Thunderbolts* Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Thunderbolts* Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 21, 2025

Since the cat is out of the veritable bag as to what that supposedly enigmatic asterisk in this film's title refers to, it is not exactly a spoiler to mention the seemingly unavoidable coda "sting" Thunderbolts* offers after its closing credits roll ends, wherein Alexei Shostakov AKA Red Guardian (there's a lot of AKA in the MCU, of course) tries to encourage the so-called "New Avengers" to spell their "brand name" with a closing "z" instead of an "s" to avoid any copyright issues with that pesky Sam Wilson of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World. Red Guardian's suggestion sets up frankly one of the goofier closing discussions in any Marvel Cinematic Universe outing, one which at least gives way to a reveal of an incoming threat (or at least apparent crossover opportunity) to set up the also seemingly unavoidable sequel (you expected anything less?). That said, the whole copyright discussion may comically at least subliminally evoke memories that when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced the original Avengers team in comic book form in 1963 there may have already been a bit of a "copyright" issue (if titles could be copyrighted, which they can't), since television's The Avengers had already been airing since January 1961, albeit in its native United Kingdom (the U.S. airings didn't begin until 1966). Some curmudgeons (ahem) might look at all of this "repackaging" of a venerable franchise name and, with both the Patrick Macnee series and especially previous MCU Avengers features in mind, therefore argued that considering the MCU's penchant for revisiting ideas and even substantial plot tropes over and over (and over) again, Red Guardian might have been better advised to have added several z's at the end of the team moniker. With tongue hopefully obviously planted firmly in cheek, that would have resulted in "Avengerzzz", meaning this particular effort might understandably have evoked nothing more than a yawn and "been there, seen that" since it admittedly reenvisions a number of general outlines seen in other "ragtag superhero team" outings. Perhaps surprisingly, then, Thunderbolts* manages to deliver some at least passable character development and some fun plotting even with an also somewhat surprising lack of overwhelming "science fiction" blandishments like nonstop CGI.

The film's often off kilter sense of humor is revealed in its opening vignette, arguably the most spectacular moment of the entire story. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) offers voiceover describing the character's psychological unraveling after the events depicted in Black Widow, and when it's revealed Yelena is actually sitting dangling over the edge of and then standing on top of a 118 story skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, it seems like she's about to commit suicide. She does in fact just kind of fall limply off the building, perhaps elevating fears for a moment, but then it turns out she's actually "base jumping" to a nearby mission, where her comically bored narration continues as actual imagery imparts Yelena taking out a variety of nemeses in a hallway and, later, a laboratory.

It of course turns out that Yelena is doing yeoman's duty for none other than Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, once again cos playing at least in terms of hairstyle as another "de", Cruella de Vil). Valentina is in considerable hot water with the feds, or at least with Congress, and she's desperately trying to clean up any evidence of her genetic research, and while she had initially dispatched Yelena to take out that aforementioned lab, as Valentina's fortunes grow more perilous, the only solution for this kind of cartoon villainness seems to be have the Thunderbolts kill each other. That finally gets Yelena, John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko) and Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen) in the same (isolated) location, where at least most of them "meet cute" (kind of, anyway) with a character initially introduced as Bob (Lewis Pullman). Suffice it to say Bob has what contemporary mental health experts might call dissociative identity disorder, which plays into much of the rest of the film.

What's kind of refreshing about Thunderbolts* is that it is in essence a "charater(s) piece", largely unreliant on whiz bang special effects and instead exploring ideas of isolation, especially for those already feeling like they're outcasts. Yes, of course it's the same fodder that has informed any number (a rather vast number) of other MCU properties, but especially given the gravitas of the characterizations by Pugh and Pullman in particular, Thunderbolts* manages to deliver what many superhero opuses tend to, well, fly right past: some honest emotion. There's an especially effective scene late in the film between daughter Yelena and dad Alexei (David Harbour) which rather interestingly and saliently unfolds during what might otherwise be a standard set piece.

Thunderbolts* Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Thunderbolts* is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista and Marvel Studios with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. Captured with Arri Alexas (seen clearly in some of the candid footage included in the supplements) and finished at 4K (according to the IMDb), this is another fantastic looking presentation from this particular consortium, though as mentioned above the film itself is not a carnival ride of CGI and nonstop special effects. That particular proclivity may seem to make a 4K UHD upgrade unnecessary, but I'll cut to the chase and certainly recommend those interested with the appropriate equipment to opt for Disney's 4K release, which benefits from not just increased resolution but the HDR / Dolby Vision grades and an Atmos audio option. That said, this 1080 version is pretty spectacular on its own merits. The glut of practical sets, costumes and locations may actually help to promote a more consistent perception of detail levels than the "typical" CGI laden MCU effort. The palette is beautifully suffused throughout (though, again, I'd opt for the 4K UHD version if given the choice), and both cool grades, as in the opening, and a lot of the warmer material, as in some of the later Bob scenes in particular, all radiate vividly. There's a rather interesting skewing almost toward black and white (not really, but close) in some of the final battle which also looks great.

Thunderbolts* Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Thunderbolts* has a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track that is absolutely fantastic, maybe until you hear some clear added verticality that comes courtesy of the Atmos track included on Disney's 4K version. I often don't find a whale of a lot of difference between 7.1 tracks on Disney's 1080 releases and their Atmos offerings on their 4K discs, but this is one case where some differentiation can be pretty easily heard. Putting that perhaps niggling qualm aside, the 7.1 version delivers consistent engagement of all the side and rear channels for both ambient environmental effects and scoring. All of this said, as discussed above, this isn't the nonstop array of effects laden vignettes that can inform other MCU properties, and so this track is at times relatively subtle in what it offers in terms of surround "showiness". Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English, French and Spanish subtitles are available.

Thunderbolts* Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Around the World and Back Again (HD; 9:13) is a frankly astounding piece proving Florence Pugh was indeed on top of that skyscraper and did in fact jump off.


• Assembling a Team to Remember (HD; 7:29) has more behind the scenes footage while introducing the "new" team.


• All About Bob, Sentry & The Void (HD; 10:36) looks at the iterations played by Pullman.


• Gag Reel (HD; 3:00)


• Deleted Scenes (HD; 00:56)


• Audio Commentary by Director Jake Schreier

Additionally a digital copy is included. Disney sent their 4K SteelBook edition for purposes of this 1080 review, but it looks like this standalone 1080 release features a slipcover.

Thunderbolts* Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The apparently inexhaustible minds behind the ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe keep finding little nooks and crannies to explore, and if those explorations can understandably seem rote at times, Thunderbolts* has a couple of undeniable positives going for it, including winning performances and what to these tired critical eyes was a refreshing lack of nonstop VFX wonderment. Technical merits are first rate and the supplements very appealing. Recommended.