POPZ-CULTURE Movie Reviews – Thunderbolts (2025)
By: Marton Szakadath
Genre: Action, adventure, comedy, drama
Rated: 16
Directed by: Jake Schreier
Written by: Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo, Kurt Busiek
Starring: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
B-vengers
Marvel continues to reform the comic book movie industry. There is every reason to do so, because in order to remain relevant and interesting for the audience, a change of the old formula is inevitable. While the current releases cannot match the success of the previous era, there is a strong sense of innovation on the side of the studio. With Thunderbolts, they have succeeded in offering something new to fans of the genre by using honest self-reflection as a source of inspiration, but with a much more mature approach and a serious tone.
Yelena (Florence Pugh) from The Black Widow is struggling to find her place in the world. Since her sister’s death, she’s been running errands for the O.X.E. group with no purpose. Her latest mission brings her into conflict with former members of the organisation. She soon discovers that the fate she’s been assigned by her employer is different from the one they agreed upon. With his newfound „allies”, he must stop their former boss, Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), while also confronting his own past. In the maelstrom of events, Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), also pays his respects, playing a special role in this chaotic situation.
Underneath the clichéd comic-book movie surface, Thunderbolts is a cathartic work that is mostly aimed at adults. Not because of the foul language of the heroes or the violence. But mainly because the themes it deals with are important and valid ideas for people in their late 20s, early 30s or older. Scenes that radiate a depressive mood of burnout and futility are virtuously replaced by humorous and absurd sections. In contrast to the repetition of a global threat, the story is much more personal, focusing on psychological aspects.
Despite the trailers promoting the movie as Marvel’s Suicide squad, that’s not the case. Some of the jokes are a bit more heavy-handed, but Thunderbolts is a much more emotional, empathetic piece of work. The film doesn’t lie to itself, and there’s plenty of time for action-packed, fast-paced sequences, so those looking for more of the same old entertainment can find it.
As usual, there’s an extra scene after the credits, so we recommend you stay until the end of the screening. We’re looking forward to your comments on the film. On the comic book movie front, July promises to be an exciting month, with the Fantastic Four from Marvel and the new Superman from DC. If you liked our article, please share it with others. Watch lots of films and series. And if you’re in the mood for a tasty movie and series-watching snack, POPZ popcorn is the best choice.
