Thunderbolts* (2025)

Yes, there’s an asterisk in the title, and no, this review won’t explain it, because it’s the one surprise Marvel managed to keep. What it hides is a small movie wearing a big costume, and the finale leans on mood more than memorable action. Florence Pugh’s Yelena is so worn down that she jumps off a Kuala Lumpur skyscraper like it’s a chore. Pugh is the whole reason this works. She plays sad and funny in the same breath, and the jokes come from real people instead of a quip machine. David Harbour’s Red Guardian, now driving a limo, is a delight, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays the boss from the worst job you ever had. Lewis Pullman’s Bob, a confused stranger who turns up in a room full of hired guns, is its heart. The weak spots: Olga Kurylenko barely gets a scene, and Ghost is mostly a cool effect. A 7.6 because it’s the rare Marvel movie that’s actually about feelings. $9,091 says you start looking for an asterisk on every poster you walk past this week.

What works: Florence Pugh makes Yelena funny and sad at once, and Lewis Pullman’s Bob gives a Marvel team-up a surprisingly tender center.

What doesn’t: Taskmaster is wasted almost immediately, Ghost gets little to do, and the big finale leans on mood more than memorable action.

Who it’s for: Marvel fans who got tired of sky beams and want a scrappier team movie with something real on its mind.