‘Thunderbolts’ Become Marvel’s New Heroes in Super Bowl Trailer

The Avengers aren’t coming. The Thunderbolts will have to do.

In essence, while it’s accurate that the Avengers have two more movies scheduled, as per Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character in the freshly released Marvel’s Thunderbolts trailer (shown during the Super Bowl), the Avengers are currently absent for unknown reasons. The citizens of the Marvel Cinematic Universe require protection, and it seems someone is needed to take up this task. Who’s willing?

Instead of a team of noble heroes, the Thunderbolts consist primarily of formerly nefarious characters such as Florence Pugh’s Black Widow, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, David Harbour’s Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, and Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster.

It’s not apparent in the preview why they must join forces in the movie. Additionally, it’s not shown that the Avengers initially had a confrontation or that the Guardians of the Galaxy did the same; generally speaking, Marvel teams start off disliking each other before they don’t. Now, here’s the fresh trailer:

As a movie buff, I can’t help but share my excitement over the recent unveiling of a fresh poster for our upcoming flick! It cleverly references a quote from the trailer about the coveted spot on the Wheaties cereal box cover. Can’t wait to see more!

1. “Now, we’ve got even more Bucky!”

2. As for the Thunderbolts cereal, I sure hope they’re making it a reality! If they do, count me in as a fan who’s ready to dig in!

Here is Thunderbolts’ official synopsis:

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, let me tell you about my excitement for “Thunderbolts” by Marvel Studios. In this film, they’ve gathered an intriguing lineup of antiheroes – Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker. These characters, who have lost their way, find themselves in a perilous predicament orchestrated by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Caught in her deadly trap, they’re compelled to embark on a risky mission that will push them to face the deepest, darkest recesses of their pasts. The question remains: Will this troubled team tear each other apart or find a way to redeem themselves and come together as something greater before it’s all over?

Thunderbolts is scheduled to open in theaters on May 2.

Every Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

34. Eternals

Initially, I wouldn’t have anticipated that a Marvel film directed by an Academy Award winner and inspired by some of Jack Kirby’s most daring comics would result in one of the least indispensable titles. Regrettably, the film Eternals, despite being largely faithful to Kirby’s core concepts, didn’t quite coalesce as intended. It introduced minor but significant alterations that were rather disappointing – for instance, transforming the antagonistic Deviants into faceless monsters lacking objectives or motivations. The ensemble cast boasts commendable supporting roles from Kumail Nanjiani and Brian Tyree Henry, yet the leads, Gemma Chan as Sersi and Richard Madden as Ikaris, struggle to convincingly portray their protracted love affair (spanning 6,000 years, they appear as though on their initial awkward date). The script occasionally delves into intriguing themes concerning the links between superheroes, mythology, and religion, only to forsake them repeatedly in favor of routine battle sequences featuring dull adversaries. It’s challenging to conceive a more tedious movie about immortal extraterrestrial automatons attempting to thwart imminent apocalypse than this one.

33. The Incredible Hulk

As a movie critic, I must confess that the haphazard and ill-prepared nature of this film makes it seem as if Marvel was taken aback by the phenomenal success of “Iron Man” and hastily produced this. The character of Loki has never been involved in a crime as heinous as the miscasting of Tim Roth, who plays the world’s supreme soldier – a role that feels more fitting for a lumbering, bony troll than an accomplished warrior. (For further insights, please refer to [this article](…).)

32. Thor: The Dark World

Instead of nearly having Patty Jenkins’ Thor, we ended up with a film that was more like a gloomy pursuit for a mystical object (MacGuffin) featuring one of the dullest villains in all of Marvel Cinematic Universe. A silver lining could be that this movie’s poor performance might not have convinced Marvel to take such dramatic risks with Thor: Ragnarok as they eventually did. (You can read more about it here.)

31. The Marvels

This Marvel film isn’t the most disappointing – it actually surpasses three other movies on this list – but it’s arguably the most disorganized and intense. Three captivating Marvel characters (Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel, and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau) are haphazardly thrown into a situation where they must collaborate to prevent a Kree warlord from causing harm for unclear reasons. Despite the actors’ excellent chemistry, the plot, although concise, is chaotic and filled with perplexing decisions that don’t seem to make much sense.

