Thunderbolts first reactions land ahead of cinema release – is it an MCU hit?

The highly anticipated movie “Thunderbolts” hits theaters next week, aiming to rejuvenate the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on the silver screen following the letdown of “Captain America: New World Order.

In this upcoming team-up film, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, and Olga Kurylenko reappear as our unconventional heroes. They confront a lethal fresh danger that offers them a chance at redemption.

In the upcoming film titled “Thunderbolts” (with an asterisk for future explanation), Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns to her character Val, while Lewis Pullman and Geraldine Viswanathan make their debuts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

After a unique screening in the UK last night, some fortunate individuals who’ve already watched Thunderbolts* are sharing their initial thoughts about the new film on social media platforms.

So is Thunderbolts* an MCU hit or a flop?

Critic Emily Murray expressed that #Thunderbolts is among the finest Marvel Cinematic Universe films in a while (possibly even one of her new favorites), and she went on to say that a tear was shed during the movie. Florence Pugh, in particular, stood out and stole the show with her exceptional performance.

Movie critic Mia Pflüger had nothing but praise for Florence Pugh, calling her “the standout star of the new wave” and predicting a “jaw-dropping, scene-stealing turn” from costar Sebastian Stan.

Empire’s Amon Warmann tweeted, “An audacious and impactful superhero movie that puts mental health center stage is what I’m calling it. And it’s one of the best Marvel Cinematic Universe films in years!

Matt Neglia from Next Big Picture commended Thunderbolts for introducing a breath of fresh air into the MCU at a critical moment, when the series was yearning for fresh perspectives and guidance. Additionally, he hinted at some of Marvel’s most ominous content yet.

As a die-hard fan, I’m thrilled to share that before its debut, it was confirmed that Thunderbolts* will run for an impressive two hours and six minutes! This length places it on par with blockbusters like Iron Man and Captain Marvel, joining the ranks of other remarkable movies in the MCU.

During those two hours, it’s likely we may feel a strong emotional response, as Director Jake Schreier has previously shared that his work drew inspiration from the intense oven scene in Toy Story 3.

He clarified that the story isn’t primarily centered around a specific genre but rather the interactions between the characters. It’s more like a group of individuals who find themselves working together, he pointed out.

The reason that sequence is so effective is that you’ve grown to feel such strong affection for these characters. Will they manage to escape from the trash can as a team?

Thunderbolts* is released in UK cinemas on 1 May and in US cinemas on 2 May.

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2025-04-23 00:49