While the action scenes are certainly thrilling, Thunderbolts isn’t your typical Marvel blockbuster. It’s a quieter, more introspective film, filled with moments that explore the characters’ inner turmoil. For instance, the final act, set not in a city under threat but in the characters’ own minds, shows Marvel experimenting with more cerebral storytelling.

This movie isn’t just about fighting bad guys; it’s about confronting personal demons. As the group grapples with their own darkest moments, including suicidal thoughts, Thunderbolts never loses its human element. Even with its superhero trappings, the film takes time to dig deep into the psychological scars of its characters.

While the movie isn’t as wild and irreverent as James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy or The Suicide Squad, it draws from that misfit energy. The team dynamic is built around a shared sense of outsider status, where bickering and personal conflict add layers to their relationships. This makes the team feel more like a dysfunctional family than a well-oiled machine of justice.

Florence Pugh, as the glue holding everything together, elevates the film. Her portrayal of Yelena has been one of the standout performances in the MCU, and in Thunderbolts, she commands every scene she’s in. Her journey from a tortured soul to a more self-aware hero is at the heart of the film.

Thunderbolts is a refreshing departure from the usual MCU formula. It’s not just about spectacle; it’s about character, emotion, and a deeper exploration of what it means to be a hero. And while the film doesn’t stray too far from the familiar Marvel world, its focus on emotional depth, especially through Pugh’s brilliant performance, makes it one of the most engaging superhero films in recent memory.

With its darker tone and nuanced storytelling, Thunderbolts is a hopeful sign for Marvel’s future — a future where emotional truth and high-flying action can coexist.

Thunderbolts is rated R for strong violence, language, and thematic elements. It runs for 126 minutes. Three stars out of four.