‘Thunderbolts' First Reactions: Florence Pugh Is ‘Superb' in ‘Some of Marvel's Darkest Material to Date'
Next Best Picture editor in chief Matt Neglia writes that 'Thunderbolts' is 'some of Marvel's darkest material to date' and 'very much belongs to Florence Pugh, who carries much of the dramatic weight of the movie on her back, while Lewis Pullman delivers a complex performance as a sympathetic character at war with himself. It may not be the flashiest, funniest, or strongest Marvel film, but its rough edges and imperfections somehow all feel fitting for this anti-hero team of misfits.'
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THUNDERBOLTS* is, in many ways, different from other MCU films that have come before it, and that freshness couldn't have arrived at a more opportune time, when the franchise is in need of new blood and direction. It's some of Marvel's darkest material to date, dealing with the… pic.twitter.com/CxxejPPx77
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) April 22, 2025
Film writer Emily Murray called 'Thunderbolts' easily 'one of the best MCU movies in a long time,' adding: 'Has so much spark, charisma, and tells a genuinely emotional story you connect with. A tear was shed. Florence Pugh in particular superb, just walks away with it.'
Well #Thunderbolts is easily one of the best MCU movies in a long time (and maybe one of my new personal faves). Has so much spark, charisma, and tells a genuinely emotional story you connect with. A tear was shed. Florence Pugh in particular superb, just walks away with it pic.twitter.com/U7AzBgGZMl
— Emily Murray (@EmilyVMurray) April 22, 2025
'Putting emphasis on the character work and practical action makes this feel like the old Marvel,' critic Brandon Norwood adds. 'Wish we'd gotten this sooner. Helps that this dysfunctional team has chemistry, too.'
Shocked how good THUNDERBOLTS* is. Putting emphasis on the character work and practical action makes this feel like the old Marvel that has us for a decade plus. Wish we'd gotten this sooner. Helps that this dysfunctional team has chemistry too.#Thunderbolts* #ThunderboltsMovie pic.twitter.com/LmXtiivKKV
— Brandon Norwood (@bjntweets) April 22, 2025
Following a group of mouthy anti-heroes teaming up against a common threat, the film stars Pugh (Yelena Belova), Pullman (Sentry), Wyatt Russell (John Walker), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barns), David Harbour (Red Gaurdian) and Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster). Jake Schreier serves as director while Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo penned the script.
Marvel is hoping for a win with 'Thunderbolts' after February's 'Captain America: Brave New World' failed to achieve commercial and critical success. However, if 'Thunderbolts' fizzles, MCU fans have 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' to look forward to in July. The studio also has the highly anticipated 'Avengers' sequels, 'Doomsday' and 'Secret Wars,' set to release on May 1, 2026, and May 7, 2027, respectively.
In the lead up to the premiere, Marvel promised a different kind of superhero movie with 'Thunderbolts.' Back in March, a trailer ran in theaters boasting the film's lineup of cast and crew who have worked on A24 films. Even before the trailer debuted, director Schreier touted the film as distinct from Marvel's usual fare.
'The goal that Kevin [Feige, head of Marvel Studios] set at the beginning was to go in and try to make this different,' Schreier said at Comic-Con 2024. 'If you can imagine a Marvel movie from people who make that kind of work, and imagine where those tones could meet, then I feel like that's what we hope we've made.'
'Thunderbolts' opens in theaters May 2 from Disney and Marvel Studios.
