Marvel released the first THUNDERBOLTS* trailer on September 23, 2024 and, finally, on May 2, 2025. Marvel did not disappoint.
The film opens with Florence Pugh’s character, Yelena Belova, jumping off the second tallest building in the world. Marvel released a featurette right before the THUNDERBOLTS* called “The Jump” showing that Pugh herself had actually jumped off the Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Along with the jump was Yelena explaining how she felt. She had called it a weight, she felt as if she didn’t have a purpose and she was drifting around with there being no point in her life, other than to do her assignments.
Yelena was a former red room assassin, an organization that raised orphan children to become child assassins. As you can imagine, that trauma never left Yelena and we felt that throughout the whole movie with the help of Pugh’s acting.
The movie later introduces other characters who have gone through either equally traumatizing events or even worse. One of the characters introduced was Lewis Pullman’s character, Bob.
Bob had appeared deranged wearing medical scrubs, in a locked vault where four other characters were sent to kill each other. Bob constantly doubts himself, mutters to himself that he always makes things worse, apologizes too much, and forgets a lot. He described it as a blank spot in his brain. He also describes his depression as a void to Yelena, both of the characters confiding in each other about how that emptiness, the void, hurts.
Later, Bob is revealed is an experiment by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character, Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, the character that had tried to kill the previous four other characters. Valentina had started an experiment to make a superhuman. Bob had willingly volunteered because he had been depressed and wanted to be more, to have a purpose in his life. Valentina manipulated Bob into hurting his friends before she turned on him and killed him as well.
Bob hadn’t died however, he had only been consumed by his darkness. Valentina had only destroyed his consciousness. The void had overcome Bob’s body and forced the people of New York to physically face their trauma and fears.
The movie takes the line “face your fears” literally. The void forces people to relive their most regrettable and traumatic moments until they learn to overcome it. Other people can save you from your fears as well as you can save them from theirs. In the end, this film teaches you that you can face your fears and trauma with the help of others and you can overcome those insecurities together, that you are never alone.
The movie comes to a close but continues to shock us as it gives us a peek of the fantastic four spaceship and a shocking announcement that Anthony Mackie’s character Sam Wilson, is suing them despite the relationship with Sebastian Stan’s character, Bucky barnes. This post credit scene, not only gives us something new but brings the Marvel Cinematic Universe forward unlike past projects in Phase Five.
Sophia Otto (9) was impressed with the film and thinks Marvel may be headed into a better direction.
“Yes, I think Marvel went into a lull with certain projects but I think that THUNDERBOLTS* will lead Marvel into a phase and era,” Otto said.
The THUNDERBOLTS* cinematography was amazing, capturing every beautiful and jaded moment, the writing had us on the edge of our seats, and this is all thanks to director Jake Schreier. The music score had played at the exact moments and gave emphasis and drama to each and every scene. There was character development in all of the characters in the movie. The film was rated one of the highest Marvel movies since “Endgame” and made $162 million globally on its first weekend.
Riley Barton (9) enjoyed how THUNDERBOLTS* came together.
“I think the characters portray their emotions perfectly and the cast’s acting was top tier,” Barton said.
In summary, the THUNDERBOLTS* was a beautiful movie about a group of people coming together to defeat a common enemy, confronting their past and trauma together despite their differences. If you need a funny, heartfelt, emotional film? The THUNDERBOLTS* has everything you are looking for.
