Thunderbolts’ Film Review: Marvel’s Misfit Squad Stumbles, Then Strikes Back

Thunderbolts might be Marvel’s most reluctant team-up yet—but that’s part of its scrappy charm. With the Avengers out of the picture, a ragtag crew of morally murky anti-heroes steps into the spotlight. They’re not flashy, not polished, and certainly not united. But that dysfunction gives the film a pulse. While the first half drags under exposition and moody character setup, the second half delivers on action, conflict, and emotional payoff. Screenwriters Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo lean into chaos, crafting a story that pits broken heroes against a cunning puppet master, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (a delightfully cold Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Thunderbolts may not reinvent Marvel’s formula, but it refreshes it—offering a gritty, low-gloss ride that finally finds its footing when it embraces the mess.