Marvel’s Latest Movie Review “Thunderbolts” (2025)
Hello everyone, Hitesh here! Today,We are talking about Marvel’s most recent film today, Thunderbolts, which came out in theaters in 2025.. I’ve been getting constant requests for this review over the past three months, and as always, I’ll start with my usual line—this is the 36th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The previous 35 films, starting from The Incredible Hulk (yes, it counts!), have built up to this moment.
First Impressions: Excited Yet Disappointed
I was super excited for Thunderbolts because Marvel promised a fresh take with new characters and a unique storyline. However, by the end, I was also a bit disappointed. Let me explain why—without wasting any more time, let’s dive into the plot.
Plot Breakdown
Yelena Belova, Black Widow’s biological sister, who we last saw in Black Widow, appears at the beginning of the film. She is mechanically carrying out tasks for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, such as cleanups and assassinations, because she has lost faith in life.. During one mission, she kills a scientist working on Project Sentry, a dangerous experiment, but fails to access the secured lab.
Political Intrigue & Bucky’s Role
Meanwhile, in Washington, Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), now a politician with a Vibranium arm (courtesy of Wakanda), debates whether the Avengers should reassemble. Valentina pushes for a new superpowered team, while Bucky opposes it, citing past collateral damage. The government investigates Valentina’s shady human experiments, but she evades accountability, ordering her assistant Mail to destroy all evidence.
Red Guardian’s Return & Team Formation
We’re reintroduced to Alexei Shostakov (Red Guardian), Russia’s answer to Captain America. Yelena comes to see him and tells him how tired she is of Valentina’s missions.. Alexei, however, idolizes Valentina and wants to work for her. A childhood football team photo labeled “Thunderbolts” triggers Yelena’s memories, hinting at a deeper connection.
The Trap & Betrayal
Valentina assigns Yelena a “final mission”—eliminate four rogue assassins in Texas:
- Ghost (Ant-Man and The Wasp)
- Taskmaster (Black Widow)
- John Walker (U.S. Agent) (Falcon and the Winter Soldier)
- An unknown target (later revealed as Bob/Sentry)
The four targets realize Valentina set them up—they’re loose ends she wants erased. A mysterious Bob (Sentry) emerges from a containment unit, confused but possessing reality-warping powers.
Valentina’s True Plan
Valentina auctions alien tech at a high-profile party, funding her experiments. Meanwhile, Bucky recruits Mail to expose Valentina’s crimes. The Thunderbolts (Yelena, Red Guardian, Ghost, and Walker) escape the exploding facility, learning Bob is Project Sentry—a superhuman with Superman-level strength but unstable mental control.
Final Showdown & Sentry’s Rampage
Valentina brainwashes Bob into becoming her weapon, but the Thunderbolts intervene. A brutal fight ensues at Stark Tower (now Watchtower). Bob’s dark alter-ego, Void, emerges, turning the city into a blackened wasteland. The team battles their inner demons (literally, via Void’s mind games) and helps Bob overcome his trauma.
Victory & Post-Credits Tease
The Thunderbolts defeat Void, restoring Bob’s humanity. In the mid-credits scene, Valentina labels them the “New Avengers.” A post-credits tease shows a Fantastic Four spaceship, hinting at their MCU debut in the sequel.
Why I’m Disappointed
- Weak CGI & Action – Expected Man of Steel-level battles with Sentry, but got mediocre visuals.
- Predictable Plot: The clichéd “band of misfits saves the world”
- Formulaic “The repetitive “band of misfits saves the world. Wasted Potential – Sentry’s godlike powers were underutilized.
Final Verdict
Thunderbolts is a one-time watch for MCU fans but lacks the depth and spectacle of Infinity War or Guardians of the Galaxy.
Rating: 6.5/10