Summary
- Thunderbolts* should be seen as unique, not compared to Guardians of the Galaxy.
- Thunderbolts* focuses on dark and emotional themes, unlike humor-filled Guardians.
- Fans should not expect Thunderbolts* to be similar - it thrives on being totally unique.
Every movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe boasts some level of similarity simply due to the worlds in which they inhabit. However, when Thunderbolts* was announced, it became clear that audiences would compare it to Guardians of the Galaxy, and that's precisely what happened.
While the 2014 Marvel movie certainly isn't a bad one to have comparisons toward, Marvel Studios will be hoping that Thunderbolts*, which has been retitled recently to The New Avengers, is capable of standing its ground. That should be the case, too, because Thunderbolts* isn't as similar to Guardians of the Galaxy as people might think.
'We Wanted To Bring It Back Down To Earth' Thunderbolts* Proves That Marvel's Future Should Leave The Multiverse Behind
Thunderbolts* is proof to Marvel Studios that it's time to leave the multiverse behind, moving forward.
Marvel Fans Have Compared Thunderbolts* To Guardians Of The Galaxy
The Team Element Is The Only Way They Are Similar
When Thunderbolts* was announced, many Marvel fans felt that it would be similar to Guardians of the Galaxy because it's a unique team of heroes being brought together. While the Guardians are now household names, at the time when the movie launched, people were unsure of what to expect from it because they weren't the most well-known heroes. The Guardians were popular with comic book fans who loved their story, but it was a risk to make that movie when it came to the broader public. James Gunn did a terrific job with it, and the film grossed $773.4 million at the worldwide box office, which led to the creation of a trilogy.
There is a similar level of risk regarding Thunderbolts*, as this unique team doesn't comprise any major names at this point. However, in the aftermath, they will end up being huge stars, with Marvel having clear plans for them moving forward due to the New Avengers tag. Still, the team of characters who aren't overly known by the wider public is the only thing that these two movies have in common. While it's interesting to see them linked together, and it likely doesn't hurt the interest in Thunderbolts*, there isn't much to grasp regarding genuine similarities.
Thunderbolts* And Guardians Of The Galaxy Rely On Different Emotions
This Is What Makes Each Movie Special
One of the reasons why Guardians of the Galaxy was so popular was due to the unique humor that the movie brought. There were a lot of hilarious moments throughout the film, from Peter Quill or the bickering between the team. It's one of the funniest Marvel Studios movies of all time, and that in itself made it special. While many Marvel movies have featured jokes, none of them brought the level of humor that Guardians of the Galaxy did, and Thunderbolts* is no exception to that rule. There are certainly some funny scenes to be found in Marvel's latest release, as that's the tone of the entire franchise. However, people shouldn't head into the movie and anticipate it to provide consistent humor from start to finish.
Instead, Thunderbolts* is one of the darkest and most emotional movies that Marvel Studios has ever created. While Guardians had some of that, it doesn't take on emotions in the serious manner that Thunderbolts* does. Each member of the Thunderbolts* team has a different issue to deal with from a mental health perspective, and that's what makes it relatable but also very emotional as audiences are forced to think about themselves and the wider issues that Thunderbolts* aims to question. It's closer to Guardians of the Galaxy 3 in that sense due to the emotions, but Thunderbolts* certainly cuts deeper.
Marvel Fans Shouldn't Expect Thunderbolts* To Be Similar
Thunderbolts* Thrives By Being Totally Unique
There are some fans who will head into Thunderbolts* and expect there to be a lot of similarities with Guardians of the Galaxy, but that is only going to create disappointment. That's why it's important for people to realize that these movies aren't similar in tone or location. Guardians are set in a totally different universe, which also has to be considered, while the powers of the individual characters are also very different. The Guardians of the Galaxy have a more varied range of superpowers, while those in Thunderbolts* are more similar, which is another distinct difference. Guardians of the Galaxy is also all about the music, with the movie bringing some amazing songs together from the world of pop. It creates a unique tone that no other Marvel movie can match, almost feeling like a party at times.
Marvel Studios is certainly hoping that Thunderbolts* will end up having similar levels of success and longevity as Guardians of the Galaxy, as that would instantly make it one of the most successful films in the franchise. However, it's certainly worth knowing that the two movies aren't similar, and that's a good thing. They both thrive on being totally unique compared to everything else in the Marvel world, which has made them both so popular. Thunderbolts* feels like it's freshened Marvel like Guardians of the Galaxy originally did, and hopefully, the level of quality remains moving forward.
Thunderbolts*
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- May 2, 2025
- Runtime
- 127 minutes
Cast
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Florence PughYelena Belova -
Sebastian StanBucky Barnes