30. Doctor Strange

In a nutshell, the visuals in Doctor Strange are impressive, but it seems to be just an updated version of Iron Man, with a magical twist. On the plus side, the ending where Dormammu is involved was smartly done. However, on the downside, the wacky cape worn by Strange didn’t quite work for me. (You can read more about it here.)

The movie Doctor Strange has beautiful special effects, but it feels like a revamped Iron Man with some magic added in. I liked the clever ending where Dormammu was involved, but I wasn’t a fan of Strange’s flashy cape. (For more details, check out this link.)

29. Iron Man 2

Surprisingly good, yet not exceptional. Sam Rockwell’s dancing skill can conceal many flaws, but not all of them. By trimming 15 minutes of preliminary scenes from Avengers, it could potentially be quite impressive. (Continue reading here.)

28. Ant-Man

Ant-Man isn’t bad, but it falls short of what we might have expected from an Edgar Wright-directed film. Despite this, Michael Peña’s character Luis stands out as one of the most compelling non-superpowered characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (Read more here.)

Ant-Man is enjoyable, but it’s hard not to feel that it could have been a larger, more impactful film under Edgar Wright’s direction. However, Michael Peña’s portrayal of Luis is one of the most memorable performances in the entire MCU for non-superpowered characters. (Read more here.)

27. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

In a battle between Ant-Man and Kang the Conqueror, even Kang himself (played by the intimidating Jonathan Majors) acknowledges that Scott Lang is out of his depth. This massive mismatch can be seen as a metaphor for the movie itself: The relatable, low-stakes universe of the Ant-Man series with its charming humor and lovable characters doesn’t stand a chance against the grandiose multiversal saga of Marvel Phase 5.

As a big-screen Marvel adventure, it gets the job done. However, as a follow-up to the Ant-Man franchise, it leaves something to be desired. Unfortunately, if you were expecting to see Michael Peña’s beloved character Luis in this film, you’ll be disappointed because he isn’t featured at all.

26. Ant-Man and the Wasp

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I’d say that “Ant-Man and the Wasp” truly shines when it embraces its miniature world. The film is filled with Paul Rudd’s witty banter with his fellow actors, Michael Peña’s captivating monologues, and a heartwarming small-scale story about a fractured family striving to mend their bonds once more. (For more insights, check out this article.)

25. Captain Marvel

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Brie Larson’s character Carol Danvers might be the most potent hero, but her movie could have benefited from a stronger emotional punch. Nevertheless, it stays engaging due to standout performances by Ben Mendelsohn as the cunning Skrull Talos, and Samuel L. Jackson, along with his remarkable de-aging visual effects. (For further details, check out this article.)

24. Black Widow

2021 saw Scarlett Johansson’s long-awaited solo outing from the Avengers, yet instead of a standalone adventure, she found herself mostly serving as the straight character among her humorous Russian superhero counterparts, such as David Harbour’s narcissistic Red Guardian and Florence Pugh’s captivating Yelena. Consequently, Black Widow may not have been the fitting farewell the character deserved. However, it remains another strong Marvel production, featuring some stunning action sequences, and an intriguing villain in the guise of Taskmaster, who has the ability to replicate the combat skills of anyone he encounters.

23. Thor: Love and Thunder

Experiencing Taika Waititi’s second “Thor” movie is somewhat like watching a magician perform the same trick twice, even though the first time was truly mind-blowing. The second time, while still interesting, lacks the initial shock factor. Christian Bale delivers a chilling portrayal of Gorr the God-Butcher, but his intense and emotional villain character doesn’t quite harmonize with Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and his constant humor. “Love and Thunder” shares many aspects with Waititi’s “Thor: Ragnarok”, yet they don’t blend together as smoothly this time around.

22. Deadpool & Wolverine

In this film, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s camaraderie is simply delightful, with their cameos being nothing short of astonishing. However, the narrative seems to push the limits of how much backstory a movie can have without becoming confusing. It feels like one character carries an excessive burden of tragic pasts (at least two in this case!). If you manage to ignore everything happening onscreen for a moment, you’ll likely find the experience passable. The actors do justice to Deadpool and Wolverine, despite their reluctant team-up to save the Fox X-Men universe. Unfortunately, the writers, including Reynolds himself, could have done a better job living up to expectations.

21. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

In a nutshell, the alternate version of “Iron Man 2” – let’s call it Bizarro Iron Man 2 – might be worse than you recall, but it remains passable. The advertising focused too much on the conspiracy thriller aspect, but Anthony Mackie’s Falcon is an excellent newcomer to the series, and Chris Evans delivers a solid performance as Captain America. However, it’s hard not to be annoyed that Nick Fury, the world’s most exceptional spy, was unaware of the fact that everyone in SHIELD except for him and his two companions were utterly corrupt. Come on, Nick, you should have seen this coming! (For more details, read more here.)

In this version, I tried to maintain the original tone while making it easier to read and understand.

20. Avengers: Infinity War

While this movie certainly delivers on a grand scale and its conclusion is truly epic, it seems to lack something essential. If you’re primarily seeking non-stop action with a few witty lines, then this might be just what you’re looking for. However, if you appreciate the characters, camaraderie, and quieter moments amidst the battles, this film may not meet your expectations. (For further discussion, check out this link.)

19. Iron Man 3

The film was generally enjoyable, but its quality was somewhat diminished by being part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie culminated in Tony Stark retiring as Iron Man and riding off, only for him to appear in several more films later on. Despite Guy Pearce’s underwhelming performance as Killian, Robert Downey Jr.’s exasperated scenes with a clever child were top-notch. (You can read the full review here.)

18. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Initially: The climax, featuring dragons and beasts clashing within a thick gray haze, is a chaotic CGI disaster. However, prior to this point, Shang-Chi could potentially be Marvel’s finest action film, boasting numerous intense and intricate fight sequences. For instance, the one on the San Francisco bus is highly entertaining. Simu Liu plays a leading role in a cast that delves deeper into character development, with Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh delivering nuanced supporting performances. Ben Kingsley and Awkwafina provide consistent humor throughout, with Kingsley’s portrayal of former Mandarin Trevor Slattery becoming a delightful sidekick, despite not being the most popular Marvel villain initially.

17. Thor

In an unexpected twist, the epic saga unfolds primarily in the tiniest town of New Mexico. Despite some flaws, as seen in Thor, this film marked the beginning of Marvel’s unique ability for outstanding casting and captivating performances to surmount structural and script issues, a trend that later became characteristic of the Marvel series. (Continue reading .)

16. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

In the task of directing “Wakanda Forever”, Ryan Coogler confronted an immensely tough predicament. Apart from crafting a sequel that matched the greatness of the original “Black Panther”, he had to accomplish this feat without Chadwick Boseman, our captivating lead actor who tragically passed away during the summer of 2020, mere months before production commenced. Coogler skillfully incorporated the grief felt by him and the cast into the narrative of Wakanda dealing with the loss of its monarch. The film excels in this poignant portrayal of mourning, but the remainder is somewhat disjointed; a blend of intriguing concepts, an abundance of characters, and a somewhat confusing antagonist, King Namor from the underwater realm.

15. Captain America: Civil War

From my perspective, the plot doesn’t stand strong under any level of examination, and the entire film seems to be orchestrated towards the grand showdown between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers at the airport. Yet, let me tell you, that epic confrontation at the airport is absolutely mind-blowing! (Continue reading here.)

14. Spider-Man: No Way Home

In Jon Watts’ third Spider-Man movie, we find a level of quality comparable to Sam Raimi’s third Spider-Man film. Both share a common issue: they are jam-packed with numerous villains. However, this film does an exceptional job of portraying the charm of Peter Parker as a character, who despite frequent failures, is always determined to make things right next time. Moreover, it significantly expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) by introducing the multiverse on a grand scale, making it a significant stepping stone in the ongoing storyline.

13. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

15 years since my last Marvel outing, I, Sam Raimi, dived back into the realm of heroic titans with a rip-roaring, eccentric journey that hangs in the balance of the multiverse’s future. Just as my beloved Spider-Man films did before, this new endeavor showcases how my quirky humor, maniacal zombies, and spine-tingling surprises intertwine seamlessly with the conventional Marvel mold. For a more comprehensive take, delve deeper .

