Marvel’s Misfit Squad Delivers One of the MCU’s Best Surprises

Thunderbolts* might just be Marvel’s most underrated entry to date. Instead of leaning on A-list heroes or multiversal spectacle, it builds something more grounded, more bruised, and, in many ways, more compelling. On its surface, it’s a dark superhero team-up. Beneath, it’s a story about mental health, redemption and the struggle for identity. And cinematically, it absolutely delivers.

Florence Pugh once again proves she’s one of Marvel’s most valuable performers. As Yelena Belova, she cements herself as a worthy heir to the Black Widow mantle, balancing humor and pain with a layered performance that elevates every scene she’s in. Her presence gives the film its emotional backbone, rooting it in something deeper than just action spectacle.

David Harbour shines in a very different way, providing the comic relief that keeps the film’s heavy themes from becoming overwhelming. His Red Guardian is the team’s unlikely glue, flawed, funny and more tender than he lets on. Comparisons to Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy feel apt, but Harbour’s version comes with a lived-in sadness that makes him stand out even more.

When the action hits, it hits hard. The highlight is undoubtedly the bunker fight, a taut, brutal sequence that rivals some of the MCU’s best choreography. Unlike some Marvel entries that drown in CGI excess, Thunderbolts* feels tactile, with combat that showcases each character’s unique skill set while maintaining tension and stakes.

Thematically, the film soars. At its core, this is a story about damaged people trying to figure out who they are, whether redemption is possible, whether trust can be earned, whether identity is fixed or fluid. The interplay between trauma and loyalty makes Thunderbolts* resonate beyond its superhero trappings.

Where the film struggles isn’t on screen, but in accessibility. To really appreciate Thunderbolts*, you need to have kept up with Marvel’s lower-tier properties, Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Ant-Man and the Wasp. That’s a steep barrier for casual viewers, and likely part of why the film underperformed at the box office. Marvel built a smart, emotional movie but buried it under too much required homework.

Still, none of that changes the fact that this is a legitimately great movie. From Schreier’s steady hand behind the camera to the standout performances that give these characters depth, Thunderbolts* is proof Marvel can still deliver quality when it stops chasing universes and starts telling stories. It deserved better from audiences, but for those who saw it, it stands tall as one of the MCU’s boldest and most rewarding entries.