#Thunderbolts is one of Marvel's most enjoyable films in a while. It feels different than most of the studio's projects. Its bold, funny, filled with great action and an unexpected emotional punch.Florence Pugh is the star that shines the brightest. There's a lot to love here.… pic.twitter.com/8wjgx9caIS
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) April 22, 2025
#Thunderbolts is raw, hilarious, and deeply human. It's a bold dive into trauma, healing, and redemption. Proof that even the so-called defective losers and disposable delinquents can rise above their past and become the heroes no one expected. It's gritty, emotional, and unlike… pic.twitter.com/HYq55TSqWC
— Big Gold Belt Media (@BigGoldBelt) April 22, 2025
Taps mic: #Thunderbolts was awesome. Tons of implications on how the MCU is moving forward. The team works well together, plenty of emotion. Yelena is my MVP. Definitely a super fun movie. Definitely stick around after the credits 😉. pic.twitter.com/2vPfvCfEAz
— B E A N Z The Gamer Dad(beanzgotgamez.bsky.social) (@BeanzGotGamez) April 22, 2025
#Thunderbolts* introduces a new era for Marvel, the most humane film filled with allowing their anti hero being flawed, broken and regretful. Sebastian Stan has an absolute scene stealing moment, yet Florence Pugh shows she is the true lead of the new generation and team. pic.twitter.com/laTDyRVCkr
— Mia Pflüger (@justmiaslife) April 22, 2025
#Thunderbolts*: That was pretty great! A visually daring, emotionally resonant superhero film that pushes mental health to the forefront. Florence Pugh brings the heart, David Harbour is consistently funny, & Lewis Pullman might be the stealth MVP. Best MCU film in a long while! pic.twitter.com/wIGfi5LGH6
— Amon Warmann (@AmonWarmann) April 22, 2025
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After that, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers team up to try to stop the stomp—emphasis on 'try.' This is Godzilla we're talking about. The mighty, blustery Thor thinks it'll be a piece of cake until he gets tail-swatted into outer space. When The Thing sees a giant lizard foot looming over the FF, he surmises, 'Looks like it's getting clobbered time.' Even the usually steely Captain America is befuddled when an attempt to fatally wound Godzilla fails. 'Today's really gonna stink,' he sighs, before hightailing it with Quicksilver. If you're looking for a deeper human interest story like the one presented in the recent hit movie Godzilla Minus One, it isn't there. With so many characters crammed into this issue—including a total of 18 superheroes by the last panel— there isn't room to elaborate on much more than the imminent threat to mankind. So far, this saga is all about the chaos and carnage and occasional wisecracks, and it delivers on that front. If you're a casual comics fan who likes kaiju, it might feel discombobulating to be tossed into the fray right away. Knowing Marvel shorthand makes it easier to dive into this series and its six one-shot predecessors, which emerged in the half-year-long buildup to this spectacle. Clearly, Duggan and Garrón know their audience, its demands, and the comics history of their material, so they quite literally cut to the chase at the start. Duggan also summons similar quippy humor from the earlier Spider-Man crossover to keep things moving—there's even a goofy J. Jonah Jameson cameo that recalls a funnier one from way back in Godzilla #23—then turns the tables by delivering a tragic moment during the last three pages. The six separate one-shots released earlier this year acted as a prelude to this new series, although they were not interconnected, and you don't need to have read them to appreciate this. But they serve up some interesting ideas and take place during different periods along the Marvel timeline. In the '60s-era Godzilla Vs. The Fantastic Four, King Ghidorah becomes the new herald to Galactus, and the Big G needs an infusion of the Silver Surfer's Power Cosmic to take on the three-headed beast. In the late '70s-era Godzilla Vs. Hulk, the angry green giant's gamma-infused blood helps Godzilla battle a genetically engineered Hedorah. In the '80s-era Godzilla Vs. Spider-Man, Spidey's newly acquired symbiote suit infects Godzilla, who has to wage an inner battle with the alien parasite. Many revered Toho characters like Mothra, Jet Jaguar, and two Mechagodzillas also make appearances. These one-shots are relevant to Godzilla Destroys The Marvel Universe because the preview panel for the second issue presents an image of Godzilla's growling visage being consumed by Venom, and Spider-Man fans know that could reap disastrous consequences for the world if the symbiote succeeds this time. Thus, elements from these other stories, even the '70s run, may tie into the next four issues of this one. Perhaps Dr. Demonicus will return with another monster menagerie or Galactus will show up to wreak more havoc, tossing a cosmic monkey wrench into the mix. (Or perhaps a giant cosmic monkey?) In the '70s series, a young man named Rob Takaguchi was convinced of Godzilla's goodness and even managed to get him to stop rampaging in New York and peacefully disappear into the ocean. A narrative twist and different end game for our kaiju king might lie in the wings here. No matter how many times this colossal kaiju returns to decimate different urban landscapes, fans return for more. 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