12. Avengers: Age of Ultron

Despite some criticisms about its descent from the original Avengers and the confusing plot points involving Wanda and Pietro, I’m still at a loss as to why people dislike this film so much. The climactic scene where the Avengers unite to save everyone in Sokovia is nothing short of classic Marvel magic. (You can read more about it [here](insert link here).)

11. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

This film has an excessive number of post-credits scenes, at least four of them! It’s audacious to transform Marvel’s most lighthearted series into a sequel that concludes on a somber note. It’s the only Marvel production that manages to make me shed tears, yet it still finds room for jokes about divine alien phallic symbols. In my opinion, this combination of emotional depth and humor makes it a triumphant blend. (For further details, check out the link provided.)

10. Thor: Ragnarok

I just really like when Jeff Goldblum plays a space god who DJs his own parties. (Read more here.)

9. Spider-Man: Far From Home

In the sequel to Marvel’s Spidey movie, starring Tom Holland as the acrobatic wall-walker, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is only slightly inferior to its predecessor. It offers a blend of romance, action, humor, and emotion. Although no one utters the phrase “with great power comes great responsibility,” this film embodies that concept just as much as any Spiderman movie has – with Peter Parker, portrayed by Holland, wrestling between his romantic feelings for MJ (the witty Zendaya) and his missions from Nick Fury (a grumbly Samuel L. Jackson) to thwart a group of destructive elemental creatures.

8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

James Gunn expertly concludes his Guardians trilogy with a movie that strikes the perfect Marvel balance: Exciting action sequences, quirky sci-fi visuals, and deeply emotional characters that we grow incredibly attached to. By the end of Vol. 3, Rocket Raccoon transforms from a B-list Marvel character into one of the company’s most complex and tragic heroes. Following a series of less impressive films, Gunn effortlessly makes it seem simple. Unfortunately, he is now moving on to DC Studios.

7. Avengers: Endgame

Taking a significant leap forward from “Infinity War,” this new Avengers film is arguably the second-best in the series, boasting grand action sequences, numerous laugh-out-loud moments, and an unprecedented number of Easter eggs that could make it the movie with the most easter eggs across any cinematic universe. (You can read more about it here.)

6. Spider-Man: Homecoming

Among the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s movies that are hard to resist watching again, this one boasts captivating characters, thrilling Spider-Man sequences, and an unpredictable street vendor requesting a flip from Spider-Man, which he performs. Aren’t you hooked? (Continue reading here.)

5. Guardians of the Galaxy

At halfway through the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the initial “Guardians” movie played a significant role in showing that Marvel could handle lighter, less mainstream characters and still draw audiences. Before James Gunn came along, the Guardians were hardly mentioned. However, under his direction, they became a massive hit against all odds. And let’s not forget, Rocket is undeniably the superior Guardian – this is just a fact, so there’s no need to debate it! (You can learn more about them here.)

4. Captain America: The First Avenger

Despite some issues with plot consistency, as it condenses an entire war into a montage, Chris Evans’ portrayal of Captain America stands out as one of the most successful character adaptations within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This film transformed a character often criticized for being too bland or old-fashioned into a dynamic, endearing, multi-layered individual embodying fundamental human qualities. If you’re looking to get inspired, this MCU movie is one to watch. [Source: Read more here.]

3. Black Panther

In contrast to many Marvel films that strive for intricate connections across the cosmos, Black Panther demonstrates the merit of a more insular strategy. At the film’s conclusion, as Black Panther decides to reveal Wakanda to the global community (and its characters to future appearances), it’s intended as a joyous resolution. However, if this move means that potential sequels will be less focused and packed with numerous guest appearances, it might not be such a cheerful outcome after all. (Read more here.)

2. The Avengers

Despite the subsequent release of Infinity War, the original Avengers movie remains an astounding marvel. Each character is expertly balanced, the dialogue flows seamlessly, and the climactic Battle of New York ranks among the greatest action sequences of the 21st century. (Read more here.)

1. Iron Man

The original film remains unmatched to this day. Reflecting upon it now, it’s clear that being free from obligations to a larger universe contributed to its excellence. The scenes featuring Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark testing his armor and subsequently flying for the first time, more effectively conveyed the excitement of superpowers than any other movie ever made, whether by Marvel Studios or another filmmaker. (Read more here.)

2025-02-10 03:55