**"Thunderbolts Review: Marvel’s Risky Bet on Antiheroes Pays Off – Mostly"**

Marvel’s *Thunderbolts* has finally arrived, marking the studio’s boldest experiment yet—a **suicide-squad-style team of reformed villains** headlined by **Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova** and **Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes**. But does this ragtag crew deliver? Here’s the spoiler-free breakdown.  

**What Works**  

🔥 **Florence Pugh Steals the Show** – Her Yelena remains Marvel’s most charismatic assassin, blending wit and lethal charm.  

💥 **Gritty, Grounded Action** – Less CGI, more brutal fight choreography (think *Winter Soldier* meets *John Wick*).  

🖤 **Complex Morality** – The film doesn’t shy from its antiheroes’ dark pasts, especially **Wyatt Russell’s conflicted US Agent**.  

 **What Doesn’t**  

⚠️ **Overstuffed Plot** – At 2h20m, it sags mid-film with excessive setup for future MCU phases.  

🎭 **Underused Villains** – *Taskmaster* and *Ghost* feel sidelined; hope for more in sequels.  

**Verdict: B+**  

A refreshingly **R-rated(ish)** Marvel entry that takes risks but stumbles under franchise obligations. Stick around for *that* post-credits scene—it’s a game-changer.  

***Thunderbolts review 2025, Marvel antihero movie, Florence Pugh Yelena, MCU Phase 6, best Marvel films post-Endgame*  

- [Official MCU Timeline](https://www.marvel.com/movies/thunderbolts) (internal)  

- [NPR’s Original Review](https://www.npr.org/2025/05/01/nx-s1-5381684/thunderbolts-review) (source)  

https://causingparameterfavour.com/hm201pkxj?key=a8d7d2a8fa8f6b8f1e6a24ad4e956842

- [Rotten Tomatoes Scores](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/thunderbolts_2025) (external)  

**Dive Deeper**: For MCU theories, visit my blog’s [Marvel Breakdown](https://qalamakaar.blogspot.com/mcu-phase6).