Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Trauma, violence in heartfelt MCU antihero adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Thunderbolts*
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 24 parent reviews
Parents say the movie features intense violence, dark themes, and disturbing content that may not be suitable for younger viewers, challenging the notion of it being a family-friendly superhero film. While some reviews praised its emotional depth and character development, others expressed concern over its heavy themes, language, and portrayal of trauma, suggesting that parents should watch it first before allowing children to see it.
- intense violence
- dark themes
- emotional depth
- parental caution
- character development
Summarized with AI
Based on 44 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is impressively dark yet heartfelt, offering a deep exploration of themes such as trauma, depression, and mental health, making it a unique addition to the superhero genre. Although it includes elements of violence and mature language, viewers appreciate its comedic moments and strong character development, particularly enjoying how it emphasizes the importance of community and support in overcoming personal struggles.
- dark themes
- mental health
- strong characters
- action and humor
- emotional depth
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THUNDERBOLTS*, Black Widow assassin Yelena (Florence Pugh) is working for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who's facing impeachment from her role as the CIA director. Valentina and her assistant, Mel (Geraldine Viswanathan), are scrambling to get rid of any evidence of wrongdoing—specifically anything having to do with something called Project Sentry. As part of the cleanup, Valentina sends Yelena on a mission to prevent a thief from robbing a secret stronghold. There, Yelena encounters John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and someone named Bob (Lewis Pullman), who has no memory of why he's there or how he got there. They realize they've been set up, and quickly team up to try to escape. Later, they're joined by Red Guardian (David Harbour) and recently elected congressman Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)—aka the Winter Soldier—who's trying to take Valentina down. But Valentina has a secret, evil plan up her sleeve.
Is It Any Good?
This clever, funny, heartfelt antihero story brings several second- and third-string Marvel characters together for their own slapdash adventure, while focusing on themes of trauma and empathy. Many superhero stories are really tales of underdogs and outcasts who finally get a chance to show their true colors; Thunderbolts* goes a step further by centering on characters who have real anguish and genuine loss. Yes, it has a similar general vibe to Guardians of the Galaxy or The Suicide Squad, but it's less about being irreverent (though it does have plenty of laughs) and more about learning that telling the truth is the best way to really engage.
Thirty-six movies in, the MCU has, refreshingly, begun to embrace smaller stories, focusing less on world-shaking disasters and more on personal struggles. (Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier is a veteran of character-driven movies like Robot & Frank and Paper Towns.) Viewers may want to watch (or rewatch) the Marvel movies Black Widow and Ant-Man and the Wasp and the series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to be fully up to speed with everything that's happening here, but it's not entirely necessary. Overall, Thunderbolts* (the asterisk will be explained) is just the right mix of fun, humor, action, and heartfelt connection, asserting that love and empathy are stronger than ill-gotten power.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Thunderbolts*' violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How do the characters demonstrate teamwork? Are they the typical sort of team you'd expect to see in a superhero movie? Why, or why not?
How does the movie demonstrate the power and importance of empathy? How is empathy used to help characters address trauma and mental illness?
How does this movie fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole? Why are these characters considered outsiders or antiheroes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 2, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : July 1, 2025
- Cast : Florence Pugh , Lewis Pullman , Sebastian Stan , David Harbour
- Director : Jake Schreier
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 126 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence, language, thematic elements, and some suggestive and drug references
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate