Early Thunderbolts* Reactions Paint A Promising Picture

Summary

Thunderbolts* is praised for its darker tone and emotionally rich character development.
Florence Pugh's performance in Thunderbolts* steals the show, carrying much of the dramatic weight of the movie.
Early reviews described Thunderbolts* as bold, funny, and action-packed, with an unexpected emotional punch, making it a must-watch for fans feeling jaded by typical superhero films.

Thunderbolts* is coming in a week and a couple of early reviews are already coming out. Those who watched the anticipated film said it was promising.

Thunderbolts* is one of the three films from Marvel Studios this year. The movie brings together a group of misfits, including villains and anti-heroes, including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and Robert Reynolds/Sentry (Lewis Pullman). Some already had the chance to watch the anticipated MCU tentpole and had nothing but positive words to say about the film. Many also said Pugh stood out in her performance.

Matt Neglia, owner and editor-in-chief of the entertainment awards website Next Best Pictures and host of the NBP podcast, shared his feedback after watching Thunderbolts* on X, formerly Twitter. According to him, the upcoming MCU film is "different from other MCU films." Its arrival is reportedly just in time to give the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) a fresh reboot. The movie features several characters because the leads are a group of individuals battling personal issues, making it "dark" and, therefore, different from previous superhero movies from the studio. "It's some of Marvel's darkest material to date, dealing with the emotional wreckage of broken individuals grappling with their past choices and finding camaraderie amidst the emptiness of their lives," Neglia wrote. However, one of them reportedly outshines the rest. Neglia added:

This may be a team-up film, but it very much belongs to Florence Pugh, who carries much of the dramatic weight of the movie on her back.

Emily Murray, a writer and editor with bylines from GamesRadar, TotalFilm, SFX Magazine, Unilad, Zavvi, and BBC Radio 5 Live, also shared her thoughts about the film. She considered Thunderbolts* "easily one of the best MCU movies in a long time." It is reportedly rich with "spark" and "charisma" with a "genuinely emotional story" for fans to connect. Murray said she even got emotional watching the movie. Just like Neglia, she also picked out Pugh for her outstanding performance, calling it "superb." The Hollywood Handle also enjoyed the film, even if it was different from the previous superhero flicks from Marvel Studios. It was reportedly "bold, funny, filled with great action and an unexpected emotional punch," it wrote on X. "Florence Pugh is the star that shines the brightest," it added.

The positive reviews for Thunderbolts* were not surprising because it received great ratings from its test screenings, with one calling it "a beast of a film." Another said the MCU film would be perfect for those who were "feeling jaded" by the usual superhero movies and wanted a brand-new entry from the genre. So, yes, it offers a fresh breath of air from the previous Marvel movies. Pugh taking the limelight is also not a complete shocker. She has gained critical acclaim and recognition for her standout performances in several movies, including Lady Macbeth (2016), Fighting with My Family (2019), Midsommar (2019), and Little Women (2019). She has also received multiple nominations at major award-giving bodies like the Oscars, BAFTA Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, SAG and more. So, her intense and emotionally rich performances are natural.

The Oscar-nominated talent is also a versatile actress, having starred in different films like the spy adventure action thriller Black Widow (2021), psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling (2022), and historical drama thriller Oppenheimer (2023). It's also likely that Pugh has more screen time because there are rumors that she's the leader of the Thunderbolts* and her character, Yelena, is battling depression. Her storyline is definitely interesting. For those planning to watch the film, you should look forward to Pugh's Yelena.