Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' Lands Impressive 95% on the review aggregator website; a near-record for the MCU
'Thunderbolts' has recently achieved a noteworthy distinction within the
Marvel Cinematic Universe
. The film boasts a prominent ensemble cast, uniting anti-heroic figures from various
MCU films
and television series, many of whom are encountering each other for the first time on screen.
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In a phase of the Multiverse Saga that has been perceived by some as lacking in significant character interactions and team-centric projects, particularly with the absence of an Avengers movie thus far, 'Thunderbolts*' is being viewed as a refreshing addition, contributing to heightened anticipation for its release. Ahead of the MCU's latest offering hitting theaters, audiences now have an initial indication of its critical reception through early reviews.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Marvel Studios' 'Thunderbolts' made its debut with an impressive 95% approval rating, marking the second-highest score ever recorded for an MCU film. 'Black Panther,' with a rating of 96%, is currently the only MCU film that stands above it.
However, it is important to note that as more critical reviews are published leading up to and during its release week, the 2025 MCU movie's score has the potential to fluctuate, as is common with films during this period.
The Multiverse Saga, as a whole, has elicited a mixed response from both critics and audiences, with films like 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and 'Deadpool & Wolverine' achieving universal acclaim, while others such as 'Eternals' and the upcoming 'Captain America: Brave New World' have faced more challenges in terms of reception. The emotional narrative of 'Thunderbolts*' appears to have resonated positively with critics in these early assessments, which bodes well for the film's potential box office performance.
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The significance of Thunderbolts's high Rotten Tomatoes score is particularly noteworthy when considered within the context of the broader MCU and, more specifically, the Multiverse Saga. Given the divisive nature of this current phase of the franchise, which has resulted in several MCU films receiving 'Rotten' scores from critics, Marvel Studios was in need of its new team-up movie to be a significant success.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive initial response from critics, there is a strong indication that 'Thunderbolts' could elicit a similar level of enthusiasm from fans, potentially becoming the box office hit that the studio requires.
A significant portion of the 'Thunderbolts' cast is expected to reprise their roles in the upcoming 'Avengers: Doomsday'. With Marvel's strategic shift towards Doctor Doom as the central antagonist of the Multiverse Saga, following the dismissal of Jonathan Majors, the actor who portrayed Kang the Conqueror, much of the narrative setup that had been established for Kang is now rendered moot.
The build-up to the next two Avengers films has not been as seamless or universally praised as the lead-up to 'Infinity War' and 'Endgame' in the MCU's Infinity Saga. Considering that 'Thunderbolts' introduces a new team that is anticipated to play a crucial role in 'Avengers: Doomsday,' the overwhelmingly positive early reviews for 'Thunderbolts*' offer an encouraging sign for the reception of the 2026 Avengers film.
The debut of 'Thunderbolts' with the MCU's second-highest Rotten Tomatoes score is a welcome development, while 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' has long been considered Marvel's most prominent release of 2025, the initial trailers for 'Thunderbolts' generated a significant level of personal anticipation for this particular MCU movie. Given the sentiment among some critics that they have become somewhat critical of the MCU in recent years, such a strong and positive initial response to 'Thunderbolts' is indeed exciting.
There is a strong belief that Marvel Studios may have a standout film on its hands, and the anticipation to experience 'Thunderbolts' Firsthand is considerable.
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