Thunderbolts, the final film of Marvel’s Phase 5, takes a darker, more grounded approach than usual.

Instead of flashy battles, it focuses on a group of flawed antiheroes. Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, Taskmaster, and Ghost are sent on a mission with the task of stopping a dangerous super-serum plot under the watch of Valentina de Fontaine.

The film stands out for its emotional depth and character-driven story. Florence Pugh shines as Yelena, and Sebastian Stan adds complexity as Bucky.

The film explores themes like trauma, redemption, and the gray areas of morality, giving the MCU a refreshing change of tone. Critics are praising the movie, especially for the performances and the more serious vibe, even though a few audiences mentioned it dragged in parts.

But overall, Thunderbolts shows that the MCU can take some creative chances and sometimes, those chances really work out.