Thunderbolts (2025) brings together a ragtag team of antiheroes and reformed villains from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film opens with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) assembling her own covert strike team in the wake of the Avengers’ absence. The core lineup includes Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen).
The plot kicks off when a rogue scientist steals a dangerous vibranium-based weapon from a Wakandan outpost. The Thunderbolts are tasked with retrieving it before it falls into the hands of a shadowy organization led by the mysterious Sentry (Steven Yeun), whose unstable powers threaten global catastrophe. As the team tracks the weapon across Europe and Asia, they face betrayals, moral dilemmas, and the ghosts of their own pasts.
Yelena and Bucky clash over leadership, while Red Guardian provides comic relief and unexpected wisdom. Ghost’s powers become unstable, forcing the team to confront the consequences of their own actions. In a climactic battle in a crumbling Eastern European fortress, Sentry’s powers spiral out of control, nearly destroying the team. Ultimately, Bucky sacrifices his chance at redemption to save Yelena, and the Thunderbolts manage to neutralize the weapon, but at great personal cost.
The film ends with Valentina hinting at a larger agenda, setting up future MCU storylines. The Thunderbolts, now bonded by their shared trauma, walk away as unlikely heroes, but with the world still wary of their methods.
Budget and Financials:
Thunderbolts reportedly had a production budget of around $200 million, making it one of Marvel’s mid-to-high-tier investments. As of its opening weeks, the film has grossed over $600 million worldwide, with projections suggesting it could surpass $900 million by the end of its theatrical run. This strong box office performance, combined with merchandising and streaming rights, is expected to make Thunderbolts a significant financial success for Marvel Studios in 2025.
