Thunderbolts* Digital Review

There’s a certain clarity to Thunderbolts* that sets it apart from Marvel’s recent output. It doesn’t reach for multiverse-shattering spectacle or desperate legacy cameos. Instead, it strips everything down to a story about damaged people stuck in a system that never cared if they lived or died. And in that simplicity, it finds its strength.

At the center is Yelena Belova, Florence Pugh continuing to be one of the few consistent bright spots in the MCU. Years of doing wetwork have taken their toll, and the death of her sister has only deepened the emptiness. She wants out. But Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played with a dangerous edge by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, has no intention of letting her go. Facing political collapse and an avalanche of scandals, Valentina offers Yelena one final assignment: clean up one last loose end and walk away free. It’s a lie, of course. One job turns into a death trap, dragging in fellow operatives John Walker, Ava Starr, Taskmaster, and a wildcard named Bob—each sent to eliminate the others.

From there, the setup is straightforward. Betrayed, hunted, and left for dead, these living weapons are forced to work together. Bucky Barnes, now more world-weary than ever, re-enters the picture not as a reluctant ally but as someone who knows exactly what it means to be discarded by the people you served.

Jake Schreier directs Thunderbolts* with an understanding that character is what keeps people invested. The action is scaled back, relying on grounded stunt work instead of CGI bombast. There’s no universe-ending threat on the horizon, only a team of broken people trying to figure out if they can be anything other than expendable. The quieter moments, the ones where Yelena questions if she is more than just muscle-for-hire, or where Bob’s fractured psyche becomes a mirror for the rest of the team, are where the film lands strongest.

This isn’t a movie about redemption arcs wrapped in monologues or grandstanding. It’s more bruised and cynical than that. These characters aren’t heroes, and the movie never pretends otherwise. They are survivors, people who have been used up and discarded, now realizing they may not get another chance to be anything more. And in that reflection, Thunderbolts* carves out its own lane, separate from the world-ending disasters Marvel keeps trying to top.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Marvel movie without its unevenness. The quips are still there, sometimes undermining key moments. Red Guardian’s heavy-handed comic relief wears out its welcome quickly. Taskmaster and Ava Starr feel undercooked, casualties of an ensemble that has to split screen time. Valentina veers toward caricature when the movie could have benefited from something sharper. But despite its imperfections, the film stays locked on its central question: who are these people when the mission ends?

Thunderbolts* is the rare MCU entry that understands restraint. It doesn’t pretend to be a franchise tentpole or the key to the next saga-spanning crossover. It simply asks what happens to the soldiers and spies who were never built to be heroes. The answer isn’t always neat. Some characters find purpose. Others remain stuck in their cycles. But the film doesn’t feel the need to wrap it all up with a bow—and that honesty makes it linger a little longer than expected.

This is Marvel at its most stripped-down: no portals, no timelines collapsing, no desperate scrambling to set up what’s next. Just people, mistakes, and the quiet question of whether survival can mean something more. It doesn’t reinvent the formula, but for a franchise that’s been sprinting in circles, Thunderbolts* offers a welcome moment to catch its breath.

Bonus Features*

– Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut.
• Door is Unliftable
• Gary Announcement
– Assembling a Team to Remember – Spend a bit of quality time with the cast and crew of Thunderbolts* as they divulge how the film’s fictional team of superpowered mavericks, misfits and antiheroes was assembled.
– Around the World and Back Again – Discover the eclectic locations and astounding production design that helped make Thunderbolts* a rousing reality, including a visit to the sprawling sets in Kuala Lumpur where we join Florence Pugh performing stunts atop one of planet Earth’s tallest buildings and blowing up buildings on the streets.
– All About Bob, Sentry & The Void – Deep dive into the making of three different characters: Bob, Sentry, and The Void – all performed by Lewis Pullman.
– Gag Reel – Enjoy fun outtakes on set with the cast and crew of Thunderbolts*.
– Director’s Audio Commentary – Watch the film with audio commentary by director Jake Schreier

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* is now available on Digital, 4K, Blu-ray and DVD.

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* Debuts Exclusively On Disney+ August 27