Why MCU’s ‘Thunderbolts*’ Is Different to ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

has drawn plenty of obvious comparisons to two other superhero teams, with many immediately dubbing the anti-hero collective the MCU’s answer to the Suicide Squad. However, director Jake Schreier believes that there are some very distinctive differences that set the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s group apart from other similar characters.

Speaking to CBR while promoting the movie, Schreier explained that although there are certain comparisons to be made, the MCU’s newest team is very different to other groups out there with dubious pasts.

“It’s more about just all of us; anyone who’s kind of thought that they were destined for something bigger, then had it not work out. And what do you do from there? Where do you go, and how do you find your way out of that place?” Beyond that, the Thunderbolts are not aligned in their goals; though they do eventually join forces, there’s no Amanda Waller forcing their hands.

“From the beginning, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is sending them to kill each other, not to be some kind of rogue team to do black ops with. So, right from the get-go, I felt like that distinguished it, and then it felt like we could make our mark by going into a much more internal character place, make it more about internal struggles than external ones, and find some level of difference there.”

‘Thunderbolts*’ Has Taken on ‘The Suicide Squad’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

When it comes to collaborations in superhero movies, more is more, apparently. While many solo Marvel and DC movies have failed to please everyone, the Avengers movies, Guardians of the Galaxy, and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad have been among some of the highest-rated superhero movies of all time. Now Thunderbolts* has taken up the task of delivering another group of unlikely collaborators that audiences and critics resonate with.

After peaking around 97%, Thunderbolts* Tomatometer slipped a little to its current position of 88%. However, the movie has been wowing audiences and has held onto an impressive 95% audience score, which is higher than all three Guardians movies, The Suicide Squad, and even the Avengers movies. Considering the recent track record of both Marvel Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery’s DC content, this has been no mean feat to achieve.

Although The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the movie that has been getting a lot of hype, as both a chance to right the wrongs of 2015’s Fantastic Four effort, and push the MCU towards its multiverse-breaking Avengers movies, Thunderbolts* has been a surprising addition to a franchise often criticized for churning out meaningless popcorn-fodder. Thunderbolts* delivers more than your average comic book movie, and even subverts expectations with its final act, making it rightfully one of the most critically successful movies the MCU has delivered in years. How that translates into its box office performance will be revealed fully in the coming weeks.

Source: CBR

Thunderbolts*

3
/5

Release Date

May 2, 2025

Runtime

126 Minutes

Writers

Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo

Franchise(s)

Marvel Cinematic Universe